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BUNNY 911 – If your rabbit hasn’t eaten or pooped in 12-24 hours, call a vet immediately!  Don’t have a vet? Check out VET RESOURCES 

The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet.  It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

Forum BEHAVIOR Broken leg?

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    • rabbitter
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        It’s a very un-noticable limp, in her back right leg which is slightly out-turned, so though I saw it yesterday, she could’ve been doing this for a while. She doesn’t seem to exhibit typical “pain behavior”, other than being “spacey” sometimes and lids half-closed (she does this about once or twice a week). If I let her, she still springs and binkies, grooms me, runs about, and is generally very curious as is pretty typical for a four-month old bunn. Her eating is normal, as well as her stool. A vet is not an option due to my location and my current financial situation. I’ve been giving her a very small dose of safety-coated baby aspirin every other day that she displays pain behavior. I’ve also been restricting her movement by placing her in her carrier or a smaller pen I have for her. And I’ve applied a very basic splint to the leg in question with light card stock, gauze, and gauze tape, which she has not been chewing, so I’m assuming it’s not incredibly uncomfortable.

        Do any of you have any experience with this sort of thing? I’d very much appreciate second opinions or advice from fellow Bunn Mommas.

         Thank you for your help!

        -madopolis


      • flemishwhite
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          This goes to the beyond of my bunny experience. The out turned leg is mentioned in some posts.  They can have hip problems where the legs slip sideways, particularly on smooth surfaces.  Just curious but where do you live where bunny vets are difficult to find. No problem if you don’t prefer to answer.  

          For the carrier situation. My very limited experiences with rabbits…one a house rabbit for 11 1/2 years and now two 11 month old Flemish “babies,” is that none of them liked to be confined.  With all three of them, getting them into a carrier for a vet trip is a hassle.  My two Flemish Giant rabbits…we started out with them at two months old letting them loose in the house and penning them at night and when we left the house. To make a long story short, we now let the two Flemish rabbits have free run of most of the house. Similarly, our previous rabbit, Bunny, went for 11 years free running in our house.  Rabbits want to be very active animals. They need space and time to run free.

          Late at night, laying in my bed, I can often hear my two Flemish bunnies running throughout in the house. In the evening, I can be setting at my internet computer desk, when all of a sudden a rabbit goes by at bunny cruise speed..thump…thump…thump. 


        • Q8bunny
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            Rabbits are very good at masking pain, but the fact that she’s playing is promising. It could simply be a sprain. But young buns can also develop splay leg, and that would require veterinary intervention to accurately diagnose and treat.

            While your intentions are good, I would not use a home-made brace because it could affect the way your bun moves, causing injury to other joints, ligaments, spine, etc.

            Also, while baby aspirin is bunny safe in an emergency, it is not recommended for long-term use as it can affect the GI. Furthermore, if your bun’s pain is masked, she’ll be less careful with the way she moves and might make her injury worse. Limiting her ability to jump high and run very fast for a bit is by far the better way to go, so keep doing that.

            Let us know how your bun gets on and I hope she heals soon.


          • Bam
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              I too think it could be splay leg, and that you shouldn’t try to make a splint yourself. It can cause other problems, as Q8 says, making the bunny put it’s weight on the wrong muscles/bones. Since she’s so young, that could cause deformation of her skeleton or damage ligaments.

              Restrict her ability to jump high and climb and run like crazy over long distances, but don’t confine her to a very small pen, see a vet about better pain-management options. Aspirin can cause stomach ulcers. It doesn’t sound like the bone is broken, that would cause more pain and a bunny in that much pain most likely wouldn’t play and most often won’t eat. Make sure your floors are covered with sth that offers good traction.

              Half closing of eyes can be a sign of a relaxed rabbit, so it can’t be interpreted on it’s own as a sign of pain. If it’s seen together with teeth-chattering and a hunched up position and refusal to eat even a treat, then of course the bunny is likely to be in pain. But many bunnies, esp young bunnies, will half-close their eyes when they are lounging, and they can tooth-purr when they do so and it just means they’re very comfy.


            • rabbitter
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                Thank you all for your advice! I will follow your recommendations, and post an update on how Rolly Polly is doing. Good luck and happy bunning!


              • rabbitter
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                  So the limp is better for sure, she seems to be back to normal, her foot just stays slightly outturned. I’ve given her back free roam of her 10×8 apartment, and she seems to be doing well, mostly lounging, but still exploring her box mazes. We are now able to go to a professional in mid-september both for her foot and her spay. Thanks guys!


                • LittlePuffyTail
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                    Glad to hear this update

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                Forum BEHAVIOR Broken leg?