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Bunny not moving- legs sprawled out

Only1Balto

New Kit
Hi all- I'd like to know from rabbit owners if this is something common. I've got a 2 year old lop eared rabbit who doesn't seem to move. She was fine yesterday but this morning when I went to say my "good mornings" I noticed her legs were sprawled out instead of her sitting/standing on them. She didn't move any and just rested her head on the ground. I began to pet her w/ long strokes from her head to her tail (Because I knew she wouldn't like it and move) she slowly hopped forward 3 inches very weakly w/ her legs sliding out from under her. When she did sit up her little body was swaying back and fourth :( I was so upset but I had to go to work.

I told my wife to take her to the vet- and 235 dollars (w/ xray) later they told us that she had no broken bones and that she probably just sprained her back. Gave us some steroids and told us to come back in a few days if she doesn't get better. I was relieved to find out she didn't have a broken back (I don't know anything about the rabbit body but that was my best assumption of what was wrong) but I still have doubts of it being that simple.

Right now shes laying sprawled out (All four legs going in 4 different directions) on the floor and hasn't moved for a few hours. She was in a cage all day yesterday so I don't know what could have happened.

If anyone has been through this or have seen it please post up so we can put our minds at ease. I'm a grown man in the military and thinking about how much pain she must be in and talking with my wife about putting her down brought tears to my eyes. I guess I'm just a little B* :p
 
Sorry I'm not an experienced owner so can't help, but have you tried doing a search for any threads with the same symptoms?

Is the bunny floppy? Has she eaten and drank normally today? Is she going to the toilet ok? If she hasn't I would get her back to the vets, or possibly a more bunny Davy one.

Sorry I can't be of much help, try and keep her warm. Someone should be along with better advice in the morning.
 
i'm not an expert either, but it isn't sounding very promising. is your vet a rabbit specialist? in a couple of hours there should be some people round here with real experience of rabbits - check jack's jane, hugo's there, the duchess etc
 
Hi, we recently lost our bun Crumpet and the morning we found him he was lying on his front, chin down with one leg splayed. We instantly assumed broken leg too but it turns out he was just in a lot of pain and that position was more comfortable for him :(

I'd really urge you to take her back to the vets and ask her to be checked for bloat. Crumps was fine the day before too, we think his bloat developed from a genetic condition, so unfortunately there wasn't much we could do :(

I'm sure your bun will be fine, but it's better to be safe :)
 
I really hope she'll be ok, but can only echo what others have said - is she's not improving, and especially if she's not eating and going to the toilet, take her to a good rabbit vet for more check-ups as soon as you possibly can.

Good luck.
 
HI when my baby bun Freckle was like that, I figured she might die anyway, so I tried her on syringed tomato juice (from a can of tomatoes). It worked like magic within a couple of hours.

She got addicted to it though and it took ages to wean her off the stuff, but I didn't care, she was alive.... and still is.

All the best
 
Thanks so much for all of your replies. I thought this forum was dead and moved on looking for answers so I'm just now viewing all of your comments.

Heres the run down... (Inhales deeply)

I came home four days ago to see my wife and kids cleaning up the house and placing Lola back into the cage after letting her run around and play. She was fine then. Later that night I was walking from the dinning room to the living room to sit next to my wife and I remember seeing Lola's front and rear legs perpendicular to her head (So pretty much sticking straight out) and thought she was just being silly and I even remember telling my wife "Lola's trying to be funny" :)cry:). I woke up the next morning and went to say "Good morning/Good bye" to her and noticed she wouldn't get up and her legs still looked really funny. I noticed she was lying in urine and wasn't moving. I began petting her in short strokes and noticed her head was laying down (Not looking up or anywhere). I knew that if I gave her long strokes towards her little tail, that she wouldn't like it and try to move away. She kinda hopped forward using her chest and back just a few inches trying to get her feet under her. When she was able to bring her feet under her she would wobble left and right (almost in a circle) but it wouldn't be long before they'd just sprawl out again in all four directions. I was up set. I thought something was wrong with her back and I thought my kids caused it a day before. I went to work and called my wife to tell her to take her to the exotic emergency vet ASAP. When I came home I was told that they took xrays, showed no broken bones, they didn't know what it was. They thought she sprained her back and gave us some steroids to reduce inflimation, and said if it doesn't go away in 3 days come back and then we'd see the rabbit specialist.<$240.00> :)shock:) I wasn't satisfied with that but since I thought they knew more than I did I'd follow suit. The said we'd see improvements by the third day so I gave it two. TWO days and she hadn't improved one bit. On the second day we were suppose to go to Vegas to see family but since nothing changed I wanted to go to a different exotic emergency vet. I showed him the xrays and he confirmed nothing was broken. He upped the dosage of steroids and said she probably caused herself spinal damage somewhere and to give her 7 days. He said he'd shave her tummy/bottom so the urine wouldn't soak in, give her a shower, and give her an injection of some anti-inflamitory as well as more medicine. <$250.00> He said he'd bet money that she'd get better so I said ok, had them do what we agreed and took her home. I put her in a laundry basket with a towel on the bottom and pet pads on top of that and watched her closely. Changed her out whenever she urinated fed her gerber carrot food and gave her 1 dose of steroids. I slept on the couch that night (Last night) and I dragged her little bunny basket right next to me so I could watch her....

This morning my wife woke me up saying- "Jojo, Lola's not breathing" and as my eyes opened there she laid in her basket just like she was the last time I saw her :cry:... I reached out to pet my Lola and she was cool to the touch- her eyes still opened...., I'm tearing up now thinking about it. Rabbits aren't my favorite animals, Dogs are. I didn't even like rabbits that much- She was stubborn, crazy, never liked to be held by ANYONE, and hated my daughters. But she was always there in the morning when I was getting ready for work walking back and fourth past her cage- she'd be pacing me following me wanting attention and I could never leave the house without giving her any. When she died, all those bad things- weren't so bad at all. :) That was her personality. I knew she loved me. She showed affection (when she wanted to). She was her own being pretty much, and thats when it hit me like a ton of bricks- she was gone and things would no longer be the same...

Her body was hard due to rigor mortis so she probably passed away right after I went to sleep... I thought I'd just let you guys know. I don't know if I'd have done anything differently- its hard to know when to put them down. <sigh>
 
good bye to a friend/loved one

Thanks so much for all of your replies. I thought this forum was dead and moved on looking for answers so I'm just now viewing all of your comments.

Heres the run down... (Inhales deeply)

I came home four days ago to see my wife and kids cleaning up the house and placing Lola back into the cage after letting her run around and play. She was fine then. Later that night I was walking from the dinning room to the living room to sit next to my wife and I remember seeing Lola's front and rear legs perpendicular to her head (So pretty much sticking straight out) and thought she was just being silly and I even remember telling my wife "Lola's trying to be funny" :)cry:). I woke up the next morning and went to say "Good morning/Good bye" to her and noticed she wouldn't get up and her legs still looked really funny. I noticed she was lying in urine and wasn't moving. I began petting her in short strokes and noticed her head was laying down (Not looking up or anywhere). I knew that if I gave her long strokes towards her little tail, that she wouldn't like it and try to move away. She kinda hopped forward using her chest and back just a few inches trying to get her feet under her. When she was able to bring her feet under her she would wobble left and right (almost in a circle) but it wouldn't be long before they'd just sprawl out again in all four directions. I was up set. I thought something was wrong with her back and I thought my kids caused it a day before. I went to work and called my wife to tell her to take her to the exotic emergency vet ASAP. When I came home I was told that they took xrays, showed no broken bones, they didn't know what it was. They thought she sprained her back and gave us some steroids to reduce inflimation, and said if it doesn't go away in 3 days come back and then we'd see the rabbit specialist.<$240.00> :)shock:) I wasn't satisfied with that but since I thought they knew more than I did I'd follow suit. The said we'd see improvements by the third day so I gave it two. TWO days and she hadn't improved one bit. On the second day we were suppose to go to Vegas to see family but since nothing changed I wanted to go to a different exotic emergency vet. I showed him the xrays and he confirmed nothing was broken. He upped the dosage of steroids and said she probably caused herself spinal damage somewhere and to give her 7 days. He said he'd shave her tummy/bottom so the urine wouldn't soak in, give her a shower, and give her an injection of some anti-inflamitory as well as more medicine. <$250.00> He said he'd bet money that she'd get better so I said ok, had them do what we agreed and took her home. I put her in a laundry basket with a towel on the bottom and pet pads on top of that and watched her closely. Changed her out whenever she urinated fed her gerber carrot food and gave her 1 dose of steroids. I slept on the couch that night (Last night) and I dragged her little bunny basket right next to me so I could watch her....

This morning my wife woke me up saying- "Jojo, Lola's not breathing" and as my eyes opened there she laid in her basket just like she was the last time I saw her :cry:... I reached out to pet my Lola and she was cool to the touch- her eyes still opened...., I'm tearing up now thinking about it. Rabbits aren't my favorite animals, Dogs are. I didn't even like rabbits that much- She was stubborn, crazy, never liked to be held by ANYONE, and hated my daughters. But she was always there in the morning when I was getting ready for work walking back and fourth past her cage- she'd be pacing me following me wanting attention and I could never leave the house without giving her any. When she died, all those bad things- weren't so bad at all. :) That was her personality. I knew she loved me. She showed affection (when she wanted to). She was her own being pretty much, and thats when it hit me like a ton of bricks- she was gone and things would no longer be the same...

Her body was hard due to rigor mortis so she probably passed away right after I went to sleep... I thought I'd just let you guys know. I don't know if I'd have done anything differently- its hard to know when to put them down. <sigh>

after reading your post i felt compelled to say something,,i too- just today lost a baby kitten,,last week it was my rabbit..this link should help with solice about your buns condition http://www.medirabbit.com look up myxomatosis or e.cuniculi--nasal cultures are required,to identify,isolate,treat the proper bacteria responsible.,again my condolences at this time for the loss of your bun,,raising exotics is what i do,,but i feel i failed my bun and kitten...sincerely james waller:(
 
How sad :( 2 isn't very old at all what a shame, sounds like you did all you could but, maybe with a bit better veterinary care ? Who knows, it won't bring her back sadly - RIP Lola.
 
How sad :( 2 isn't very old at all what a shame, sounds like you did all you could but, maybe with a bit better veterinary care ? Who knows, it won't bring her back sadly - RIP Lola.

Thanks :) It was actually 3 years not that thats any better :?. I just don't know what the hell went wrong. What hurts the most is looking at her empty cage.
 
after reading your post i felt compelled to say something,,i too- just today lost a baby kitten,,last week it was my rabbit..this link should help with solice about your buns condition http://www.medirabbit.com look up myxomatosis or e.cuniculi--nasal cultures are required,to identify,isolate,treat the proper bacteria responsible.,again my condolences at this time for the loss of your bun,,raising exotics is what i do,,but i feel i failed my bun and kitten...sincerely james waller:(

Thanks so much for your condolences. I'm sorry for your bunbun and cat, its very hard to let animals that you've loved and cared for go. I'm finding that out now.
 
after reading your post i felt compelled to say something,,i too- just today lost a baby kitten,,last week it was my rabbit..this link should help with solice about your buns condition http://www.medirabbit.com look up myxomatosis or e.cuniculi--nasal cultures are required,to identify,isolate,treat the proper bacteria responsible.,again my condolences at this time for the loss of your bun,,raising exotics is what i do,,but i feel i failed my bun and kitten...sincerely james waller:(

Thank you for this reference. I'll be sure to bookmark it.
 
Aw so sorry. I lost a perfectly healthy baby British Giant last year due to spinal injury - much the same as you described. Poor little mite!
RIP little one and binky free!
 
Thanks :) It was actually 3 years not that thats any better :?. I just don't know what the hell went wrong. What hurts the most is looking at her empty cage.

I'm so sorry :cry:
and I couldn't agree more about seeing her cage empty, Crumpets cage is still in our living room and every time I look at it it makes me well up, though it also reminds me of happy times.

It sounds like you did the best you could, a lot more than most would do, I'm
sure Lola knew she was loved and will watch over you all.

Binky free Lola xx
 
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