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My baby bunny is limping

22 10:33:27

Question
 My bunny Sylvester is around 9 weeks old and today he jumped off my shoulder while I was standing and it seems he has hurt his front left leg.  I didn't notice anything when it first happened however he went back to his cage right away and pretty much slept the whole day.  He has been eating and drinking but when I let him out for play time tonight I noticed him limping. He puts a little bit of weight on it but not a lot.  I felt the foot to see if I could find anything wrong and didn't feel anything and it didn't seem to hurt him that I was touching or bending the foot.  Do you think it is just a sprain or do I need to get him to a vet right away?  I've only had him for a little more than a week and I am really worried about him.

Answer
Dear Tawney,

Sylvester is lucky to be alive.  I can't tell you how many baby rabbits die from accidents like this every year, jumping from a height that causes them to break their neck or spine or rupture internal organs.

I guess I don't need to tell you that you should never hold him on your shoulder, and preferably don't pick him up and carry him at all.  If he objects so strongly that he'll override his instinctive fear of falling and leap off such a tall place, he's not a good candidate to be a "carried bunny."  Such rabbits (and that's actually most of them) should be left on the floor where their humans can interact with them at ground level, as fully explained here:

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

All that said, it sounds as if he has miraculously escaped serious injury. If he's putting *any* weight on the leg, then it is not likely to be broken.  But if he is still limping--or especially if he stops putting any weight on the leg--in a day or so, he should be seen by a good rabbit vet:

www.rabbit.org/vets

It would probably be a good idea to take him, anyway, for an early wellness check and to develop a working relationship with a good rabbit vet so you'll have one if you ever need one in an emergency (I hope not!).

Hope this helps.

Dana