Hurt back leg

[Bville]

I noticed on Monday that Smokey was favoring his right back leg. I took him to see the vet that night and she said it may be a greenstick fracture, but he was able to run across the room (to get away from her...ha, ha) so she felt that we could put off x-rays for the time being. He was on Metacam for three days, but no change in his favoring that leg. He can scratch himself a little bit with it and balance on it to periscope for a few seconds, but as he hops he pulls it up so as not to put full weight on it. The next step would be to get an x-ray under anesthesia, which I am not crazy about doing. I am wondering though if it is a fracture, what could they do at this point? Wouldn't it already have started healing?

 

[majorv]

I'm surprised they have to put him under to take an x-ray. We've needed them with several of our rabbits without having anesthesia. For fractures its best to restrict the rabbit from running around, to give it a chance to start healing. Between the metacam and restricting his movement you should see improvement, if it's a fracture.

 

[Kipcha]

I, too, am surprised about them wanting to put the rabbit under for x-rays. Why not just do the x-rays? We've done them multiple times and never needed them even sedated.

Is there a possibility it's dislocated? Either way, I would restrict movement.

 

[Rockyrocko]

Rocky might have an xray today and no need for anesthesia. Only to do a deep clean of his ears if he needs it.

 

[Kayota]

Generally it's best for an animal to be sedated at least for x-rays, especially if the fracture suspected is a small one, as even slight movement can greatly decrease the quality and clarity of the x-ray and make it easier for the vet to misdiagnose or not see problems.

 

[majorv]

Given the known sensitivity that rabbits have to anesthesia, I would avoid it unless absolutely necessary. Yes, I guess if he can be sedated without putting him under then that's an option, but even that really shouldn't be necessary unless a rabbit is very hyper. Our Tans are very active and they've avoided having to give them anything for an x-Ray (so far).

 

[Kipcha]

I agree with majorv, it seems rather unnecessary. Kia, one of my more skittish rabbits, had an abdominal x-ray done and never needed anything. If she can do it without anesthetic or sedation, I'd imagine it would take a pretty crazy rabbit to need it.