Mischief and Tinker's Mum
Wise Old Thumper
Hi everyone,
Long time, no see!! But I'm in need of some advice. One of my rabbits who is only 6 years old was diagnosed with arthritis of the hips a few months ago. This was after x-rays were taken when she started being a bit wobbly on her back legs. We were told she would need pain relief for life and to adjust her set up which I've done. Sadly, she's recently gone down hill. She now is really struggling to use her back legs at all, to the point where she's dragging them around. It's absolutely heartbreaking. After some research I decided to treat for EC just in case as the decline seemed very rapid to just be her arthritis. Sadly 3 weeks into the treatment I've not noticed any difference. She's currently on metacam and Calpol twice daily. I've booked her back in to see the vet to get some more advice but I'm at an absolute loss of what to do. Am I fair keeping her alive if she can't use her back legs? She seems bright in herself. Happy to see me and drags herself over for food and treats. I just don't know what to do for the best. I know rabbits are prey animals so I worry in case she's hiding pain... but at the same time she doesn't look to have given up yet. She still has that spark in her eyes.
I suppose she isn't paralysed as such because she can move her back legs and sits up at times, she just chooses not to most of the time.
I'm just heartbroken and need some advice. She's an outdoor bun living in a shed and aviary with three others. Moving inside the house is not an option unfortunately as I do not have the space.
Long time, no see!! But I'm in need of some advice. One of my rabbits who is only 6 years old was diagnosed with arthritis of the hips a few months ago. This was after x-rays were taken when she started being a bit wobbly on her back legs. We were told she would need pain relief for life and to adjust her set up which I've done. Sadly, she's recently gone down hill. She now is really struggling to use her back legs at all, to the point where she's dragging them around. It's absolutely heartbreaking. After some research I decided to treat for EC just in case as the decline seemed very rapid to just be her arthritis. Sadly 3 weeks into the treatment I've not noticed any difference. She's currently on metacam and Calpol twice daily. I've booked her back in to see the vet to get some more advice but I'm at an absolute loss of what to do. Am I fair keeping her alive if she can't use her back legs? She seems bright in herself. Happy to see me and drags herself over for food and treats. I just don't know what to do for the best. I know rabbits are prey animals so I worry in case she's hiding pain... but at the same time she doesn't look to have given up yet. She still has that spark in her eyes.
I suppose she isn't paralysed as such because she can move her back legs and sits up at times, she just chooses not to most of the time.
I'm just heartbroken and need some advice. She's an outdoor bun living in a shed and aviary with three others. Moving inside the house is not an option unfortunately as I do not have the space.