Pixie_16
New Member
Hi guys, i'm new to RO, and when i Googled many rabbit-related spinal injuries questions online, i've been diverted to this fantastic website!
We are based in Christchurch, New Zealand, and recently our wee indoor bun started walking on her hind legs instead of hopping, and strangely, she has been having diarrhoea episodes on her usual spots. I took her to the first local vet, who thought she might have a sprain in her middle back. She gave her some Metacam, to be medicated once a day. And it was unlucky timing, that we had to go away for a week, so that evening, Bunny was shipped off to a cat/bunny cattery. I've given instructions on care and medication to the owner, and she reassured me that she will take good care of her. i've also checked in everyday to see if there were any changes with her condition, and it all seemed fine.
A week later, when i went to pick Bunny up, she was completely dragging her hind legs, and it was so heartbreaking to watch. I immediately rung around to see if there were any vets open on a Sunday, and we went off to the second vet. He couldn't diagnose what the problem/cause is, we've had xrays done, and my initial suspicion was E.cuniculi. He prescribed baytril, and panacur, and multi-vitamin jabs every alternate day. Bunny wasn't recovering nor getting worst, we continued the metacam anyways.
A week later, we decided to get a second opinion, and it was difficult to find a rabbit specialised vet in Christchurch or even NZ, especially since rabbits are considered pests in the country. We finally found a vet, and she was fantastic. She sent bunny through second round of xrays, and found out that on her second lumbar bones, it was a little off, you literally have to zoom in to see it on the xrays. She said it was causing swelling and possibility the disc was swollen which is pressing on bunny's nerves, that is affecting her hind legs.
Bunny still has feelings in her hind legs, she would stretch them out when i clean her bottom. The vet has also built a wee cart for her, to just sit in, and stretch her back legs. I massage her hind legs for 30 mins twice a day, to keep the circulation going. Am i doing the right thing? I bring her out to the lawn, to get some fresh air and she loves being outside too. She is cleaned twice a day to make sure the pee doesn't sit on her hind legs, and burn her skin, we've put Vaseline on her as well for a small area that looks abit pink and sore.
I've read that bunnies with spinal injuries have to be kept in an enclosed area, buddled up with towels to keep them from moving around too much. I'm not even sure if bunny's injury is a spinal one? the vet said its okay to just move bunny around, but its been almost a week from seeing her now, and we haven't really seen improvements, nor her condition worsening. Also, how fast should we expect recovery to take place? i'd assume its like with humans, it will take weeks for her to get well.
Should i still continue cleaning Bunny, or should she be kept still at all times, she seems happy grooming herself, even trying to drag herself into her litterbox. Her indoor hutch is always filled up high with hay, and straw, with a pee pad below it to catch all the pee. i've tried offering her, her cecotropes, but she doesn't seem interested. i try to keep her feet tucked under her at all times, maintaining the meatloaf position.
We were just away overnight yesterday, and had a lovely housesitter come by to clean Bunny up, medicate her etc, when i cleaned bunny again and put her in her cart, she didn't seem to stretch her back legs as much or doesn't spread her toes, when i massage her. it seems everytime i'm away (it won't be ever now!), her condition seems to go a little downhill.
It's been 3 weeks since Bunny has hurt herself, we don't know how, and when it happened. the vet said it is an acute thing, which could also mean she hurt herself at the cattery?! The vet said there is a 50/50 chance of recovery, i'm just worried all the time about her, the unknown is so scary...
We are based in Christchurch, New Zealand, and recently our wee indoor bun started walking on her hind legs instead of hopping, and strangely, she has been having diarrhoea episodes on her usual spots. I took her to the first local vet, who thought she might have a sprain in her middle back. She gave her some Metacam, to be medicated once a day. And it was unlucky timing, that we had to go away for a week, so that evening, Bunny was shipped off to a cat/bunny cattery. I've given instructions on care and medication to the owner, and she reassured me that she will take good care of her. i've also checked in everyday to see if there were any changes with her condition, and it all seemed fine.
A week later, when i went to pick Bunny up, she was completely dragging her hind legs, and it was so heartbreaking to watch. I immediately rung around to see if there were any vets open on a Sunday, and we went off to the second vet. He couldn't diagnose what the problem/cause is, we've had xrays done, and my initial suspicion was E.cuniculi. He prescribed baytril, and panacur, and multi-vitamin jabs every alternate day. Bunny wasn't recovering nor getting worst, we continued the metacam anyways.
A week later, we decided to get a second opinion, and it was difficult to find a rabbit specialised vet in Christchurch or even NZ, especially since rabbits are considered pests in the country. We finally found a vet, and she was fantastic. She sent bunny through second round of xrays, and found out that on her second lumbar bones, it was a little off, you literally have to zoom in to see it on the xrays. She said it was causing swelling and possibility the disc was swollen which is pressing on bunny's nerves, that is affecting her hind legs.
Bunny still has feelings in her hind legs, she would stretch them out when i clean her bottom. The vet has also built a wee cart for her, to just sit in, and stretch her back legs. I massage her hind legs for 30 mins twice a day, to keep the circulation going. Am i doing the right thing? I bring her out to the lawn, to get some fresh air and she loves being outside too. She is cleaned twice a day to make sure the pee doesn't sit on her hind legs, and burn her skin, we've put Vaseline on her as well for a small area that looks abit pink and sore.
I've read that bunnies with spinal injuries have to be kept in an enclosed area, buddled up with towels to keep them from moving around too much. I'm not even sure if bunny's injury is a spinal one? the vet said its okay to just move bunny around, but its been almost a week from seeing her now, and we haven't really seen improvements, nor her condition worsening. Also, how fast should we expect recovery to take place? i'd assume its like with humans, it will take weeks for her to get well.
Should i still continue cleaning Bunny, or should she be kept still at all times, she seems happy grooming herself, even trying to drag herself into her litterbox. Her indoor hutch is always filled up high with hay, and straw, with a pee pad below it to catch all the pee. i've tried offering her, her cecotropes, but she doesn't seem interested. i try to keep her feet tucked under her at all times, maintaining the meatloaf position.
We were just away overnight yesterday, and had a lovely housesitter come by to clean Bunny up, medicate her etc, when i cleaned bunny again and put her in her cart, she didn't seem to stretch her back legs as much or doesn't spread her toes, when i massage her. it seems everytime i'm away (it won't be ever now!), her condition seems to go a little downhill.
It's been 3 weeks since Bunny has hurt herself, we don't know how, and when it happened. the vet said it is an acute thing, which could also mean she hurt herself at the cattery?! The vet said there is a 50/50 chance of recovery, i'm just worried all the time about her, the unknown is so scary...
