Flemish giant losing control of hind legs

[Critter-gal]

Wondering if anyone has any ideas of what is going in with our girl.

Bunnykins is a Flemish giant who showed up at the family farm one day almost 4 years ago now. She did not have her large dewlap when we found her so guessed she was an Easter present who grew too big. She has never been good at grooming herself or eating hay. She has been able to run in our backyard this past summer and the one before that, only while we are also in the backyard.

About 3 months ago, I noticed she seemed to be vibrating while sitting otherwise normally. She also lost her appetite a little bit and lost some weight. This went on for almost a month and then she started having her back legs give out while hopping. We went to the vet at this point and was told to come back if it got worse as I thought maybe an ear infection and they found nothing. Back end lameness got worse so went back and was given Baytril for 3 weeks. She gained some of her appetite back but otherwise the back end lameness got worse still. Went back to the vet and was given gabapentin. Told to try it for a month and if still nothing they would try xrays.

Well, it's been 1.5 weeks and not really seeing a difference in lameness. She has her appetite back and is eating hay which is a big step. But will fall over and just lie there to catch her breath before getting up.

How will I know if the gabapentin is doing anything? And does anyone have anymore ideas of what this could be? My vet is thinking abcess/tumor on the spinal cord. I would just like to keep her pain free and happy as long as we can at this point. We are in Ontario Canada if that makes a difference.

 

[JBun]

So has the vet not taken xrays yet? In an older giant breed rabbit, spondylosis and hip dysplasia would be the first things that I would suspect to cause hind limb weakness as their size and genetics make them very prone to these issues.

https://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/rabbit-care-advice/maintenance-handling/caring-giant-rabbits/
http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/paresis.html
Another possibility has to do with the heart. Giant breed rabbits can also be more prone to an enlarged heart or other heart issues. The vibrating that you're seeing could be due to increased respiratory effort that can occur with heart problems. Lack of good grooming could also indicate heart issues. Thymoma in the chest cavity affecting the heart and lungs is also a possibility. This can also cause increased respiratory effort. Heart problems can also sometimes cause hind limb weakness/paresis.

https://rabbit.org/cardiovascular-disease-in-rabbitsmore-questions-than-answers/
(these links contain graphic medical related photos)
Medirabbit: congestive heart failure
http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Cardiology/Failure/Cong_heart_en.pdf
https://rabbit.org/thymomas-in-rabbits/
https://rabbit.org/a-miracle-for-hopnoodle-a-tale-of-thymoma/
That's what I would suggest discussing with your vet, and checking for with chest xrays and hip/spine xrays, as well as an ultrasound of the heart if the xrays aren't conclusive as to the hips/spine being the cause. None of these are necessarily curable, but with the right medications may be manageable to help minimize discomfort and pain, and if the heart, to help the heart function better, to provide your rabbit with a good quality of life for whatever time is left.

If your vet isn't a really good and knowledgeable rabbit vet, I would suggest trying to find one to take your rabbit to, as these issues will require a vet with a lot of experience with rabbits, especially if it's thymoma or a heart issue.

https://rabbit.org/vet-listings/

 

[Critter-gal]

So has the vet not taken xrays yet? In an older giant breed rabbit, spondylosis and hip dysplasia would be the first things that I would suspect to cause hind limb weakness as their size and genetics make them very prone to these issues.

https://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/rabbit-care-advice/maintenance-handling/caring-giant-rabbits/
http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/paresis.html
Another possibility has to do with the heart. Giant breed rabbits can also be more prone to an enlarged heart or other heart issues. The vibrating that you're seeing could be due to increased respiratory effort that can occur with heart problems. Lack of good grooming could also indicate heart issues. Thymoma in the chest cavity affecting the heart and lungs is also a possibility. This can also cause increased respiratory effort. Heart problems can also sometimes cause hind limb weakness/paresis.

https://rabbit.org/cardiovascular-disease-in-rabbitsmore-questions-than-answers/
(these links contain graphic medical related photos)
Medirabbit: congestive heart failure
http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Cardiology/Failure/Cong_heart_en.pdf
https://rabbit.org/thymomas-in-rabbits/
https://rabbit.org/a-miracle-for-hopnoodle-a-tale-of-thymoma/
That's what I would suggest discussing with your vet, and checking for with chest xrays and hip/spine xrays, as well as an ultrasound of the heart if the xrays aren't conclusive as to the hips/spine being the cause. None of these are necessarily curable, but with the right medications may be manageable to help minimize discomfort and pain, and if the heart, to help the heart function better, to provide your rabbit with a good quality of life for whatever time is left.

If your vet isn't a really good and knowledgeable rabbit vet, I would suggest trying to find one to take your rabbit to, as these issues will require a vet with a lot of experience with rabbits, especially if it's thymoma or a heart issue.

https://rabbit.org/vet-listings/

Thank you for this! I've had rabbits for 30+ years but did not know this so will push for the xrays now. Not many vets deal with rabbits around us, and a specialty vet is cost prohibitive in our area (would be well over $1000 for one visit with xrays). My vet sees rabbits, but I think most people would give up with what going on.

The heart issue interests me, as she has always lay down a lot, and doesnt move much. We figured the lack of grooming was likely due to her being taken from mom too early, as well as a dewlap that is way too big! She's a very large girl, weighing in at the vets after losing weight at over 14lbs - I would say a healthy weight for her is closer to 17-20lbs.

Thank you again!

 

[JBun]

Weight loss and lack of activity can certainly also be indicators of heart problems, or thymoma if happening more recently. Other signs that would point to either of these as well would be eyes that appear to be bulging, protruding third eyelids, scaly skin/dandruff and fur loss(sebaceous adenitis), edema, balance and mobility problems, hopping on the tip toes or seeming to try and elevate parts of the body like wanting to rest with the chest and head in an elevated position. There may also be nasal discharge, sneezing, noisy breathing, coughing(though this can be difficult to determine that it's happening), and mouth breathing(in more severe cases).

 

[Diane R]

Sounds like it could be EC. (Hind leg paresis is a common symptom.) There is a blood test or the vet may just want to treat for it anyway. Panacur for at least 28 days and Metacam.

 

[Orrin]

My first thought was E. Cunuculi, also. We lost a Flemmie to it. Horrible disease.