exercises to help with regaining muscle after injury

annabelle00 · Jun 12, 2013

Does anyone know any exercises for rabbits who need to regain their muscles?

My Caramel had his pelvic bone fractured and healed but now needs to regain muscle. I have a cart for him but would like to know about any exercises for rabbits recovering from immobility. He has already hopped somewhat...few seconds... but needs to regain more of his muscle especially around his hind end.
I need to make a few adjustments on the cart at the moment at the moment.

Pet_Bunny · Jun 17, 2013

I wouldn't push it if he only hopped somewhat.
However you could encourage him to move at his own free will.
Perhaps you could tease him with some food, and have him walk to you by leading him with food.
Take him to a new environment, (a different room or hallway) and let him explore.
My bunny loved being on our bed. She would push the sheets away and pull them back again.

JBun · Jun 17, 2013

I've heard of hydrotherapy being used for rabbits. But that of course would need to be done in a very controlled and supervised environment, under the direction of your vet, especially because rabbits can panic when introduced to water. If you are interested in it, I would suggest doing A LOT of research on it, then find a place licensed to do hydrotherapy, preferrably one with experience with rabbits, if possible.

http://www.rabbitcare.org/swimming.htm
http://www.today.com/pets/water-rabbit-heidi-heals-hydrotherapy-1C8726626

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eooPPu-uBEI[/ame]

Korr_and_Sophie · Jun 17, 2013

You could try putting food in different spots in the cage so he has to move to eat. A few small bowls of pellets, each with a portion of the daily ration, will encourage him to move around. Hay in boxes or tubes will take a bit mroe effort to eat and can be moved around as well.

Getting a cat doughnut bed (flat bottom with a rim) can get him to move in and out of it. Put him in the bed so he has to come out to get things. The rim is usually not too high, so should be easy enough for him to get over.

Some poles on the ground and get him to be careful about how he moves and encourage him to pick up his feet and hop over. If he doesn't like the poles, then throwing them around gets him moving too.

You don't want him to work too hard right now, at least not so hard that he doesn't want to do it, so put things close that he knows it is there but has to move a bit to get to them. As he gets better, you can move them further away.

Nancy McClelland · Jun 18, 2013

Molly lost a lot of weight and strength and is now back to eating like a hog at the trough. She was a little unsteady at first when put down on the floor, but we let her move at her own pace and she's doing just fine.

rabbit_friend · Jun 20, 2013

My exotics specialist recommended the FitPaws disc (about 20-24" diameter). There are some videos of how to use it (with dogs) online. I recently saw something similar at Academy Sports for $20.

I second the hydrotherapy, along with the cautions. See this article about Biggles the rabbit:

http://www.rabbitcare.org/swimming.htm