rabbit paralysis

Question
Dear Dana,
Our dwarf rabbit developed paralysis of her front legs overnight. We saw a vet the next morning and she had never seen it happen in the front legs. Whilst our rabbit was on the vet table her back legs became paralysed also. The vet gave her antibiotics and sent us home as they didn't know what to do. We are really worried as our rabbit needs 24 hour care now with feeding and water. We have lots of wild rabbits on our property. Can a wild rabbit pass on a disease through the rabbit hutch?
Thanks - Diane

Answer
Dear Diane,

You don't say whether you're in the UK, Europe, or the US, but if either of the former, then there are possible pathogens that could pass from wild European rabbits to domestic ones, as they are the same species.  If you're in the US, then this is less likely, as cottontails generally do not share pathogens with domestic rabbits except in very rare cases.

It is pretty unusual for the front legs to go out, but not unheard of.  Encephalitozoon cuniculi usually affects the back legs more often than the front, but paresis/paralysis can occur anywhere teh central nervous system is affected by the parasite.  This might give some insight:

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

Please ask your vet about trying Panacur (fenbendazole) or ponazuril in case this is E. cuniculi.  It might help and will not hurt to try.

I would recommend bloodwork to see if anything shows up in the liver or kidney values, or blood count, as well.  Radiographs would reveal whether the bunny suffered an injury to his pectoral girdle (the bones that attach his front legs to the rest of his skeleton) that might need to be addressed.

If you're not sure your present vet is well versed in rabbit medicine, then please find one here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

I hope this helps.

Dana