Paralysis in the hind quarters

Question
QUESTION: Dear Dana,

Thank you for making yourself available for questions about the most beautiful little souls (bunnies).

A kit 4 weeks old has suddenly developed partial paralysis in the hind quarters. The local vet is not at all knowledgeable about domestic bunnies and doesn't know whats wrong. To add to the little dears woes, she is now losing hair around the hind quarters too. She is eating and drinking. Would e.cunicul do this? and what would be the best treatment. If not e.c what else could it be.

I look forward to hearing from you. Once again thank you.

Chris

ANSWER: Dear Christopher,

I'm sorry about the little one.  While it's not impossible for E. cuniculi to impair a baby so young, it is very, very uncommon unless the baby is seriously immunocompromised.  In a case like this, I would think trauma would be the #1 suspect.  

I wonder if the mother bunny is overgrooming the baby in this area because she senses there is a problem there.  If the skin is smooth, not red and crusty, then this would be more likely.  But you can read about causes of abnormal fur loss in rabbits here:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/furloss.html

You might be able to find a more rabbit-savvy vet via the international listings here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

It's also possible that the baby has a broken bone (pelvis or leg) and is overgrooming *himself* because of the pain.  A radiograph would reveal any skeletal problem, which would then have to be properly stabilized to allow normal healing.

You can read about the things that can cause hind limb paresis here:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/paresis.html

(be sure to read the linked article by Dr. Susan Brown)  But truly, this sounds more like an injury to me than anything else.  

I have to guess, since this is long distance and I can't see the bunny.  But there it is.

I hope the baby will be fine with proper diagnosis and treatment by a rabbit savvy vet!

Dana

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Again Dana,

If it is a fracture, what is the best way of treating it. What I did forget to mention was that the paralysis was gradual in that there was limited movement then improvment with after starting on the anti inflammitories and now virtually no movement of the hind legs.

Chris

Answer
Dear Christopher,

This sounds as if it could be a broken back or pelvis.  :(  The type of stabilization will depend on the break and its precise location, and I cannot advise without seeing it in person with radiographs.

This can be a very difficult situation.  But if the baby is eating and pooping and urinating normally, s/he can still live a happy life.  They even make wheelchairs for bunnies now!  But if she is not able to poop or urinate, the prognosis is very bad.  :(

I hope she will be okay. But the sooner an accurate diagnosis is made, the better.

Dana