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UPDATED broken leg .... RIP Loki

Saz79120

Saz79120

New Kit
I thought i would let you all know what happened.

i took her in for a check up on if the splint was rubbing and for her eyes and they noticed a bit of discharge through the padding so she had to go in the next day to have it taken off and see how bad it was and cleaned up. It had got badly infected. To also give me piece of mind they did an xray on the leg to rule out if surgery could of ever been an option but it wasnt, they showed me the xray to explain and the heel part of the foot was completely shattered, it was literally fragments, and the bones along the bottom of her foot were that severely fractured that they would of been unable to be pinned and would probably not of worked with a splint either, but at least we tried.

We decided the best thing for her was for her to be put to sleep, as i didnt want her to suffer any more than she had

Thank you everyone for all your help, it really is appreciated.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi all!

Any advice is much appreciated.

Heres what happened: My two girls, Lilly and Loki, bonded a few weeks ago and have since been stuck together like glue. They live in a run in my front room and are let out when i'm home, which is around 6 hours a night. I was out for the day yesterday and came home to find the door to their run open, god knows how they opened it as i dont use the door to let them out, i open up an entire side. Loki was under the bed like usual so i went and got her out, and as she scurried off into the kitchen, i noticed she was dragging one of her back legs. I took her to the vet first thing this morning, the vet was horrified to realise that its completely broken, every bone in her foot is fractured and its the worst break shes seen. the only way i can think shes done it is that she has hopped out of the door of the run, caught her foot on the 4 inch high section below the door :(
She said we have 2 options, to send her to a orthopediac surgeon in Kendal, which would cost into the thousands. Or to splint the leg, and if that doesnt work, amputate the leg. So she has splinted the leg and I've brought her home, feeling very sorry for herself!

If anyone would be able to give any advice on this and how to make her comfortable/ anything i can do, it would be much appreciated!

The main problem i've had already is Loki will not let Lilly anywhere near her (i took Lilly to the vets with her so that they werent split up, smelt the same etc. and also hoped shed calm Loki a little like she had the night before), theres no aggressiveness to either of them, Lilly wants to say hello and is curious, and Loki actually ran away from her, and then panicked when things got hooked to her splint! Does anyone have any advice on how to keep them together? i really dont want to split them up, but at the moment ive had to set up Lokis old cage so shes calm, but i dont want to keep them apart and cause problems getting them back together.

Last one! she is litter trained but now cant get in and out of it, an ideas on what i could do for a litter tray?

Sorry for the essay! thanks in advance, just want my little girl to be happy :(

Thought id attach a couple of photos of them :)

11209417_10155602255160445_476162171495552908_n.jpg


11295691_10155602827315445_4131092083221828371_n.jpg
 
Last edited:
Hi

Where abouts are you. I went to see my specialist talk this morning and he said about rabbits breaking their legs and he pins them. He certainly doesn't cost thousands and is one of the best specialists in kent, a lot of vets call him for advice. I hope you have lots of metacam as pain relief for your little one as he was saying about vets not giving pain relief even when rabbits have been referred to him and their legs are literally hanging off. I can't believe your little one hasn't been hospitalised.

My advice would be to see an exotic vet specialist in your area for a second opinion. You can post on here your area in a new thread and people would recommend for you. Sorry I have no idea what advice to give regarding her leg but I know my vet wouldn't have allowed my rabbit home.
 
Hi cpayne,

I'm in Blackpool, so Kent would be out of the question, ill post another thread on my area, i took her to Vets4pets as it was the only one open on a Sunday and she has given me metacam for her :)

thank you
 
Yes just put in the heading exotic vet specialist needed in blackpool area in the title, it's better to get a recommendation. I feel so lucky to have my specialist, shame you're not nearer. At least you have metacam. He was saying how many vets under dose it and rabbits are in pain. Good luck and keep us posted.

He doesn't charge more than a normal vet either so you shouldn't have to pay a lot to get a second opinion.
 
Hi Saz - I'm about an hour away from you (greater Manchester) and could recommend an exotics specialist here but not sure if an hour would be too far!

Aiden at the Ashleigh veterinary centre in chorlton is an excellent rabbit vet or there's Molly Varga at a practice in Holmes Chapel but can't remember where she works (bit further away I think) - might be worth giving either of them a ring for a second opinion if they aren't too far! X
 
Not sure if you've seen my other post but I searched old posts and found this from tuckerbunnies who look after lots of rabbits and some with special needs, she recommended this:

We use to live near Blackpool, try the Animal Medical Centre in Thornton Cleveleys near Blackpool, we use to see Vet Sue White she is a brilliant rabbit vet.


http://www.animalmedicalcentre.co.uk/
 
Hi saz, sending millions of vibes for your girly!!

Personally I would defo get seen by a specialist, and try to keep on top go the pain relief. I had a bunny who had both his back legs broken and do date has made an amazing recovery. Can I possibly suggest maybe restricting her space as you don't really want her moving round that much & need to keep her confortable. She is probably going to really struggle to get into a litter tray, could you not place some hay on the floor near or perhaps in a corner for her?

Personally I would say it's probably in her best interests to split them as you don't want the other bunny hurting her?

Is she still eating and pooing okay? Xx
 
Holhol said:
Hi Saz - I'm about an hour away from you (greater Manchester) and could recommend an exotics specialist here but not sure if an hour would be too far!

Aiden at the Ashleigh veterinary centre in chorlton is an excellent rabbit vet or there's Molly Varga at a practice in Holmes Chapel but can't remember where she works (bit further away I think) - might be worth giving either of them a ring for a second opinion if they aren't too far! X
Click to expand...

I think Molly is at Cheshire Pets in Holmes Chapel. May be worth the trip if she is OK travelling or at least give them a call for some advice - maybe your vet could send through the x-rays for a second opinion before you make any trips.

Hope she recovers well.
 
Thanks very much cpayne, i'll give them a call first thing tomorrow morning.

Ruthy - I've now moved her into her old cage which is considerably smaller, and i've put litter in all corners, shes eating a bit of her favourite veggies, but with her on her own ill be able to monitor it better too. I'm not sure if shes pooed yet, since she went in her bed shes settled in a corner and not moved for a good couple of hours.

bunny babe - shes not the best travelling, she gets pretty worked up moves around alot, so would prefer somewhere closer, but i will keep in mind if all fails around here :)

Thanks for your help everyone!

Does anyone know the best way to get metacam into her? i was planning on using a syringe but can imagine shes going to disagree with that!
 
Well doughnut loves metacam as it's honey flavoured. I just put the syringe next to her mouth and she puts her mouth over and I syringe it in. If she won't do that I put medicine she doesn't like on a tiny bit of weetabix crumbled up. Most rabbits love weetabix and it absorbs it. I bet she will love the taste as it's sweet. If you don't have weetabix put it on her favourite food or a little bit of banana.

Are you giving it to her twice a day?
 
Hi saz, ah okay.. I know it seems harsh but it will be better for her. It's great she has eaten some of her veg, I would defo keep an eye on this, and maybe try and encourage her to drink. Does she have a bowl or bottle? If only a bottle, maybe try & use a bowl if possible as she might find this easier to use?

I know it's hard, but with giving her metacam.. Syringing is always better as you know they get all the metacam. but I know some buns aren't always easy with this. I used to wrap my bunny up in a towel like a burreto, you can find videos on YouTube to show you how and syringe it into the side of her mouth? but if this would be too hard as your obviously wary about her leg, you could always try giving her this via a weetabix or something?

Personally I would try Syringing first.. But go with whatever works for you. Really hope she's okay xx
 
Hi saz, ah okay.. I know it seems harsh but it will be better for her. It's great she has eaten some of her veg, I would defo keep an eye on this, and maybe try and encourage her to drink. Does she have a bowl or bottle? If only a bottle, maybe try & use a bowl if possible as she might find this easier to use?

I know it's hard, but with giving her metacam.. Syringing is always better as you know they get all the metacam. but I know some buns aren't always easy with this. I used to wrap my bunny up in a towel like a burreto, you can find videos on YouTube to show you how and syringe it into the side of her mouth? but if this would be too hard as your obviously wary about her leg, you could always try giving her this via a weetabix or something?

Personally I would try Syringing first.. But go with whatever works for you. Really hope she's okay xx
 
i didnt realise it was honey flavoured! that makes it sound alot more hopeful! shes having 20 drops twice a day.

Luckily shes drinking plenty from her bottle but i've just checked and she hasnt pooed yet? how long should i wait before i start to worry?

Sorry shes never been poorly!
 
You've got different metacam than I have. I normally have the dog one and it's in ml.

Has she been eating, do you think she's in pain? How long ago did she poop and can you tempt her with herbs to eat.
 
This is the dog one but she said due to the nozzle on it you can do drops,so to do 20 drops into the syringe and then ill know how many ml to give her.

shes been eating, and she looks comfortable enough now, shes dosing with her leg sticking out in front of her as much as possible. it doesnt look like shes pooed since we got home at about 4.30, unless shes currently hiding them.
 
Poor little Loki, I hope she is more comfortable now. There have been people on this site that have had rabbits with broken bones and they have gone on to heal well & re - bonded with previous hutch mates. Should the worse case be amputation there are also rabbit owners here with three legged bunnies that do just fine. I'm sorry I don't have any answers for you re treatment but I just wanted you to see there is hope for your girl. Sending her lots of healing & pooping vibes x
 
I don't understand why all vets don't us ml, it would be a lot easier. With metacam I put it in the large syringe then have to syringe it into the 1ml syringe!

It sounds good that she's eating or drinking but would definitely expect some output soon. Maybe she is sitting on them, Doughnut sometimes moves away and there is a little pile there. Obviously you don't want to be moving her around. Maybe she'll start eating some more after her next dose and you can then investigate if there are any pills.

Hopefully you'll get an appointment tomorrow so you won't have to worry all day!
 
A complex break like that will need a very specialist surgeon exotics vet not just a good rabbit vet who is generally good. I have geard aiden is good. We regularly travel a couple of hours for specialist things. Even our usual vet is an hour away!!
 
Morning! She was a lot livelier this morning, wanted to jump off the sofa. She took the metacam no problem, and then looked for more :) she's not pooed at all, I double checked her cage while she was on the sofa, will be ringing the vet later to see what to do
 
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