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Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Sprained or broken front leg

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    • lwayne
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         I took my bunny Arduina outside on a harness and she was happily running around our fenced-in backyard.  Our back neighbors have a dog who saw her through the fence and started barking obnoxiously.  Arduina bolted and the harness didn’t stop her, she flipped back so I let go of the leash.  She was running like crazy and wouldn’t let me get her, I finally caught her and she was screaming.  I brought Arduina inside let her calm down a bit, then she started limping around with her front left leg just dangling.  We kept her on the couch with a wet rag and she laid down, while I called the emergency vet clinic.  The vet on-call said I could bring her in or I could wait until tomorrow (so I could avoid the emergency vet fee).  They said as long as I keep her calm, she should be fine until tomorrow and that I can put ice on it to keep the swelling down.  After a couple minutes of lying on the couch, she began licking the ice cubes and wanted to get up.  I put Arduina back in her pen and replaced her litter box with a tray so she can still go into it.  She has started drinking and eating again, which is a good sign.  Is there anything else I can do for her until I take her in tomorrow?  

        Advice for the day: Never use those rabbit harnesses!  (weird because my friend’s rabbit does awesome on the same kind, she takes her bunny to the park and everything)

         


      • Sarita
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          Oh no. Poor Ardulna. I totally agree about the harnesses and I’m so sorry this happened to you and to her.

          That is a good sign she is eating and drinking. I would worry though that she may go into shock later if the pain starts up again. I think just continue what they advise and if you see her going into shock then you will have to rush her into the emergency vet.


        • KatnipCrzy
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            There really isn’t anything you can do at home for pain- any home remedies.  You should consider taking her in on emergency-  I think a obviously sore leg like that is an emergency.  If one of the joints is out of place (dislocated) the longer the muscles/tendons are in the incorrect position (tightened on one side- loose of the other) the more difficult it is to get the joint to stay in place properly once it is fixed.  Same thing with a broken leg if it is a comound fracture were the muscles/tendons have shifted.


          • bunnycutie
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              thats so sad! what does a rabbit sream sound like? i hope i never have to hear it :'( i am sure your bun will be just fine after the vet. :'( good luck.


            • MooBunnay
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                Oh no! I’m so sorry to hear she hurt herself. Whether or not you take her into the emergency vet really depends on how confident you are with the vet on call. Regardless, at my house if a bunny is hurt or sick at night one of us usually sleeps next to the bunny cage to make sure he/she is OK I would definitely recommend this in that situation if you decide not to take her in.

                It sounds like Arduina is more suited as an indoor bunny. If she frightens easily (as most bunnies do, especially all of mine!) then the outdoors could definitely be dangerous for them. Most of mine stay inside because I am scared of the same thing happening. I’m sure that one of mine would run into the street or something if a dog frightened them. Arduina can really get all the exercise inside that she needs, so for yours and her stress levels maybe she should take her walks around the house


              • KytKattin
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                  Poor baby. I hope she does okay! For future situations you could always ask your vet to sell you a whole bottle of metacam. That is what I got for Hubble when he had his teeth done (cost $30, but yours could be different). I have used it not on my rabbits, but a rat that I had who was deathly illl so that at least she could get through the night without pain. I also used it for my dog after her little anal gland problem.

                  If you do decide to take Arduina back outside a pen would probably be a much better option for her. Though I do know even then serious problems could result. When I first started taking Nova outside if I made the pen too big (two expens) she would dash about frantically. She likes it more when it is just one pen. In fact, for her breed, Polish, breeders say that they need to be kept in small cages. I can totally see why because if their rabbits get spooked by something (and Polish are spooky, trust me!) a bigger cage does allow for more damage to be done. Arduina seems like a small rabbit as well, and I’ve read this frequently for any of the hyper dwarf breeds. While I certainly don’t think that they need a small cage as house rabbits, I do think that they find a great amount of comfort in having 4 visible walls around them (though not close enough to make them feel trapped!).


                • Beka27
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                    Oh gosh! How is she doing today?! What did the vet say?


                  • lwayne
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                      Arduina got in first thing this morning.. they are doing x-rays right now. I’m anxiously waiting for the doctor to call.


                    • Beka27
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                        (((((((((((Arduina!!!))))))))))


                      • lwayne
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                          So Arduina fractured her leg above the elbow, which means they can’t just splint it. She will have surgery tomorrow (the Surgeon was booked today) and a pin placed in, once she is healed they will take the pin out. Arduina is on pain meds right now and going to stay at the hospital until at least Wednesday (or until she is eating on her own). The Doctor said that since she is so young (3 mos already!) she should heal completely (assuming everything goes well). The downside is that it is going to cost a fortune… hopefully under $1000. Thank you all for your helpful advice and your positive vibes! I’ll keep you all updated on her recovery.


                        • Sarita
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                            Does this surgeon have experience with rabbits?


                          • KatnipCrzy
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                              Healing vibes for Arduina!!!  I know how stressful this must be for you but it sounds like you have a very capable vet.  Please keep up updated!

                              Julie


                            • lwayne
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                                Luckily I live in a town with one of the best (if not the best) vet teaching hospitals in the country, Washington State University Vet School. I am sure she is in good hands.


                              • Beka27
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                                  I’m so glad there will be quick action to help that poor little girl! Successful surgery and Healing vibes!


                                • lwayne
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                                    The Doctor just called, Arduina is out of surgery and awake. As long as she starts eating she can come home tomorrow! She has to say confined (in her medium sized carrier) for 2 weeks. So now all we need is a safe recovery.


                                  • MooBunnay
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                                      I’m so glad you were able to get her to a good hospital and get everything taken care of. I hope she is feeling better very soon! She’ll probably need quite a few treats to make up for having to be in a tiny carrier….


                                    • RabbitPam
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                                        So glad the surgery went well. She’ll be home today.


                                      • Sarita
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                                          Oh good news. Continued healing vibes.


                                        • lwayne
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                                            Arduina came home last night! She is eating a ton and drinking lots too. She still has her foot curved under and hasn’t put it down yet. Arduina’s doctor said that if she doesn’t put her foot down in 4-5 days, bring her back in. She will go in for a check up in about 2 weeks and then back for radiographs in 4-6 weeks and the pin removed. I am so afraid to pick her up, but she doesn’t mind it when I do [to clean her carrier and give her meds]. All she wants to do is run around and play, but for now she is on bed rest. I will have to skim through the toy test page to find stuff to put in the carrier with her so she doesn’t get too bored.


                                          • Sarita
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                                              Glad your baby is doing well!


                                            • Beka27
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                                                I’m keeping her in my thoughts! Feel better sweetie!


                                              • bunnytowne
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                                                  OH my this must be hard seeing her stuck inside her carrier.   You know it is for her benefit though. Yes some toys should help.

                                                  Some rabbits panic easily outside.  Unfortunately your baby is one of them and hurt herself. 

                                                  Cotton panicked scared me so bad I won’t put him on the ground agian.

                                                  Sounds like she is in good hands and will be ok


                                                • MimzMum
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                                                    ((((((((((((((((healing vibes for Arduina))))))))))))))))

                                                    Wow I had no idea that if a bunny broke a leg that it could be fixed surgically? I thought it was like a horse, that they couldn’t heal from that.

                                                    Glad to hear she came through her operation and is back at home! I hope she heals quickly and well!


                                                  • amandafaith90
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                                                       Hey, I live in Pullman too! Healing vibes to your little bun. So, do you recommend the WSU Vet School for bunnies? I was considering it but when I talked to my  wonderful exotics vet, she was skeptical due to WSU’, according to her, not having the strongest of exotics programs.


                                                    • lwayne
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                                                        Amandafaith, I took Arduina there because I called the emergency vet clinic they have and then just brought her in the next day since I have not established a local vet yet. Who is your current vet? I think they are as good as any if not more since they are bigger and deal with bunnies more then a smaller clinic. I know the only other vet in pullman that takes rabbits (for fixing) is Evergreen, but they don’t do it often. I have a friend who just got her bun spayed at Evergreen and recommends it. Evergreen is also a bit cheaper (even with the student discount at wsu).


                                                      • amandafaith90
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                                                          I gotcha. The vet I go to now (and who spayed Bambi) is in Bothell, which has been convenient since I am currently living with my parents for the summer. She is the vet for almost all of the bunny breeders in the area, as well as from the Humane Society up there, so she sees rabbits as often as general vets see cats and dogs. I am moving to Pullman permanently for school, and need to establish a vet for Bambi on this side of the state. I’ll for sure look into Evergreen. Is that in Pullman, or Moscow?


                                                        • lwayne
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                                                            Amandafaith, it is in Pullman. My friend here is also looking for a play date for her spayed bunny. Arduina of course won’t be available for a while and now I am not so sure about taking her to the park. Let me know if you or your bun are interested, I can give you her phone #.

                                                            Update on Arduina: She is putting her foot down and has started to put weight on it! She is using her foot now as a crutch and acts like nothing is wrong (what bunnies do best). She really wants to come out and play, but has to stay on bed rest.. I can tell this is going to be a long week for her, but it is for the best. We have been having her sit on our laps and she enjoys the nose rubs and all of the attention. I hope her litter training hasn’t gone down the toilet..


                                                          • amandafaith90
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                                                              That would be fun! I’m not sure about the park unless she was thinking of using a pen or something as a bunny run. I think I saw her ad on Craigslist. My only concern with meeting is that she and Bambi end up bonding. Can two bunnies bond that fast in a situation like a park play date?


                                                            • lwayne
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                                                                Update: Arduina had her 2 week checkup yesterday and everything looks great! She is putting weight on it, walking on it, and I never thought I’d be happy about this.. but Digging!! Yes she has been digging for the past week!! So her Doctor said she can move up to the pen (reduced to 4ftx2ft). I put her in there last night and she started going crazy, running all over, binkying!, jumping in and out of the litter box. I was bit worried that she was jumping around too much, but once she realized she gets to stay in there, she settled down. I haven’t seen her this happy since the accident. In about 3 1/2 weeks she will go back in for xrays, they will remove the pin, and spay her (all it one go!). Wahoo! I am happy to have my bouncy bunny back :-). She just can’t get full running access until September.

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                                                            Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Sprained or broken front leg