Please help Bunny cant move

[Too many in heaven]

We woke up this morning to find Dory our 18mth old male dwarf lop half in half out of his toilet box. He cant seem to move his back legs. He in fact isnt moving at all at the moment before he was sorta dragging himself with his front paws. He is eating well and grooming himself BUT cannot seem tomove his back legs. It is Sunday here otherwise we would be straight to the vet. Has anyone got any thoughts??

 

[pla725]

What is your location? I would find the nearest emergency clinic. It would be better than nothing. Good luck.

 

[Pipp]

Poor Dory... Is it both back legs that seem paralysed?

Do you have anEmergency vet? If it's a back injury, sometimes a shot of steroids can help if they get them right away. It will be costly, though, you'll need xrays to confirm what the problemis.

I'd keep himveryquiet for now andnot lethim move at all. If you can move him to a carrier orportable cage without picking himup -- ie: pick up the whole litterbox if he's in it -- that would be best.

I'm going from memory.

You can read up on it in the Library, here:

Paralysis



sas ray:

 

[AngelnSnuffy]

Everything ok? How is Dory? What did the vet say? Worried about you guys.

 

[Becca]

How is Dory? :clover:

 

[ra7751]

Hi,

With a sudden onset like this, I suspect a spinal problem. If that is the case, your rabbit needs to be at a highly skilled rabbit vet immediately. Rabbits have very delicate spines. If they have an unopposed kick of the rear legs....like being picked up incorrectly or being on a very slick surface....or if they get their rear legs caught in something....it can cause a spinal luxation (dislocation). This is most likely to occur just under the trans-lumbar region at L7. Recovery will depend on damage to the spinal cord. If it is not a full luxation and there is only pressure on the spinal cord, some or full recovery is possible. If the cord is severed, the paralysis will not resolve.

I have treated this numerous times. It all depends on the degree of damage to the cord. I put all my spinals (and I treat head injuries the same way) on either a steroid or a NSAID (but not both at the same time). The use of steroids in any species is highly debated in the medical world but I have seen it work wonders. I also sedate them using valium and keep the as quiet as possible. An x-ray is essential but it may take a specialist to properly view the rad due to the design of the rabbit.

If this rabbit has no control of his rear legs....do a "pin test". Use a straight pin or sewing needle to test neurological response. Do light pricks starting with the back feet and move up the spine. The skin should jerk when it senses the pressure of the needle. Don't really stick him....just a touch will do. That will isolate the exact position of the spinal issue if that is the cause. It is crucial that the bladder be manually expressed if this is a spinal issue. Most likely he will have no control of his bladder and in some cases the bowels. We have seen paralyzed bunnies come in where the bladder is so full that it leaks out due to pressure within the bladder. But if the urine is not expressed, toxins will begin building in the body and that will lead to other issues. Expressing a bladder is a medical procedure that does carry risk if you are not properly trained.

I hope I am wrong here.....but I have seen this far too often. And it is possible to offer a high quality of life to a paralyzed rabbit. It takes some extra work on your part and some husbandry modifications.....but it can be done. Keep us posted.

Randy

 

[Too many in heaven]

Thank you so much to all of you that have responded.

Randy every thing you said has been spot on.

Unfortuantely the Vet i usually see was not avail but in an emergency you see who you can. Thisguy did a number of reflex like tests explaining and noting Dorys responses from L7, i guess, to L1 ,he testedhis toes, anal area and neck i think and knees for any reaction. He also hung him over the table to see if hed bring his feet forward. Hedid for his front paws but not back and i think he had no reflex reaction at L7

The vettold me he felt his spine has been damaged but to what extent he was unsure. Out of the seven or so tests he failed two so he said their may be hope that it might just be a disc or minor damage that may improve with time.

His other major concern was that he may get a gastro intestinal infection as he may not be able to eat his poo (cephacels?). The thing i did forget to discuss with him was the incontinence issue. He does seem to be getting wet and muckybut hecant get in and out of his toilet box, so i guess hemay be sitting in it.

He offered no nsaids or steroids and advised us to watch him and bring him back if he doesnt improve.:?

 

[AngelnSnuffy]

Unfortunately, I would have tried to get a more experienced vet. I think you will just have to go back and the more experienced vet will have to go off the other's records. I recommend doing that. Let's see what Randy says on the best stradegy of meds and tests.

I wish the best for you and Dory! Keep us posted!

 

[Maureen Las]

http://www.rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=12158&forum_id=10

Here are some articles on caring for a disabled bun

Hopefully she won't be disabled for long but in the meantime maybe some of this material will help you in caring for her incontinence.

Poor little Dory
I wonder what happened that created the problem?
Sending the best to you....

 

[ra7751]

I was afraid of that. The problem here is there is a lot more going on. Honestly, if they aren't going to do anything to assist with this, find a vet that will oryou might have to seriously consider the ultimate decision. Your rabbit most likely will not improve by doing nothing and every rabbit I have seen luxated at L7 can't void their bladder. As I said, there are a lot more issues going on here secondary to the paresis....and I have treated many of these. If you look at my blog on this forum, entitiled Sabrina's House~~The Rescue....you will read the story of Miracle. She suffered a similar injury. We got her hopping again. We lost her a while back due to some long term problems after her accidentbut she lived a charmed life for the years she was here.When she was admitted here, she had no movement in her hindquarter.If your vet would be willing, have them contact me by e-mail thru their clinic account so I can be sure it's a doctor. I will walk them thru treatment. Time is essential. My e-mail is [email protected] The treatment won't work if the cord is severed but nothing ventured, nothing gained and at least you will give your rabbit a fighting chance for some degree of recovery.

Randy

 

[KatyH]

Hi, Sorry to hear about Dory's paralysis problem! How awful to have found him like that!

A couple of things come to mind... Someone on another rabbit group has a bunny who recently had trouble with his back legs. He was finding it very hard to move around and keep himself clean - he too was incontinent. These are classic EC signs, but of course the signs are also of spine injury.

The bunny on this other group has a history of EC so was treated with Panacur, as before in his life. But at the same time his owner took him for some acupuncture treatment. She was quite dubious, but has been absolutely astounded by her rabbit's improvement. Even during his first session he showed results. He's had a few sessions now and I believe he's gained back the use of his legs. He did a binky the other day, as I remember, and nolonger has incontinence issues. The owner really thought she had to consider letting her bunny go before she took him for acupuncture. I've heard a very similar story from another experienced rabbit owner too. I don't have experience myself here, but thought you'd be interested to hear about this.

I must also say that I don't want to fill you with false hope. As others have said there could be long term paralysis issues if the reason for this is a spinal injury - if the cord is severed, etc. But I thought it would be worth you checking this alternative treatment out if you can.

Fingers crossed for Dory x

 

[AngelnSnuffy]

How is Dory doing?

 

[golfdiva]

FWIW a little bit of my philosopy of life:

After 30 years of teaching autistic kids I think there is no such thing as "false hope". Any hope is good hope!

 

[KatyH]

golfdiva wrote:

FWIW a little bit of my philosopy of life:

After 30 years of teaching autistic kids I think there is no such thing as "false hope". Any hope is good hope!

Good point!

 

[Too many in heaven]

Thanks for all your concern.

I am pleased to report Dory is moving around freely as we speak. Yesterday we noticed he had jumped up on to the second level of his hutch we were shocked. So we kept watching him closely without spooking him. Then in the lasttwo dayshehas freely come out of his cage gingerly at first ,and lie in front of the fire wow!! He isn't binking round but he never was a great binkier but he is moving freely and grooming himself, keeping himself clean and toileting normal.

Now I find this a miracle after I am sure the Vet thought our bunny was a few days off being put down. Luckily for us we can only assume his back injury wasnt as bad as we allthought and has healed itself.

Fingers crossed all will be well.ray:

 

[Bunnicula]

I am pleased to hear that things seem to be resolving. We'll be thinking of you.

 

[Maureen Las]

Wow thisis wonderful news ..I hope that he continues to progress. I know you'll keep us up-dated!!!

 

[Coco0457]

all pawz and earz crossed for Dory!!

***GET BETTER*** Dory!!

:bunnyhug:

 

[Haley]

Wow thats amazing to hear he's improving after such a seemingly traumatic injury. I wonder if it could have been a pinched nerve or something of the sort.

If I were you, I would block off second levels and things he can jump up and down on so he doesnt reinjure himself. A rabbit's spine is so fragile and I would hate for him to injure himself again. Also, if he has a plastic bottom on his cage be sure to put something down so he doesnt slip.

Hope he's on the way to recovery. This is a miracle

 

[KatyH]

Wonderful news! Am so pleased for you x