Kayla
New Member
Alright, back when I was in an Animal Science class, our teacher bred various sorts of animals for show. In the rabbits area, we bred Silver Martins and Mini Lops. Well, some kid left the cage open of a silver martin cage with bunnies around 4-5 weeks old. Needless to say Big fell out. It was a three tiered cage and he was in the second tier. When we found him, we promptly returned him to his mother so he would survive. What we had not realized, was that he had broken both of his hind legs.
Well, I was the first one to notice the oddity a couple of months later. My guess is that it re- broke in order for it to get to the severity it had. Both of his hind legs were rather duck footed and my teacher was quick to examine him. I had not paid much attention to the cage, for at the time I had been rather addicted to the Mini lop kits in the other cages. Namely the one we later tattooed with the word Luv. (I named her).
My teacher said that we would keep an eye on him, if it got worse, he would be put down. Of course, guiltily, my attention went straight for this pretty little kit, and I was quick to bond with him. He is probably the most tolerant rabbit I know. He came up to you in the cage, stayed where ever you put him (not because of his injuries), and even did not mind being held like a baby. It soon became apparent however, that Big had a more serious problem with his right leg. IT seemed like he was walking upon his Tibia or Patella.
My teacher told me towards the end of the year, that if I did not take him, he would be food for the frying pan. Well, I made her build his rabbit hutch, with a pan underneath for indoor use. (I invested $200 in that cage) and promptly pulled Big from his unfortunate future, and brought him home. He has been happily living his months in the cage, but today. While watching him as he roamed around, I began to notice that his right leg was quite a bit further out than I remembered it being.
None of them seem to hinder his movement, he even jumps and walks around upon them like there is nothing wrong.
I questioned my friend, vet tech in training, about Big, and she noticed that he seemed to be developing Sore Hock on both of his legs, then a sore on his right hip. It sort of indents inward, and it looks like he is constantly sitting or laying upon his leg. Kind of like he is sitting on his tarsals.
I do not want to bring him to a vet, for I know the vet would over load me with costs, including X-rays, checkups, tun me through the gauntlet with surgeries, and probably tell me to just put him down. Now, I rescued this rabbit from sure death, I do not think I could stand a Vet telling me to put him down. I also can not afford large expenses when I am already doing so for my 9 year old springer spaniel. I am only 18 on a low income wage.
Is there such a thing as rabbit amputations? Or if I brought him to a vet, what do you suppose the prognosis would be... This way I can make an educated decision upon whether I should take him to the vet or not. Here are some pics for better view on what is going on. I'll post more tomorrow
Big pic 1
Big pic - when he was young
Big pic - 2
Big Pic 3
Big Laying down
Well, I was the first one to notice the oddity a couple of months later. My guess is that it re- broke in order for it to get to the severity it had. Both of his hind legs were rather duck footed and my teacher was quick to examine him. I had not paid much attention to the cage, for at the time I had been rather addicted to the Mini lop kits in the other cages. Namely the one we later tattooed with the word Luv. (I named her).
My teacher said that we would keep an eye on him, if it got worse, he would be put down. Of course, guiltily, my attention went straight for this pretty little kit, and I was quick to bond with him. He is probably the most tolerant rabbit I know. He came up to you in the cage, stayed where ever you put him (not because of his injuries), and even did not mind being held like a baby. It soon became apparent however, that Big had a more serious problem with his right leg. IT seemed like he was walking upon his Tibia or Patella.
My teacher told me towards the end of the year, that if I did not take him, he would be food for the frying pan. Well, I made her build his rabbit hutch, with a pan underneath for indoor use. (I invested $200 in that cage) and promptly pulled Big from his unfortunate future, and brought him home. He has been happily living his months in the cage, but today. While watching him as he roamed around, I began to notice that his right leg was quite a bit further out than I remembered it being.
None of them seem to hinder his movement, he even jumps and walks around upon them like there is nothing wrong.
I questioned my friend, vet tech in training, about Big, and she noticed that he seemed to be developing Sore Hock on both of his legs, then a sore on his right hip. It sort of indents inward, and it looks like he is constantly sitting or laying upon his leg. Kind of like he is sitting on his tarsals.
I do not want to bring him to a vet, for I know the vet would over load me with costs, including X-rays, checkups, tun me through the gauntlet with surgeries, and probably tell me to just put him down. Now, I rescued this rabbit from sure death, I do not think I could stand a Vet telling me to put him down. I also can not afford large expenses when I am already doing so for my 9 year old springer spaniel. I am only 18 on a low income wage.
Is there such a thing as rabbit amputations? Or if I brought him to a vet, what do you suppose the prognosis would be... This way I can make an educated decision upon whether I should take him to the vet or not. Here are some pics for better view on what is going on. I'll post more tomorrow
Big pic 1
Big pic - when he was young
Big pic - 2
Big Pic 3
Big Laying down
