My bunny Wildchild

[WMCrabbitry]

My bunny Wildchild is a very calm and cool Dutch rabbit who is 2years old and loves running free( in a huge pen ).I love her so much she is always one to cuddle with and is very energetic. Since she was born Wildchild has always had something wrong with her back legs. When she runs she goes to fast and rolls and I think it's really starting to get to her back. I finally figured out was wrong with her she had a gene in her body that had gotten to her legs and created an infection that wasn't treatable so always give her treats with a couple extra minerals. I have one question as well can rabbits have arthritis?


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[JBun]

Your bunny sounds cute

For the problem with her back legs, does it seem to be a balance problem or some hind limb paralysis? Yes rabbits can get arthritis, but I would be more inclined to think that if she had it, that it would make it difficult for her to be running around like that, and most rabbits that have arthritis wouldn't be zipping around like that because it would be too painful. It sounds more like a balance issue, or maybe hind limb disfunction. Has this been going on very long and have you ever had a vet check her out? Could it have been caused by a fall or accident?

 

[WMCrabbitry]

She does have a balance problem but only if she sits on her back legs to long and then she will stumble.


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[JBun]

If this is not due to an injury, check the hocks for inflamed sores, otherwise it sounds like it could be a neurological problem. One common one that can cause balance issues along with hind limb paralysis, is the e. cuniculi parasite. Treatment for EC is with fenbendazole 20mg/kg for at least 28 days. Sometimes it is also beneficial for metacam to be prescribed as well, to control the inflammation caused by the spores, which in turn causes the symptoms exhibited. If there is no hind limb weakness and it is just a balance issue, this can be caused by EC as well, but also ear infections can cause this, in which case the appropriate antibiotic is needed. There are other possible causes as well, but these are two of the most common. I would suggest having your rabbit examined by a good rabbit vet asap. Hopefully your buns problem is treatable and the balance issues will be able to get cleared up. Best of luck with it.

Here's some rabbit vet listings as well as info on EC and ear infections.
http://rabbit.org/vet-listings/
http://www.rabbitsonline.net/f28/finding-vet-13366/

http://www.rabbitwelfare.co.uk/resources/content/info-sheets/ecuniculi.htm
http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/paresis.html
http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Neurology/Otit/otitis.htm

Sorry to invade your blog with all this What you described just sounded like it might be EC, which can be treatable, so I thought you might want to know about it.

 

[WMCrabbitry]

Thanks


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