Spay advice and pododermatitis on front feet

Sorry to only post when I need something but Priscilla is having a rocky time at the minute!

Just a recap since last time I updated her story tried to bond her myself that failed tried to bond her with a friend who is rabbit savvy that failed ( probably due to the fact she still has her uterus) but accepted she is quite happy on her own ( please no bashing I am absolutely aware she would probably be happier with the right companion it's finding them)

Anyway took her for her vhd 2 vax and it was a different vet who gave me a lecture about wasting money on vaccines if I'm just going to let her die of tumours ( I complained) but it has got me thinking? Am I doing right by her?

Reasons I don't have her spayed are she is a terrible diva under GA when they amputated her leg she very nearly didn't make it and went into stasis for a week after both anaesthetics she has had even with pre pro kinetics and fluids, also she has a bit of pelvic deformity plus only one back leg her mobility although adequate is not great, and personally I've always believed in quality over quantity (that's not to say I won't be devastated regardless when how or what she dies of)
So spay or not to spay? I'm not really looking for anyone to tell me one way or the other I could just do with a bit of perspective

Now on to the feet! She has obviously a bit of a sore hock on the back foot that's left and I have that under control we wrap it each night with some Manuka honey and she has regular loxicom her front feet are a different matter she is obviously developing some arthritis in her pelvis (it was previously fractured so to be expected) so she weight bears on her front feet a lot of the time which means the two toes in the middle of both feet are becoming red and sore (no broken skin) I tried boots on them she hates them

She is on newspaper vet bed then hay hay hay on top can I do anything else for her front feet ? (Photos only show her outside of enclosure)


Sorry for very long winded post there has been a lot going on

Picture of madam for reference

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How old is she? She looks like a lovely bunny and you are doing an amazing job looking after her. Personally I wouldn't have her neutered because, as you know, it is a major operation and really the rabbit needs to be in tip-top condition. If it is any consolation, I have an 11 yr old unspayed bunny. I know it's better to have females spayed but I have lost spayed rabbits to other illnesses. She looks very happy in the photo.

Thank you I'm not sure of her exact age I'm her third home but from what I've managed to get out of previous owners she's around 4-5 years old

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willowflower27 said:

Anyway took her for her vhd 2 vax and it was a different vet who gave me a lecture about wasting money on vaccines if I'm just going to let her die of tumours ( I complained)



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I hope you dont have to work with that particular Vet. ................

As for Princess Pricilla and spaying, I totally understand your dilemma. I have been in a similar situation before. Whilst the 'best practice' for the overall health and wefare of a Doe is to have her spayed there are always going to be individual cases where spaying is not appropriate. IMO a spay is a major abdominal operation and a 'big deal' for a young healthy Doe. It is always going to be a bigger deal for an older Doe with pre-existing health problems. I cant tell you what you should do re Princess, but here are my thoughts on what I may consider if she were my Bunny. Firstly, given her history of very poor tolerance under GA I would want to know if any reason for this was determined ? I would want a full blood work-up run and also to discuss chest X-rays prior to opening her up. I would certainly not consider spaying her to be a minor elective surgical procedure and I'd want only a Rabbit Savvy Vet to attempt the procedure ( preferably one with a bit of tact when talking with me !!)

Post spay recovery may be prolonged and not without complications due to her disabilities. Post surgical gut stasis being one thing to get on top of PDQ. Also, there is the risk of post surgical adhesions to consider and I'd want to have a lengthy discussion with a Rabbit Savvy Vet about this too.

As things sound at the moment personally I'd be leaning toward the not spaying, but as I said it is not my place to say what you should do. Very best wishes for whatever you decide.

Re the pododermatitis, I have found that disabled Rabbits such as Primrose cope best kept on Vetbed covered with a cotton sheet. Even Vetbed can be abrasive and disabled Rabbits can find getting about in long strand hay tricky with the potential of it getting wrapped around the hind legs (leg). I provide hay in hay racks rather than as bedding.

Is Pricilla having any treatment to try to manage any spinal discomfort she may be experiencing ?

Jack's-Jane said:

I hope you dont have to work with that particular Vet. ................


Is Pricilla having any treatment to try to manage any spinal discomfort she may be experiencing ?

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Thank you for replying

I have asked for it to be noted I don't wish to see that vet again, as for treatment she has accupuncture now once a month but used to be weekly and I take her for laser/ massage every two weeks plus I have some physio excercise to do at home.

I had previously spoken to the d1ck vet about spaying her on the months after I firs got her and they didn't have a burning desire to spay her at that time I might contact them again for advice, however i assume it will be the same as before the poor GA , the long recovery affecting her mobility which will exacerbate her current sore feet.

She is happy and healthy and if she wasn't disabled I'd have no problems spaying all my other rabbits were ( one developed terrible adhesions) but I do feel spaying given its associated risks for a rabbit with a life limiting condition doesn't seem in her best interest

It's a dilemma I've had since I got her and I thought I was at peace with my decision until the vet blundered in.


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willowflower27 said:

Thank you for replying

I have asked for it to be noted I don't wish to see that vet again, as for treatment she has accupuncture now once a month but used to be weekly and I take her for laser/ massage every two weeks plus I have some physio excercise to do at home.

I had previously spoken to the d1ck vet about spaying her on the months after I firs got her and they didn't have a burning desire to spay her at that time I might contact them again for advice, however i assume it will be the same as before the poor GA , the long recovery affecting her mobility which will exacerbate her current sore feet.

She is happy and healthy and if she wasn't disabled I'd have no problems spaying all my other rabbits were ( one developed terrible adhesions) but I do feel spaying given its associated risks for a rabbit with a life limiting condition doesn't seem in her best interest

It's a dilemma I've had since I got her and I thought I was at peace with my decision until the vet blundered in.


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I'd have another word with the D1ck Vets about the spaying. I would find it hard to respect the opinion of the Vet who spoke to you in such a rude way.

Jack's-Jane said:

I'd have another word with the D1ck Vets about the spaying. I would find it hard to respect the opinion of the Vet who spoke to you in such a rude way.

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I don’t honestly know what I would do specifically in your situation so I haven’t commented as I can’t give specific advice, but I agree with Jane with this.

Thank you I'm going to call them and see if I can speak to someone I'd take her there as my normal vet but there a good bit away from me

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I would definitely call up and see what they say. If they think it's a good idea is there an exotic vet specialist in your area who could do the procedure. My specialist used to just give the minimum GA when Doughnut needed dental and other things done, so she woke up straight away. They would also advise on her sore hocks.

Doughnut used to have the cold laser treatment for arthritis. I found it helped but she was also on a lot of pain relief such as tramadol, gabapentin and metacam.

Just an update on Priscilla I spoke to vet school and on discussion the plan is to not spay her it's felt the risk Vs benefit just isn't there she has a good quality of life and is otherwise happy however they did suggest a CT to get an idea of how bad her pelvis is but that can be done conscious and then we can revisit the spay topic again.
I believe this is the best for her I don't want to put her through a spay if her pelvis pathology is going to force me to make some decisions
Thank you for the replies

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Thanks for the up-date and I hope Priscilla remains a happy and contented bunny for a long time.

willowflower27 said:

Just an update on Priscilla I spoke to vet school and on discussion the plan is to not spay her it's felt the risk Vs benefit just isn't there she has a good quality of life and is otherwise happy however they did suggest a CT to get an idea of how bad her pelvis is but that can be done conscious and then we can revisit the spay topic again.
I believe this is the best for her I don't want to put her through a spay if her pelvis pathology is going to force me to make some decisions
Thank you for the replies

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I completely agree with this decision. I did not say so so emphatically in my previous posts, but if Priscilla were my Bunny no way would I have her spayed. I hope that she continues to cope as well as possible with her disabilities.

I’m glad you were able to come to a decision you and a decent vet agreed on