rabbit with dissability

Question
I have a 6 week old rabbit that i have hand reared but both her fron paws are locked and turn inwards. She hops about and seems quite happy.  She does all the happy bunny things but my vet thinks i should have her put down because although it is causing her no pain she wont quite have a normal life.  I am very reluctant to put down a heaslthy animal because she has a deformaty. Am i being too soft?

Answer
Hi Angela,

if you have not already explained to the vet you are going to, your own position on the pets in your life, and that you regard them as family, I would do so and see if the vet will understand where you are coming from.

If it seems the vet cannot, I would go to a different vet.  I might just consider going to another vet anyway.  I would seriously start looking here:

www.rabbit.org/vets/vets.html

and find a House Rabbit Society recommended vet near you.  I might take her in to another good rabbit vet to make sure she does not have some kind of infection or something affecting her neurologically.

Rabbits are animals that live in the moment.  They do not get depressed about their current state or any disability they have.  They just deal with it.  They don't let it get them down.  If she is happy and affectionate and eating and drinking and moving around and loving life, there is no reason to put her down simply because her front paws are not exactly how they should be.  She is coping with it.

You may be able to do therapy with her on her muscles to get more flexibility in her front paws.

I would also strongly suggest giving her vitamin E for the near future.  Easiest way is to get the liquid capsules, poke a hole in one, and squirt it out onto her pellets or a hay cube.  You could put some petromalt on it as well so she will eat it.

Lee