Can anyone tell me why a bunny might just, all of a sudden, lose the use of a hind leg. The vet x rayed it and said it was paralized, not broken. So now she poops on her legs and if I don't bath her, she gets impacted- like covered with poop. It's terrible. The vet recommends amputation, but it will cost $250 and I can't justify the expense so I'm washing her and making sure she has what she needs till I save up the money. Why would this happen? SHe had free reign in the fenced in chicken yard which is large and pretty peaceful- just hens. She also had her own cage in the chicken yard with her own food and water. Has anyone ever heard of a bunny losing the use of her leg?
paralized hind leg
- Thread starter Camille M
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pla725
Well-Known Member
I would get another opinion. Sometimes they can fracture a hind limb. One of our rescue rabbits did that and no one saw it happened. There were at least six of us standing there. Our best guess was that he caught it in the x-pen. Just a freak accident.
naturestee
Well-Known Member
Did she have a spinal/nervous systeminjury? Also, a parasite called E. cuniculi can cause nervous system problems including disabling a leg, often just one. I'd recommend treating for it. Your vet can prescribe you the correct medicine.
As for care, check out some of the info here:
http://www.rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=32236&forum_id=10
http://rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=12158&forum_id=10
Edit: I do agree that "mystery" fractures can happen and a very close inspection of the xray is sometimes needed. Does she respond to stimuli in her foot, such as poking her toes?
As for care, check out some of the info here:
http://www.rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=32236&forum_id=10
http://rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=12158&forum_id=10
Edit: I do agree that "mystery" fractures can happen and a very close inspection of the xray is sometimes needed. Does she respond to stimuli in her foot, such as poking her toes?
pla725
Well-Known Member
How your bunny doing today?
Thanks for the replies. The bunny had an xray and it does not respond to stimuli of the foot at all. Also all the muscle of the foot seems to have atrophied. The foot is not the same size any more after only maybe 4 weeks. It's like just fur and bone. Like a mini foot. Beofre the paralysis, it was completely normal.
The idea about the parasite was very interesting. I was wondering about what might cause a bunny paralysis besides trauma. Thank you. Can they get this parasite from hopping around where chickens are. She has only been living with them since this summer. Before that she was confined to her cage for many years and she was fine. She's probably 5 or more years old. She was fine, then she moved in with the chickens, now she's hurt. Is it a coincedence?
The idea about the parasite was very interesting. I was wondering about what might cause a bunny paralysis besides trauma. Thank you. Can they get this parasite from hopping around where chickens are. She has only been living with them since this summer. Before that she was confined to her cage for many years and she was fine. She's probably 5 or more years old. She was fine, then she moved in with the chickens, now she's hurt. Is it a coincedence?
pla725
Well-Known Member
An x-pen is an exercise pen for puppies or small animals.
It sounds like an injury that didn't heal well. I guess it best to havethe limb removed. Rabbits get around well on 3 legs.
It sounds like an injury that didn't heal well. I guess it best to havethe limb removed. Rabbits get around well on 3 legs.
tonyshuman
Well-Known Member
Given a sudden onset, EC is probably not the cause. It does cause hind leg paralysis as an early symptom. It is possible that the paralysis has been developing gradually and you couldn't see it until it became disabling. Almost every bunny has been exposed to EC at one point in their life and it lays dormant until some time at which it becomes an active infection. Very little is known about how EC progresses from dormancy to active infection. A stress to the immune system can be a cause.
However, this parasite can be very difficult to treat. It can sometimes be treated with Panacur, but often a stronger antiparasitic is needed, and many of these stronger drugs are not approved for use in rabbits, so you will need a vet that's willing to use a drug off-label in a very expensive treatment. I hope our resident EC expert, Randy, who has treated many bunnies with EC, will step in here as I cannot seem to remember the name of the drug. Marquis, maybe? I believe it is approved for use in horses.
My best guess is that it is a bone or nerve injury. The sudden onset and the degeneration of tissue make me think this. Some bone injuries do heal on their own, or are too small to be seen on x-ray. Nerve damage due to trauma also cannot be seen on an x-ray.
Working with less than $250, there isn't a lot you can do. The test for EC isn't 100% conclusive and is quite expensive (probably at least $80). Also, although I obviously am not a vet and cannot diagnose through the internet, i think it's more likely to be an injury due to trauma. If you do not amputate the leg, she may get an infected wound on it (no feeling=doesn't know that she got an injury=doesn't take care of it, similar to how diabetics lose limbs to infected wounds they couldn't feel due to diabetic neuropathy), and that could take her life. She probably needs to be separated from the chickens to prevent further damage and she needs to have her leg amputated. just my :twocents
However, this parasite can be very difficult to treat. It can sometimes be treated with Panacur, but often a stronger antiparasitic is needed, and many of these stronger drugs are not approved for use in rabbits, so you will need a vet that's willing to use a drug off-label in a very expensive treatment. I hope our resident EC expert, Randy, who has treated many bunnies with EC, will step in here as I cannot seem to remember the name of the drug. Marquis, maybe? I believe it is approved for use in horses.
My best guess is that it is a bone or nerve injury. The sudden onset and the degeneration of tissue make me think this. Some bone injuries do heal on their own, or are too small to be seen on x-ray. Nerve damage due to trauma also cannot be seen on an x-ray.
Working with less than $250, there isn't a lot you can do. The test for EC isn't 100% conclusive and is quite expensive (probably at least $80). Also, although I obviously am not a vet and cannot diagnose through the internet, i think it's more likely to be an injury due to trauma. If you do not amputate the leg, she may get an infected wound on it (no feeling=doesn't know that she got an injury=doesn't take care of it, similar to how diabetics lose limbs to infected wounds they couldn't feel due to diabetic neuropathy), and that could take her life. She probably needs to be separated from the chickens to prevent further damage and she needs to have her leg amputated. just my :twocents
Thank you very much for the info. I figured from what I read on the net, that if it was EC, I wasn't going to be able to help her with that, but I am interested in what Randy has to say and I am glad that you think it probably wasn't EC because I don't like to think that I am responsible for making her sick because I moved her into the chicken yard.
Basically I had to wash her twice (her privates), but then a couple days later I looked at her and she was basically OK so I just left her like she was. I am making sure she has plenty of food and water and hayand fresh veggies like carrot and broccoli stumps or whatever and making sure she has clean privates. When I save up the money, I will get her the surgery. I already put her in a separate part of the chicken yard.
What do you think about caring for a bunny with 3 legs? I heard that they can't clean their ear and stuff. Are 3 legs a problem?
Basically I had to wash her twice (her privates), but then a couple days later I looked at her and she was basically OK so I just left her like she was. I am making sure she has plenty of food and water and hayand fresh veggies like carrot and broccoli stumps or whatever and making sure she has clean privates. When I save up the money, I will get her the surgery. I already put her in a separate part of the chicken yard.
What do you think about caring for a bunny with 3 legs? I heard that they can't clean their ear and stuff. Are 3 legs a problem?
ra7751
Well-Known Member
Couple of quick things here....first, chickens (and most birds) carry all sorts of parasites. Could be most anything. EC is a possibility. Your location is not in your profile...but do you have raccoons or opossums in your area (if you are in the US)? Those species (especially the 'coons) carry parasites that can cause differing degrees of paresis. Could be Metabolic Bone Disease. What has the diet consisted of? Could be aspinal injury from being chased by a chicken....and sometimes it'shard to see vertebra crush in a standard x-ray. If I were treating this....and I see money is a consideration (I am all too well aware of that problem)....I would suggest getting the maximum information from the funds you have. A CBC with EC titer and some radiographs of that hind quarter would be the wayI wouldgo. If money prevents you from doing that (and again, I understand that problem) I would probably treat for EC. Most of the vets that are even aware of this parasite (and few haveseen a real case of EC much less treated one)will usually attempt treatment with one of the "bendazoles". I use Marquis..but it is sold at a premium price. A singlesyringe is well into hundreds of dollars. It might be helpful to administer a NSAID just to see if there is any improvement...like maybe a minor spinal luxation or vertebra issue.
Amputating a leg is something to consider seriously. I have an amputee here. Very few vets can pull that one off. The only way to properly contain the pain is by something like lidocaine blocks. Pain meds would be needed long term....in large amounts. The risks of infection are high. Amputation will also cause serious spinal issues down the road. Our amputee (he came here that way) is now starting to show some twisting and discomfort in his spine. We will need to start pain meds here shortly....most likely NSAIDs. These drugs will not contain the deterioration of the spine and they are also hard on the liver. Amputating a limb on a rabbit carries lots of baggage on both ends.....whether it's to do it or not.....there are complications. Give all aspects of amputation serious consideraton.
Randy
Amputating a leg is something to consider seriously. I have an amputee here. Very few vets can pull that one off. The only way to properly contain the pain is by something like lidocaine blocks. Pain meds would be needed long term....in large amounts. The risks of infection are high. Amputation will also cause serious spinal issues down the road. Our amputee (he came here that way) is now starting to show some twisting and discomfort in his spine. We will need to start pain meds here shortly....most likely NSAIDs. These drugs will not contain the deterioration of the spine and they are also hard on the liver. Amputating a limb on a rabbit carries lots of baggage on both ends.....whether it's to do it or not.....there are complications. Give all aspects of amputation serious consideraton.
Randy
Randy is right ,,,,,,,,,,,,
I didn't know that poultry carried so many diseases ..some of these are spread to other species including humans
This is gross
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/PS044
I would move your bun out of the chicken area
I didn't know that poultry carried so many diseases ..some of these are spread to other species including humans
This is gross
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/PS044
I would move your bun out of the chicken area
sha10ly88
Well-Known Member
Camille M wrote:
How is your girl doing?
I have a bunny that has the same condition as yours. He was traumatized bya fall when he was only 3 weeks old. I was not home that time and my little sister was with him. Now, he is 3 months old and still seemed tiny to me. At first, both his hind legs were affected. He was dragging both his legs around. Then about 3 weeks later, his right leg got strong but he still cannot stand unless if I put him up. But that did not allow him to move around. He is gliding with his two front and the right leg pushing forward. Due to that he is always lyingon his left side looking like a male mermaid. His fur on the left side gets flatten againts his body and it balls up around his butt area. Also, he is stained in between his hind legs and aroud his thighs. Its really sad to see him suffer like this when he only gets to enjoy running n hopping around for just 3 weeks of his life. According to the doctor, he could recover fully but will take a very long time n that is months. As for me, I am keeping my fingers cross.
How is your girl doing?
I have a bunny that has the same condition as yours. He was traumatized bya fall when he was only 3 weeks old. I was not home that time and my little sister was with him. Now, he is 3 months old and still seemed tiny to me. At first, both his hind legs were affected. He was dragging both his legs around. Then about 3 weeks later, his right leg got strong but he still cannot stand unless if I put him up. But that did not allow him to move around. He is gliding with his two front and the right leg pushing forward. Due to that he is always lyingon his left side looking like a male mermaid. His fur on the left side gets flatten againts his body and it balls up around his butt area. Also, he is stained in between his hind legs and aroud his thighs. Its really sad to see him suffer like this when he only gets to enjoy running n hopping around for just 3 weeks of his life. According to the doctor, he could recover fully but will take a very long time n that is months. As for me, I am keeping my fingers cross.
pamnock
Well-Known Member
Lack of blood supply to the femur (avascular necrosis)can also cause muscle atrophy and loss of use of the limb. It can be a genetic predisposition or be age related. Often only one limb is affected - x-rays appear normal.
It's hard to speculate without looking into it further, but a number of good possibilities have been offered. Generally, the chickens wouldn't be a problem because cocci is species specific. Your vet can send a sample out to the state to determine the species if your rabbit is infected.
Pam
It's hard to speculate without looking into it further, but a number of good possibilities have been offered. Generally, the chickens wouldn't be a problem because cocci is species specific. Your vet can send a sample out to the state to determine the species if your rabbit is infected.
Pam
Good luck. Thanks for writing. When I was going to get her surgery to remove the lame leg that was getting pretty messed up, she lost the use of the other leg too and also apparently couldn't feel her anus enough to push poop out which was getting full. So we put her to sleep. Thanks everyone for all your answers. I think she did have that parasite that makes bunnies lame. That would be my guess.
I'm sorry that you lost her
Didn't see this until tonight .
SorryI didn't respond sooner
Didn't see this until tonight .
SorryI didn't respond sooner
tonyshuman
Well-Known Member
I'm so sorry. You did the very best you could for her and I hope that brings you comfort. RIP.
anneq
Well-Known Member
Very sorry to hear about your bun - I know you did your best for her.
edwinf8936
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My poor Bunny had the problem start slowly. First one leg, then both back legs, and finally one front before she died. I expert vet said it looked like a nerve problem. She went on for a long time, but near the end I had to clean her rear at leat once a day and do what I could. I ended up having to hold her on her back in my lap and feed her and give her water. It may have been splayed legs but we were never sure. I tired one of those special carts but she was not strong enough with the front legs when I got it. I was debating on putting her down when she died. I think her heart gave out from not being able to get around.
