BUNNY TORE LIGAMENT AFTER ATTACKED BY EAGLE NEED ADVICE

[jeremiahiba]

Me and my family keep our Florida White in our backyard shed we converted into a nice little pen for him for the past 3 in a half years. We live in a secluded area with lots of trees and a big yard and during the day we let our bunny run around while my grandpa does yard work around the house.

Anyways, last Saturday, my grandpa calls us all outside and tells us that an eagle swooped in and tried grabbing our bunny! The hawk was posted up on one of the phone poles so I threw rocks at it to shoo it away while our bunny was hiding under my parked car. My sister reached out and pulled him out. He had a scratched up nose but there were no other apparent injuries that we saw (initially). However, when we brought him inside and my sister set him on the floor he began to limp on his right hind leg. I immediately took him to the nearest animal hospital. The veterinarian administered pain medication and after sedating him for an X-Ray they found that his right hind ligament had been extensively torn and would not heal by itself. The vet told us that amputation of the leg would be the most humane option as our bunny won't be able to use the leg anymore do to the damage. She said that we could be referred to a specialist who could probably do surgery to try to repair the ligament, however it was very risky and also expensive, running to almost $4000. The amputation is our safest bet, and not as expensive.

My mother and father (both, ironically work in the medical field) are convinced that the ligament will heal by itself, or at least the pain for our bunny will eventually subside, despite what the vet told us. However, my sister and I feel its inhumane to keep the leg and that amputation, while its hard for both of us to accept, is the viable and humane option. Our bunny is usually very energetic (and at times even a bit aggressive) but ever since the incident we kept him inside our house and have been monitoring him constantly and he has been very lethargic (mostly due to the pain medication he was prescribed) and seemingly depressed. Should we go for the amputation? Or should we just "wait it out", against medical advice? What are the consequences if we don't go for the amputation? Any feedback helps I just need to convince my parents since they're the ones paying the medical bill.

 

[JBun]

I have a rabbit that damaged his ligament in his front leg years ago. It healed, not perfectly as he does have some slightly reduced function in his front leg, but mostly just when hopping down on things, otherwise you would never even know he injured the leg at all. I can't say if your rabbit could heal from this injury, just that mine was able to with a minor ligament injury.

If your parents want to see if it can heal, it would require discussing it with your vet, probably restricting your rabbits movement so as to allow for healing, and would likely need the vet to prescribe ongoing pain medication/anti inflammatory, to help minimize pain/inflammation so your rabbit isn't suffering while he recovers. If it doesn't heal, amputation would still be an option.

Something to also consider is if you do see if it will heal, your rabbit may need to be kept indoors and will have restricted movement during this period of healing. If your rabbit can't adjust to this and is too depressed, it may be better to just go ahead with the amputation so you can get your bun back into his normal environment as soon as possible. Recovering from amputation will likely take much less time than would take waiting to see if the ligament heals.

If the pain medication is making your rabbit to dopey/lethargic, maybe discuss reducing the dose or switching to a non opiate pain med like meloxicam(proviided it will give adequate pain management). He may start doing better if he isn't so doped up, though you still want to make sure the pain is managed.

 

[CharlieRae]

If the ligament is completely torn, I highly doubt it will heal. If your parents are not wanting to amputate or repair, then have them get a couple more opinions on the damage. You can take the Xrays your vet already did to have them looked at to avoid another sedation.
Personally, I'd amputate the leg. Poor guy cannot live in pain.

 

[Playdoh52]

Me and my family keep our Florida White in our backyard shed we converted into a nice little pen for him for the past 3 in a half years. We live in a secluded area with lots of trees and a big yard and during the day we let our bunny run around while my grandpa does yard work around the house.

Anyways, last Saturday, my grandpa calls us all outside and tells us that an eagle swooped in and tried grabbing our bunny! The hawk was posted up on one of the phone poles so I threw rocks at it to shoo it away while our bunny was hiding under my parked car. My sister reached out and pulled him out. He had a scratched up nose but there were no other apparent injuries that we saw (initially). However, when we brought him inside and my sister set him on the floor he began to limp on his right hind leg. I immediately took him to the nearest animal hospital. The veterinarian administered pain medication and after sedating him for an X-Ray they found that his right hind ligament had been extensively torn and would not heal by itself. The vet told us that amputation of the leg would be the most humane option as our bunny won't be able to use the leg anymore do to the damage. She said that we could be referred to a specialist who could probably do surgery to try to repair the ligament, however it was very risky and also expensive, running to almost $4000. The amputation is our safest bet, and not as expensive.

My mother and father (both, ironically work in the medical field) are convinced that the ligament will heal by itself, or at least the pain for our bunny will eventually subside, despite what the vet told us. However, my sister and I feel its inhumane to keep the leg and that amputation, while its hard for both of us to accept, is the viable and humane option. Our bunny is usually very energetic (and at times even a bit aggressive) but ever since the incident we kept him inside our house and have been monitoring him constantly and he has been very lethargic (mostly due to the pain medication he was prescribed) and seemingly depressed. Should we go for the amputation? Or should we just "wait it out", against medical advice? What are the consequences if we don't go for the amputation? Any feedback helps I just need to convince my parents since they're the ones paying the medical bill.

I don't have a medical background but if you parents do and think the legiment may heal somewhat one its own. I would follow what the above poster said about confing your rabbit to a smaller area so that they won't damage the ligament anymore while it starts healing. I have a rabbit who on Thanksgiving was found in her outdoor hutch with sever muscle loss and a messed up leg, which turned out to be a fractured knee cap. We couldn't afford surgery either but I have done as what was suggested like physical therapy, holding her body up so her hurt limps could hang naturally and get some blood flow in them, and leave her in her confined area. And she had slowly after 7 weeks, several butt baths, a hair trim of her behind to get of the poopy and urine soaked hair and she is doing so much better! Her knee cap was fractured right down the middle of her "cap" area sorry don't no medical terminology here..but if you search for post by my name you will find my post.

Below is the first youtube vlog (aka reaching out for help attempt) for my rabbit Miss White foot. Watch the whole playlist to see how much better she is doing. Like I said I don't know medical healing, but if you parents thing a ligament could heal maybe it can??