Bunny Horror Story

Hey Everybody,
I had already had five bunnies, but decided that I would love a lion head rabbit. I posted a ISO ad on a local classified website, and a guy emailed me, saying he had one male and a female with brand new babies. He had told me in the email that the male (Dennis) had broken his leg the day the bunnies were born. He had a vet come out and here's what happened: the vet tied his poor testicals with wax dental floss that they had laying around the house ( they were purple when we untied them, thank god it was only yesterday that they did it), and he just left his leg hanging sideways. No cast, not pins in it, just left it. Well, now the poor thing isn't eating and I have some critical care oxbow supplement that I have been feeding him. He will go to the vet on Tuesday, as he isn't dying or anything, but what vet in the world would do that to a poor rabbit. His poor bottom was swollen and could of got infected. I don't blame the people, because people around here ( Wyoming) treat rabbits like cattle, but anyways, now he has a home where he will be treated the right way, but it just shocked me that a vet would do that to a rabbit. FYI he is a livestock vet not and exotic vet ( which I use) . Also has anybody had a rabbit with a 8 month old rabbit with a broken leg before? Just want to hear your experience!
Thanks All,
Devin

That is terrible. I have heard of banding rabbits to neuter them (not a good idea), but dental floss is just crazy.

For the leg, it really depends on how and where it is broken, so x-rays will be needed. Some times it can be warped or a cast could be put on to immobilise the leg so it can heal. Pins could be used to fix the bone as well. The leg could also need to be amputated. If the bone can be set, you would be looking at at least a month of strict cage rest and that in a small cage so it can heal and he doens't move around too much. If the leg needs to be amputated, it would be a couple weeks for the incision to heal but most rabbits can do well on 3 legs.
The one rabbit that I personally know that has did break his leg had it wrapped and it healed well as far as I know. One vet wanted to amputate, but another offered to wrap it and see how it went. If the wrapping didn't work, then amputation would really have been the only option.

I'm suspicious that a vet even examined or treated that bunny. For some odd reason I don't believe the story.

I'm willing to bet the people who owned him were trying to "neuter" him themselves and in the struggle the bunny broke his leg : (

Wonder what will come of the mother and babies......

I hope your little guy gets better quick.

Please keep us posted


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Thanks everybody for replying! I think the best thing for him might be to amputate it, but we will see on Tuesday what the vet says. For now he is eating and drinking and getting around pretty good. I think he feels better now that his bottom is taken care of. I will keep you guys updated.

Thanks,
Devin

I feel sorry for the rabbit that isn't a proper treatment, I would look into seeing if that is an exotic vet that looked at him. I'm not saying the treatment of the rabbit was right, but it is good to realize that rabbits are livestock animals. That was their original purpose, although they make excellent pets, they have a lot of other things that they can do that they couldn't do if they were classified as companion only animals. I Hope your little guy is ok! I had a rabbit that broke her back in a freak accident we rushed her to the vet but as soon as he took her out, my poor winnie died in his hands, very traumatic experience. I will be praying for your rabbit!

Bunny should be kept in a confined space until you get him properly examined by a rabbit knowledgeable vet. He shouldn't be using the leg.

I just found this interesting article by the former administrator of RO. There are more articles on Medi-rabbit that I will post for you.....lots to think about

http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Bone_diseases/Femur_head/Femur_head.htm

luvthempigs said:

I'm suspicious that a vet even examined or treated that bunny. For some odd reason I don't believe the story.

I'm willing to bet the people who owned him were trying to "neuter" him themselves and in the struggle the bunny broke his leg : (

Wonder what will come of the mother and babies......

I hope your little guy gets better quick.

Please keep us posted


Sent from my SCH-I415 using Rabbit Forum mobile app

Click to expand...

Honestly, I was thinking the exact same thing. Owner did it himself, caused the problem and is now looking for a way out.

Best of luck getting the leg dealt with. I'm not sure how well rabbits cope with amputation, but depending on if he's still got a lot of growing to do I'm not sure how well a break would heal.

I read the article about amputation. It made me rethink the whole amputation thing. I will defiantly be talking about other options with my veterinarian. Thanks everybody!

Devin

Hey everybody! I took Dennis to the vet last Tuesday, and the vet said there is not much we can do. He said that the break had already been set by the other vet that they had come out there (He did confirm a vet did see it). He did not recommend we re- brake it, as it would cause more harm then good. He seems to be doing just fine walking around. He is also eating/drinking, peeing, pooping fine, so I am not worried that he is in pain. Doc said to just keep an eye on him for any signs of changes. He also said that the other vet should NOT of tied his testicals with dental floss. Bunnies do not have a scrotum for that. I will have him neutered when he heals from his wound. I also noticed that he is not getting much exercise, because I have him confined in a smaller cage until he heals, my question is what do I do for him, he seems a little scrawny and doesn't have much muscle mass. Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Devin

Devin
I would recommend that you talk with the new vet about how long Dennis should be confined to a small space. In the interim period try to feed a variety of high quality grass type hays and also a high quality pellet.

Sounds like he is basically doing good despite the injury

What was the logic in band neutering the rabbit anyway? What good does neutering it right then do?

I do have a rabbit who dislocated a paw and it was left to heal that way so that it is permanently twisted sideways. She walks and runs on 3 legs but does use that leg to wash her face.