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Bunny with broken leg :(

Kaypw86

New Kit
Hello,

I am looking for advice from anyone who has had a bunny with a broken leg before?
I have taken my 3 month old bunny to the vets this morning and they confirmed what I feared, that he has a broken leg. The break is by the ankle so his foot is floppy and cannot bear weight on it. He is eating, drinking and hopping around fine and doesn’t seem to be in much pain. The vet suggested surgery which would cost over £500 which I just cannot afford at the moment. She also suggested that I could take him home with pain relief and see how he does in a week or so. She said that because he seems himself and is eating and drinking then she thinks he could manage with the pain relief. Where the break is she also said that it should be able to heal on its own but she cannot be 100%. She also suggested euthanasia, which I considered because obviously I don’t want him to be suffering and in pain but she seemed to think he wouldn’t be to much and that it was worth a try. However, if the break doesn’t heal he probably will need to be euthanised unless I can pay for surgery but it’s highly unlikely as my circumstances at the moment just won’t allow that. Now he is in a very small hutch so keeping him refined as the vet suggested, he has food and water and soft bedding. I just wondered if anyone else had experienced this before and if their rabbit healed and went on to be ok or not? I want to be hopeful but at the same time don’t want to get my hopes up. Any advice or stories of a similar situation would be appreciated. Thanks
 
Where are you located ? Perhaps a different vet ? I don't know how much amputation costs but that does sound high.

^^^^^^^^^^
this and also has the Vet immobilised the ankle ?

Are you eligible for any subsidised Veterinary care via the Blue Cross/ PDSA/RSPCA

https://www.pdsa.org.uk/taking-care-of-your-pet/eligibility

https://www.bluecross.org.uk/veterinary

https://www.rspca.org.uk/whatwedo/care/vetcare

https://www.vets-now.com/2018/02/help-with-vet-bills/
 
She said she wouldn’t amputate and it would be surgery to fix it, self healing with rest & pain relief or euthanasia
 
The vet hasn’t done anything to the ankle. She said it is probably a fracture but without doing x rays can’t be sure. I am with the pdsa but because I already have a cat registered with them I have to pay a concessionary amount for the second animal. I asked if I could take my cat off and wouldn’t bring him to them if they could just treat the rabbit but they said no. She said he seems ok and should heal but obviously just have to wait and see. It was really upsetting as obviously I don’t want to give up on him, can’t afford expensive treatment but at the same time I don’t want him to suffer or be in pain. He has a liquid pain relief that I need t give him once or twice a day depending how he is.
 
I know this may sound extreme but if you gave him to a rescue, they would get him treated. You would have to give him up permanently though.

Are you in the UK ?
 
If I gave him to a rescue they would probably euthanise him. I can’t see that they would go through the expense of surgery they are short for funds as it is. I have spoken to the head vet again for advice and she said to see how he goes over the weekend with pain relief and she will call me on Monday and see where we go from there. Without x rays it is hard to tell how bad the break is so I think I will have to find the funds from somewhere for the X-rays just to see what we are dealing with. I only took the rabbit in to help someone out who couldn’t look after it properly. Have given him a lovely hutch and run he is well looked after and now this :(
 
I volunteer and foster for a rescue, we don't enthanise, unless an animal was dying or was suffering and nothing could be done. We have had a few amputations and they have always been successful.

It's called Animal Rescue and Care Twickenham. You can Google the details.

It's an option you can consider, I know two people in Hampshire, one is a hamster friend of mine who comes to London most weekends to see her daughter.

I can reassure you that ARC wouldn't put your rabbit down for just a broken leg.
 
If you’re Hampshire way I’d strongly suggest giving John Chitty at Anton vets a call. He’s a rabbit specialist and I’ve always found his costs reasonable :)


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I’ve never known a rescue to put down a rabbit that is otherwise healthy.

Amanda’s offer at ARC is amazing! Or try the vets that nap has suggested. Bunny needs x ray ASAP to determine IF it’s a break.
 
If you’re Hampshire way I’d strongly suggest giving John Chitty at Anton vets a call. He’s a rabbit specialist and I’ve always found his costs reasonable :)


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I would second this. He's also an excellent vet :thumb:
 
Honestly if I could afford it I would get him the treatment but I just don’t have hundreds of pounds for X-rays and surgery. I feel so guilty that I can’t do anymore for him. I am going to phone around a few rescue centres tomorrow and see if they can help and if it means I have to give him up for adoption so that he gets the help he needs then that is what I will have to do. My children will be devastated :( we’ve only had him for two weeks I just stupidly didn’t get round to insuring him yet.
 
One of my bunnies dislocated his hock when he was quite young - he had it pinned and recovered really well with no issues. Rabbits cope very well on 3 legs if need be so I'm a little surprised that the vet isn't willing to consider amputation in addition to your other options. If you leave it to heal, there may well be problems in future if the bones don't fuse together properly, or at the wrong angle etc so personally I wouldn't advise it.

Whatever you decide (speaking to a rescue, seeking a second opinion etc) pain relief is really important. Rabbits are very good at hiding pain (my bunny was already trying to bear weight on his foot by the time we got him to the vet, for example, despite the injury).

As already said, there are many reputable rescues out there who would only put a bunny to sleep when there is absolutely no other option. Animal Rescue & Care have been running for a long while and are well known on the forum. Please do consider Barn Yard Bunnies offer (you can chat with her via private message if you prefer).

Other than that, I agree that it would be worth seeking a second opinion.
 
I'm very sorry you're in this situation. :( Is there any other vets you are able to get to that you could call for their advice/estimates on the cost? I have seen a few rabbits with various breaks/fractures come through work (at a vets) and most had them repaired or one had the leg amputated, I would be worried the pain relief isn't quite enough to be honest. I hope it doesn't come to you having to allow a rescue to rehome your rabbit, but if it does it would be a very caring thing you would do for him putting his best interests first. All the best x
 
Just got back from the vets, I took my three foster hamsters for a check. ARC don't put animals down, we don't have a centre like the RSPCA it is fully run by volunteers and all animals are fostered in people's private homes. If they can't be adopted for either behaviour or physical reasons they become permanent fosters. I have one girl who is permanent because she attacked people. I've had her a year and she has calmed down. She doesn't like strangers so happily lives here where no one bothers her.

I don't drive either but my hamster friend does, I am sure she could collect from you and bring her to me. Most rescues are full as we are but I would classify your bunny as an emergency.
 
I’m so sorry that you are in this situation. You’ve been given lots of good advice, if I was in your situation I would borrow money or often vets do offer payment plans. I’m also surprised the vet didn’t suggest amputation as an option. Is your vet rabbit savvy, an exotics specialist?

If you can’t do that, then I would suggest letting a rescue take him, so that he can get treatment ASAP.

As has already been said, he does need the pain relief you’ve got him.

ETA, as has already been said, ARC and other rescues like them don’t PTS unless as a last resort.
 
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