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PLEASE HELP 11 YEAR OLD RABBIT LEG PROBLEMS .. any advice

bunnylover4

Warren Scout
hi all my oldest bunny Yoshi has seemed to be struggling lately and didn’t seem as active so we took him for a health check. He is a good weight (in fact he had put on a gram since his VHD jab in January) he is however very arthritic in his back and hips. But apart from that the vet was happy with him (she is a rabbit savvy vet too ) They put him on metacam to see how he got on with that and we were feeling hopeful as he has been out in the garden more and looking less clumsy..... until today.
He was out in the garden for a bit and greeting us as normal but he was messy which sometimes happens with his arthritis, but after a very gentle clean up we noticed that although he can hop around when he tries to sit down he spins with his back legs to the side. Looking very awkward. Also I have now discovered a lump on his front leg half way down. It doesn’t seem to bother him but I know rabbits are good at hiding pain... I am hoping for a happy outcome but I know he is a very old bunny and not sure how much we can put him through. Has anyone got any suggestions . My rabbit savvy vet has just gone too Australia for 2mths so want to go to the vets with some ideas on treatments in case they are useless:cry::cry::cry:
 
Oh no, do you use the big vet hospital in plymouth? Is your normal vet RH or PH?

Obviously they will want to look at that lump

When it comes to arthritis if there is no physical cause they usually start on pain killers. Metacam is great, so make sure you are on the maximum dose of that, non-rabbit vets often don't give the highest doses.
We tried Gabapentin, which is a good painkiller but does cause them to become dopey, so I would avoid it unless necessary.
We tried Tramadol and had better results, although some say it's not very effective with rabbits, I didn't notice any side effects
 
Oh no, do you use the big vet hospital in plymouth? Is your normal vet RH or PH?

Obviously they will want to look at that lump

When it comes to arthritis if there is no physical cause they usually start on pain killers. Metacam is great, so make sure you are on the maximum dose of that, non-rabbit vets often don't give the highest doses.
We tried Gabapentin, which is a good painkiller but does cause them to become dopey, so I would avoid it unless necessary.
We tried Tramadol and had better results, although some say it's not very effective with rabbits, I didn't notice any side effects

Oh no, do you use the big vet hospital in plymouth? Is your normal vet RH or PH?

Obviously they will want to look at that lump

When it comes to arthritis if there is no physical cause they usually start on pain killers. Metacam is great, so make sure you are on the maximum dose of that, non-rabbit vets often don't give the highest doses.
We tried Gabapentin, which is a good painkiller but does cause them to become dopey, so I would avoid it unless necessary.
We tried Tramadol and had better results, although some say it's not very effective with rabbits, I didn't notice any side effects

Hi no we use woodlands at ivybridge . JH is amazing. The lump is white in colour and the size of a small grape or large pea ...It looks like a cyst but could be a tumour. 🙁 I really hope it’s the cyst. It’s so confusing to know what to do for the best especially as his weight is good and he just had a health check and apart from arthritis and cataracts he is in amazing condition. They want to try metacam first for the arthritis and see if it’s enough but now we have found the growth/lump I don’t know 🙄 I am fearing the worst to be honest.
 
I don't know JH but I think you need to see a rabbit specialist, you should consider going to see someone at PVH until your normal vet comes home.
 
Oh yes we are going to see how he is In the morning but if he is any worse we will be going out of hours vets. We have another good one at woodlands and we have used the main pet hospital before. I just wish I knew more about what the thing is on his leg. I am scared the vet who doesn’t know him or the level of care we give our rabbits will look at him and think he is old so just suggest pts,,,,,,, don’t get me wrong if it is in his best interest then fair enough but I don’t want someone writing him off because he is old. I will always do whatever is best for my fur babies ....
 
I've not had any vets trying to tell me to PTS yet. I think they can tell whether you're a good owner or not and likely to give good care.

Does he normally live outside? If he's out and about and moving around, then I would say the arthritis isn't bad enough to consider PTS any time soon.
For my Roo the turbulant weather has a negative effect on her arthritis, the windy storms and such seem to make her feel worse even though she's an indoor bun.
I hope to see her pick up a bit when the weather improves.

I really wish I could help with the lump, but I have no experience at all.
 
I've not had any vets trying to tell me to PTS yet. I think they can tell whether you're a good owner or not and likely to give good care.

Does he normally live outside? If he's out and about and moving around, then I would say the arthritis isn't bad enough to consider PTS any time soon.
For my Roo the turbulant weather has a negative effect on her arthritis, the windy storms and such seem to make her feel worse even though she's an indoor bun.
I hope to see her pick up a bit when the weather improves.

I really wish I could help with the lump, but I have no experience at all.

Hi yes Yoshi and Alex live in a summerhouse 11ft by 15ft with electric heater in and double glazing. It was purpose built for them when we had four of them... Yoshi and Alex both come out in the garden and he was even out earlier today . He is a bit wobbly in the wind but still hops around. It’s just when he sits down say and is trying to lay down he spins on his bottom with his back legs out to one side. I have never seen this in a rabbit but then again until I got my fur babies I never seen an 11 year old rabbit 🙄. People think we are mad but our bunnies give us so much joy and love. We have been through so much together , now we have a daughter who is 3 and she loves them both. I just want to right by him and know how to keep him comfy. Obviously the lump needs looking at either way but it’s the arthritis I am most concerned about
 
hi all my oldest bunny Yoshi has seemed to be struggling lately and didn’t seem as active so we took him for a health check. He is a good weight (in fact he had put on a gram since his VHD jab in January) he is however very arthritic in his back and hips. But apart from that the vet was happy with him (she is a rabbit savvy vet too ) They put him on metacam to see how he got on with that and we were feeling hopeful as he has been out in the garden more and looking less clumsy..... until today.
He was out in the garden for a bit and greeting us as normal but he was messy which sometimes happens with his arthritis, but after a very gentle clean up we noticed that although he can hop around when he tries to sit down he spins with his back legs to the side. Looking very awkward. Also I have now discovered a lump on his front leg half way down. It doesn’t seem to bother him but I know rabbits are good at hiding pain... I am hoping for a happy outcome but I know he is a very old bunny and not sure how much we can put him through. Has anyone got any suggestions . My rabbit savvy vet has just gone too Australia for 2mths so want to go to the vets with some ideas on treatments in case they are useless:cry::cry::cry:

Hello, it's good to hear from you again but I am really sorry to hear that Yoshi is struggling. As Stator has suggested, additional analgesia such as Tramadol may be helpful There is also the option of Acupuncture and laser therapy. My both uses both with good results in many cases. But some Bunnies find the hands on treatment too stressful. So it is not always suitable for all Rabbits. Physiotherapy and massage can also be of some benefit.

The Vet may be able to get some idea as to what the 'lump' on Yoshi's front leg is. But further diagnostics may be required such as a fine needle aspiration/biopsy

These links provide some useful information about arthritis in Rabbits:

https://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/rabbit-health/rabbit-arthritis/

http://wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/S/00dis/Miscellaneous/Osteoarthritis_rabbits.htm

http://www.moorgatevets.co.uk/factsheets/Factsheets/Otherpets/24_290501.shtml

http://www.disabledrabbits.com/arthritis.html

http://www.helpinghandsvetphysio.co.uk/rabbits/

https://rabbit.org/alternative-ther...eletal-issues-and-to-stimulate-wound-healing/
 
hi all my oldest bunny Yoshi has seemed to be struggling lately and didn’t seem as active so we took him for a health check. He is a good weight (in fact he had put on a gram since his VHD jab in January) he is however very arthritic in his back and hips. But apart from that the vet was happy with him (she is a rabbit savvy vet too ) They put him on metacam to see how he got on with that and we were feeling hopeful as he has been out in the garden more and looking less clumsy..... until today.
He was out in the garden for a bit and greeting us as normal but he was messy which sometimes happens with his arthritis, but after a very gentle clean up we noticed that although he can hop around when he tries to sit down he spins with his back legs to the side. Looking very awkward. Also I have now discovered a lump on his front leg half way down. It doesn’t seem to bother him but I know rabbits are good at hiding pain... I am hoping for a happy outcome but I know he is a very old bunny and not sure how much we can put him through. Has anyone got any suggestions . My rabbit savvy vet has just gone too Australia for 2mths so want to go to the vets with some ideas on treatments in case they are useless:cry::cry::cry:


Hi there

I had an arthritis rabbit and I got him put on Tramadol in addition to the Metacam where necessary and this worked a treat for him. However I would say to also ask your vet for some Zantac (Ranitidine) to be given half an hour before the Tramadol as it can cause gastric upsets in some rabbits.

Some more info here

http://www.disabledrabbits.com/arthritis.html
 
Update on Yoshi today. Does this sound typical of arthritis?.

Thank you all for your posts . So today we have been down to Yoshi and Alex and again he was struggling to sit so we waited until the sun had warmed the back garden up and then gentally took him out to the grass area (he can access it himself but we didn’t want him straining himself hopping over the step up) he sat slightly to one side happily munching the grass and even did a few binky head flicks but then it’s like he forgets his back legs aren’t working right and his left leg bails underneath him and he falls. Does this sound like arthritis. We are going vets anyway tomorrow to get the growth checked but I am trying to work out if this is going to be the way Yoshi is now
 
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It doesn't sound like arthritis to me, falling over or collapsing, unless it was caused by sudden pain.
 
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