Rabbit with a Broken Heel and Sore Ears

[juditrjones]

Hello everyone,

My rabbit recently had surgery on his heel due to a break, and he's now wearing a collar (lampshade) to prevent him from going for the foot. I have a couple of questions:

Is there anything I can put over the bandage on his foot to prevent him from biting it when I take the collar off so he can clean himself?
Are there any remedies for the sore patches on his ears caused by the collars?
Thank you in advance! xx

 

[InspectorMorse]

Personally I don’t think it’s appropriate to use surgical collars on Rabbits. Over 26 years I have never had the need to do so despite caring for numerous Rabbits with surgical wounds that need to be protected.

Are there external fixators on the fractured limb?
What type of dressing could be used will depend on the specifics of what the surgical wound is like

Have you spoken with the Vet about the situation and has the Vet seen the sore ears? It’s not possible to advise you as to what might help without being able to see the sore areas. Some topical treatments can end up making matters worse.

The inside of the ear canals will need regular checking too. Rabbits who cannot groom themselves are prone to getting a build up of wax in the ear canals which can then lead to an ear infection.

If you believe that there is no other option other than to use a collar then a soft collar would be better.

https://www.viovet.co.uk/MDC-Smart-...apS7nSJoOveTJymUbIwQI64-o_Wht87QaAmGBEALw_wcB

You would still need to assist your Rabbit with grooming and eating his cecotrophs.