trixi87
New Member
Hi there! I work at a pet store and recently one of my coworkers came to work and found a bunny (Carlo) abandoned in his cage in front of the store, complete with food and a 'note' about him.
He might be a Netherland dwarf. He has soft charcoal fur and short erect ears. According to the note, he's 4 yrs old, has no health issues and is a little over-weight. He is definitely not overweight, and seems a little bony, but the biggest problem is that his two front legs are bent to either side. He constantly leans forward on his chest and moves around almost like a turtle swimming.
When he first came in, he had a large cage that was filthy and was sitting in his pee even though there was a little litter box for him. I'm glad I made the decision that putting bedding in would be better for his underside so that at least it soaks the urine. I have also noticed that his undersides, particularly around his genitals, don't have much fur. As well as changing his bedding, we've been using pet wipes to clean his bottom off.
He's been eating well (Martins Little Friends Original rabbit) and drinking a lot (or possibly the water dish just keeps tipping over; I can't find a water bottle that doesn't empty into the cage). He attacks his carrots and treats with relish, and he seems to be doing well with the bedding in his cage. His back legs are quite powerful (he's quite the flier -- he's uncomfortable in the temp cage while I'm cleaning his cage and jumps back into his own cage).
I found an old post about splay-legs and some of the posters were suggesting that there could be damage to the organs from the splay and that amputation may help him. However, his splay is his two front legs and I'm unsure of whether amputation would help as he would still be using his chest to move forward. I'm also not sure we'd be able to afford amputation.
I'd like to know whether there is anything else we can do for him before he sees a vet. Is there anything we should be looking for? Barring amputation, is there anything else we can do for him?
Also, the post I read mentioned that splaying could happen from walking on a slippery surface. The other bunny we have in store is possibly a palomino and we put her in a playpen during the day to get exercise, but now I'm worried because it's a slippery floor. But she'll eat anything we put down.
Does anyone have any advice? And thanks in advance!
He might be a Netherland dwarf. He has soft charcoal fur and short erect ears. According to the note, he's 4 yrs old, has no health issues and is a little over-weight. He is definitely not overweight, and seems a little bony, but the biggest problem is that his two front legs are bent to either side. He constantly leans forward on his chest and moves around almost like a turtle swimming.
When he first came in, he had a large cage that was filthy and was sitting in his pee even though there was a little litter box for him. I'm glad I made the decision that putting bedding in would be better for his underside so that at least it soaks the urine. I have also noticed that his undersides, particularly around his genitals, don't have much fur. As well as changing his bedding, we've been using pet wipes to clean his bottom off.
He's been eating well (Martins Little Friends Original rabbit) and drinking a lot (or possibly the water dish just keeps tipping over; I can't find a water bottle that doesn't empty into the cage). He attacks his carrots and treats with relish, and he seems to be doing well with the bedding in his cage. His back legs are quite powerful (he's quite the flier -- he's uncomfortable in the temp cage while I'm cleaning his cage and jumps back into his own cage).
I found an old post about splay-legs and some of the posters were suggesting that there could be damage to the organs from the splay and that amputation may help him. However, his splay is his two front legs and I'm unsure of whether amputation would help as he would still be using his chest to move forward. I'm also not sure we'd be able to afford amputation.
I'd like to know whether there is anything else we can do for him before he sees a vet. Is there anything we should be looking for? Barring amputation, is there anything else we can do for him?
Also, the post I read mentioned that splaying could happen from walking on a slippery surface. The other bunny we have in store is possibly a palomino and we put her in a playpen during the day to get exercise, but now I'm worried because it's a slippery floor. But she'll eat anything we put down.
Does anyone have any advice? And thanks in advance!