Broken leg, sprain?

This evening i noticed one of my rabbits isnt putting full weight on her front right leg.
I first realised that she was holding it up when she was sat up if that makes sense. I sat in the garden watching her, she puts it down lightly while hopping. She rolled in her favourite digging spot but I had noticed she has been quiet for a few days which I now think must be because of her foot. She is booked in for 10am at the vets tomorrow. I feel sick with worry.
She jumps on and off her run into a small gap so i am worried its broken. (I have blocked the gap off but she still occasionally gets through)
Just wondering what the outcome of your limping bunnies was.

It is a bit of an open question at the moment, so there are a few possibilities that come to mind:

For a sprain, it will be cage rest and pain relief / anti-inflammatory.

It could be an injured toe or nail. Same as for a sprain.

An x-ray may be needed to see if there is a break in the leg or foot. There are a few options and it depends on what is broken, what your local vets can do and cost. Some breaks can be pinned, but it may mean a specialist vet for the initial treatment. It may be possible to splint it. It would need regular checking at the vet, and maybe dressing changes. I would expect pain relief as well. Metacam is usually well liked by rabbits so it isn't usually difficult to dose them.

Ultimately it may not be fixable and could be amputated (happened to one of mine when splinting wasn't working as it wouldn't stay in position as the muscles kept contracting and pulling it out of alignment , and pinning was not an option as the bones were very fine). Tripod bunnies manage really well and it was easier than dealing with the cast / splint, although I always try to fix things first if there is a chance of it working.

You spotted something wrong and acted on it quickly, so see what the vet says and take it from there. Someone may be able to offer more specific advice once you know what you are dealing with. Here's hoping it's something minor.

Hoping the vet visit goes well this morning x

Kim_w said:

This evening i noticed one of my rabbits isnt putting full weight on her front right leg.
I first realised that she was holding it up when she was sat up if that makes sense. I sat in the garden watching her, she puts it down lightly while hopping. She rolled in her favourite digging spot but I had noticed she has been quiet for a few days which I now think must be because of her foot. She is booked in for 10am at the vets tomorrow. I feel sick with worry.
She jumps on and off her run into a small gap so i am worried its broken. (I have blocked the gap off but she still occasionally gets through)
Just wondering what the outcome of your limping bunnies was.

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I'm hoping it's a sprain and can be healed with anti inflammatories and rest. Metacam is the drug of choice as it will help pain and inflammation. She might also need cage rest, or restricted area for a while until it gets better.

Hope it's not a break

Please let us know what the vet says this morning, and good luck xx

It's a sprain. I am so relieved!!
She has pain relief and is going back on Tuesday.
I was going to phone the vets to ask whether she needs to stay in or not as the vet didnt mention and i forgot to ask but you have answered my question with your replys so thankyou.
The poor thing has got conjunctivitis too. She started with a sticky eye at the weekend but the following day when i was going to book an appointment it was ok, has been like that for a couple of days. So glad i trusted my instinct and sat and watched her last night as i knew she wasn't right.
Poor bunny. X

Kim_w said:

It's a sprain. I am so relieved!!
She has pain relief and is going back on Tuesday.
I was going to phone the vets to ask whether she needs to stay in or not as the vet didnt mention and i forgot to ask but you have answered my question with your replys so thankyou.
The poor thing has got conjunctivitis too. She started with a sticky eye at the weekend but the following day when i was going to book an appointment it was ok, has been like that for a couple of days. So glad i trusted my instinct and sat and watched her last night as i knew she wasn't right.
Poor bunny. X

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I'm so glad you've found out what's wrong! I thought it might be a sprain.

Has she got Isathal for her conjunctivitis? Poor lass sounds a bit under the weather!

Yes that is the cream she has for her eyes. The vet put some in this morning so i need to do the next one this eve.
I took flopsys sister with her to the vets as they get a bit worried when separated. They are both still not speaking to me.

Kim_w said:

Yes that is the cream she has for her eyes. The vet put some in this morning so i need to do the next one this eve.
I took flopsys sister with her to the vets as they get a bit worried when separated. They are both still not speaking to me.

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I hope you're making it up to them with herbs and treats? :lol:

Hi,
We are back at the vets tue eve. The vet is going to ask me how her leg is but tbh flopsy goes into her bedroom area as soon as she sees me at the min as has completely fallen out with me as having to do her eye drops twice a day and her metacam once
I have kept her in since thursday night to rest her leg but should i let her out tue morning so i can have a proper look at how she is moving or could that do some damage? X

Kim_w said:

Hi,
We are back at the vets tue eve. The vet is going to ask me how her leg is but tbh flopsy goes into her bedroom area as soon as she sees me at the min as has completely fallen out with me as having to do her eye drops twice a day and her metacam once
I have kept her in since thursday night to rest her leg but should i let her out tue morning so i can have a proper look at how she is moving or could that do some damage? X

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If there's somewhere you can let her out that's just a bit of exercise, that might be a good idea. Try and take a video of it to show the vet if necessary.

The floor in the vet's consult room is usually quite slippery, so you wouldn't want her to try out on that - something with a bit of traction is best.

Hope you manage to get the eye drops done for her

Thanks for the advice. she has been absolutely fine for the eye drops its the metacam she isnt too keen on taking. I need to clean them out today so may let her in her run although she has to go down a steep ramp to get into it

Kim_w said:

Thanks for the advice. she has been absolutely fine for the eye drops its the metacam she isnt too keen on taking. I need to clean them out today so may let her in her run although she has to go down a steep ramp to get into it

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Welcome

Good luck with getting her to try out putting weight on the leg x

I let her out in the garden before. She seems loads better on her leg. I am so happy!
She jumped on top of the run again though so shevis banned from the garden until I have nailed a plank of wood over the gap. I nearly had a heart attack when my daughter told ne she was on top of the hutch but luckily she is ok!
She has the nickname "asbo bunny" can you see why?!

Kim_w said:

I let her out in the garden before. She seems loads better on her leg. I am so happy!
She jumped on top of the run again though so shevis banned from the garden until I have nailed a plank of wood over the gap. I nearly had a heart attack when my daughter told ne she was on top of the hutch but luckily she is ok!
She has the nickname "asbo bunny" can you see why?!

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Goodness, I would've almost had a heart attack too :shock:

Love her nickname! Attitude is the name of the game :lol: