Hello, I know this is supposed to be a rabbit forum, but I really need help, and hares are very similar. So to start this story, about 2 and a bit months ago, I found a 1-week-old, maybe less, baby leveret (hare) that had been attacked by a kookaburra and had its front leg broken. He was drinking milk and healthy otherwise, but I didn't want to selfishly raise him, knowing he would be in pain and I wouldn't be able to help, so I called three different vets near me, asking if they could help him/knew someone who could help him. Since rabbits are illegal to keep as pets where I live and hares are introduced, they all refused to help and could only offer paid euthanasia until the last vet I called said I'm probably not going to find somebody that will be willing to help and recommended I splint the leg myself, so I did. His leg healed quite well considering how bad the break was, but he would always favour the other leg. I think this is because the tendons aren't fully healed yet. Due to this and him being so friendly, I decided to attempt keeping him as a pet with the consideration that I may have to release him later if he no longer decides he wants to be around people, but so far, that day hasn't come around.
Ok, now onto his legs. This morning he appeared to be completely fine when I left for school at 7:50 am. When my mum got home at 8, he was lying down on his side in the middle of his pen, which he never does; he only ever lies on his bed or outside his pen. My mum just assumed that's how they act during the day, so I was unaware of this until I got home at 4pm and saw him lying in the same spot and had barely touched the food I gave him at 7:45. I immediately knew something was wrong and thought he might be overheating (it was a 30°C day), so I lifted him onto my bed and cranked up the aircon and fan. once placed down he tried to hold himself up with struggle and scratched at the covers, i rest him against a pillow with his legs lay on the bed and his arms straining to keep himself upright, still thinking he might be overheated i offer him water which he doesnt take so despite him being weaned i offer him goats milk which he guzzles down without hesitation, great, now hes atleast got some liquid into him i then go and grab some lettuce which he munches on contently using this time i quickly research what the hell could be causing his back legs to be completely paralysed like this and come up with a few possibilities, floppy bunny syndrome, injury or paralysis tick i quickly rule out injury as 1, i dont think it would be very easy for him to injure his back in his pen, 2 when i touch his back legs he can definitely feel it and reacts by looking back. I check him over for ticks, which he does not like; he's not used to me feeling around his crotch and armpits and gives me a hard bite. He is at his core not domesticated after all, but I can feel he doesn't have any ticks. So I try to see what could cause this floppy bunny syndrome, and it's a lot. Too much to narrow down, but a common first course of action from what I'm seeing is to offer vitamin E, so I syringe-feed him half a vitamin E 1000 capsule mixed with goat's milk, which he easily takes. Shortly after, he poos this long, twisting poo, which I have never seen anything like. He's dropped a few more soft, dark, non-spherical droppings, from which I think he might have diarrhoea. I'm not sure if it's related, but it may be something to note. It's now 6pm, and he is lying on a few pillows under the fan in an area he is familiar with, with a full belly after eating some rabbit hay and pellet mix, lettuce, milk and grass.
But what now? I doubt taking him to a vet is an option; I'm not sure any vets near me would even know how to treat floppy bunny syndrome due to rabbits being illegal, let alone a hare, and even if I somehow found someone who could, I don't know if I could even afford it. I'm at a loss and would like to know if there are any other possibilities for what could be causing this or if anyone has successfully treated floppy bunnies at home. Any help is appreciated. below is a photo of him on the pillows taken right now + some other photos of him because he's so cute.
Ok, now onto his legs. This morning he appeared to be completely fine when I left for school at 7:50 am. When my mum got home at 8, he was lying down on his side in the middle of his pen, which he never does; he only ever lies on his bed or outside his pen. My mum just assumed that's how they act during the day, so I was unaware of this until I got home at 4pm and saw him lying in the same spot and had barely touched the food I gave him at 7:45. I immediately knew something was wrong and thought he might be overheating (it was a 30°C day), so I lifted him onto my bed and cranked up the aircon and fan. once placed down he tried to hold himself up with struggle and scratched at the covers, i rest him against a pillow with his legs lay on the bed and his arms straining to keep himself upright, still thinking he might be overheated i offer him water which he doesnt take so despite him being weaned i offer him goats milk which he guzzles down without hesitation, great, now hes atleast got some liquid into him i then go and grab some lettuce which he munches on contently using this time i quickly research what the hell could be causing his back legs to be completely paralysed like this and come up with a few possibilities, floppy bunny syndrome, injury or paralysis tick i quickly rule out injury as 1, i dont think it would be very easy for him to injure his back in his pen, 2 when i touch his back legs he can definitely feel it and reacts by looking back. I check him over for ticks, which he does not like; he's not used to me feeling around his crotch and armpits and gives me a hard bite. He is at his core not domesticated after all, but I can feel he doesn't have any ticks. So I try to see what could cause this floppy bunny syndrome, and it's a lot. Too much to narrow down, but a common first course of action from what I'm seeing is to offer vitamin E, so I syringe-feed him half a vitamin E 1000 capsule mixed with goat's milk, which he easily takes. Shortly after, he poos this long, twisting poo, which I have never seen anything like. He's dropped a few more soft, dark, non-spherical droppings, from which I think he might have diarrhoea. I'm not sure if it's related, but it may be something to note. It's now 6pm, and he is lying on a few pillows under the fan in an area he is familiar with, with a full belly after eating some rabbit hay and pellet mix, lettuce, milk and grass.
But what now? I doubt taking him to a vet is an option; I'm not sure any vets near me would even know how to treat floppy bunny syndrome due to rabbits being illegal, let alone a hare, and even if I somehow found someone who could, I don't know if I could even afford it. I'm at a loss and would like to know if there are any other possibilities for what could be causing this or if anyone has successfully treated floppy bunnies at home. Any help is appreciated. below is a photo of him on the pillows taken right now + some other photos of him because he's so cute.
You've done a great job with his leg & raising him in general. I don't have any medical advice but I hope his issues resolve. I read a lovely book recently called "Raising Hare" - I'd recommend reading it. Its a factual account of a city dwelling woman who found an abandoned hare. I'm really curious about what country you live in?
