hind leg problems

Question
QUESTION: Hi!  I've written to you in the past,so thank you for your time once again. I have a large New Zealand White rabbit. She has a very large tumor under her tail. It has been slowly growing for over a year now. The vet said it cannot be operated on because it is completely incorporated in the area, but they were sure it was not malignant. They told me all I can do is spoil her and keep her comfortable. It has now been nearly a year, The tumor is still growing, but Booboo is still eating, playing and cuddling happily. Over the past 4 days she has begun to get weak in her hind quarters, barely noticeable at first, but now it seems like she doesn't use her hind legs at all. I read your page on rabbit paresis. The problem is, The earliest i can get an appointment with a rabbit experienced vet is a week and a half from now, I called every vet in the area... and the emergency clinic said they could only put her to sleep because they are not 'rabbit capable'. I don't want to do that because she seems still happy if uncomfortable and a bit frustrated. I do realize she will not show her pain, but i don't think its necessary to do 'that' yet.  Is there any suggestions in the meantime? I'm totally panicking!

ANSWER: Dear Alison,

Please call the rabbit vet and explain that you need an emergency appointment no later than some time this week.  Your bunny may be able to be treated if this vet thinks the tumor is operable (it's always good to get a second opinion in a case like this!).

The tumor could be impinging on her spine or spinal nerves, and thus causing numbness and weakness.  This isn't likely to be life-threatening in the next 48 hours, but she should be seen by an experienced rabbit vet ASAP.

If she can't walk, and isn't in pain, then she can still live happily even without the use of her hind legs.  So if it comes to that, please write back and I'll help with that. I just hope she'll be treated so that she can use her back legs again.  

Sending healing thoughts,

Dana

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

QUESTION: Thanks again for your replay and time. I finally got her to a vet the other day, She did x-rays and said there are no problems with her spine or legs. Also said its unlikely related to the tumor because of where it is. She did mention E.Cuniculi. and I have medication for her for it. The vet said the prognosis isn't good though, and suggested a "decision" would have to be made if she doesn't improve within a could of weeks, because her quality of life wouldn't be good without her hind legs...  The problem I'm having now is with Urine Scald. I'm changing her towels constantly and using baby cornstarch, but I cant seem to keep ahead of it. Now she has a large open wound on her foot, the same place that drags on the floor when she tries to walk. I figured that's from a combination of the urine scald and the friction on the floor. I tried to bandage it, but she chewed it off.  What can I put on it to heal, that wont harm her more, or poison her if she licks it off? and is there anyway to help with the urine scald?

ANSWER: Dear Alison,

We have had *many* rabbits who have lived perfectly happy lives without the use of their back legs.  They can go on for years if they are provided with proper care and, if necessary, pain management.

Do we euthanize people in wheelchairs because they can't walk?  Why would anyone consider such a fate for a rabbit who otherwise has a happy outlook?  I just don't understand it.

But you do have to address a few things, such as the urine scald.  Instructions for a safe "butt bath" can be found here:

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

and it's important that she be kept clean and dry.  Keeping her on a surface that will promote this will help tremendously, and we use the excellent, high-quality hospital fleece from Palacepet.com (www.palacepet.com).  Comes in all kinds of nice colors, and it will keep your bunny dry and comfortable and free of bedsores.

Wrapping the foot with the sore must be done with care so she won't chew it off, but wrapped it must be until things stabilize and she doesn't drag the foot and injure it.

First disinfect the wound carefully with dilute Betadine solution.  Dry it well, and if it looks very sore you can apply a *very* thin layer of neosporin (no lidocaine!) to keep it pliable.  

A layer of clean gauze on the wound can then be wrapped (not too tightly!) with VetWrap or similar product.  (You can use the elastic, slightly adhesive bandages that dressage people use to wrap their horses' legs:  its' available where horse feed and supplies are sold.)  

Finally, a "tacking cuff" of adhesive tape on the top of the bandage will keep it from sliding off.  If the wound is on the long part of the foot or the heel, then the instructions here will help make a comfortable bandage that she won't chew off:

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

The bandage will allow the sore to heal up, and by then the PalacePet fleece (get a couple of beds, so you can change them out and launder them daily, or as necessary) will have arrived and you'll be all set!  :)

Remember that she'll need help cleaning her ears and scratching places she can't reach without her hind legs. But with a little bit of love and training, both of you can do just fine in the face of this disability.

For more information and stories about living with a disabled rabbit, please go to:

http://www.rabbit.org/faq/sections/disabled.html

and

http://www.rabbit.org/journal/3-2/disabled.html

I hope this helps. Good luck!

Dana

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

QUESTION: Hi. Its me again. Booboo finished her medication for the E.Cuniculi yesterday, a full 28 days, He has not recovered any of the use of her back legs. I'm so disappointed for her. I've been trying to keep her dry with hospital bed pads and towels, unfortunately petpalace.com does not ship to Canada at the moment, But I've emailed them to see if they can make an exception for extra shipping cost maybe.  Beyond that she seems to be developing another problem with her legs. They've seem to have gone stiff. I've been flexing them daily, but it started getting difficult, and now its like they done want to bend more then a little, and she struggles if I try harder. Her legs stick out straight out in front of her now, and I don't know if its just the muscles atrophying or something else has happened. Any ideas?  Also anything to help her stay dry and comfortable until i can get one of those bed beds? I've been to all my local pet stores and didn't really see anything comparable, I figured a normal pet cushion wouldn't work...

Answer
Dear Alison,

Wow, I can't believe PalacePet won't ship to Canada!  (You wrote PetPalace, which is a different company.  Be sure you've contacted *PalacePet.com* to be sure they can't help you.

The progression you describe also has happened to both our Hamish and Maggie.  We have no explanation, either.  Acupuncture, massage, and warm compresses have helped somewhat, but eventually Hamish just became stiff in all his limbs, and we had to make special accomodations and modificaiotns to his puff bed so he would stay comfortable.  It's extremely frustrating, and I wish I could tell you there was a solution.  But at this stage in our knowledge of rabbit medicine, there just isn't.

Hamish is still with us, stiff and not very mobile, but happy enough with his treats and his loving mate. So it's not impossible for a bunny to live this way.  

I am sorry the outcome wasn't any better.  But you're not alone.

For more ideas and support, you might consider joining EtherBun, a free listserve about rabbit health and care.  The more than 5000 subscribers will surely have shared your problems and be able to offer even more suggestions:

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

I hope this helps, if anything can.

Dana