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paralyzed male rabbit

22 10:41:00

Question
my son found a paralyzed mini rex male the other day in the woods near our home.  He seems to have a small puncture wound (scabbed over) on his lower back.   He seems to be in very good spirit.  He can drag himself around, he is eating well too, however, I am not sure if he is emptying his bladder.  I have not yet seen him drink.  I have him on a flannel sheet and I have not seen any urine.  He is having bowel movements though.  I had too wash him up this evening to get all the feces off.  I don't want him to get sick.  I don't know that much about rabbits (it has been years since we had any) especially handicapped ones.  I am looking into getting him a cart.  Right now I need to know how to express his urine.  I can't afford to take him to a vet right now and the local SPCA will only put him to sleep.  Please help if you can!

Answer
Dear Linda,

It sounds as if the bunny may have suffered a traumatic injury.  But that's not the only possible cause of this problem, and you can read more here:

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

I know you say you can't afford a vet right now, but I hope there might be some way you can manage it.  The reason is the sooner a traumatic injury like this is treated, the better the chances for recovery.  If there are bones broken that can be set, and they are not set soon, then he may never walk again.  But it's possible the condition is reversible with proper care from an experienced rabbit vet.  Please find one here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

and ask them if they can work out a payment plan.  If you tell them this is a little abandoned, injured bunny, they might be more willing to help.

Expressing the bladder is a good idea if you're not sure he's able, but in a case like this it's a little dicey because you don't know if handling him will make his injury worse.  This is another reason to have the vet examine him and take radiographs:  to be sure your kindness and ministrations don't accidentally injure him more severely.  If there are broken bones, they need to be stabilized before he gets any serious handling.

There's a good overview of how to care for a disabled rabbit here:

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

and it includes information about bladder expression.  But be very careful, if you don't know the extent of his injuries.  It takes practice to do it right.  The bladder is located low in the abdomen, about an inch or two above the prepuce.  When it's full, you can feel it as a round, bouncy mass in the abdomen.  Never use hard force to express, and it helps to actually gently roll your fingers from *low* on the bladder to higher up, as you gently apply pressure.

I hope he'll be fine.  Thank you for your kindness in taking care of this little disabled bunny.  

Dana