hind legs

Question
hi there
i bought a neatherland dwarf rabbit about 4 weeks ago
every thing was ok for about 3 weeks when 1 morning i went to the hutch to change the water ect when i noticed the rabbit was not out at the front of the cage as he always is waiting to come out for him morning run.
on checking him i noticed his hind legs wernt right.
when he was trying to walk is rear legs were dragging behind him.
i took hime to the vet he checked him over said there seemed to be no problem with his back and gave him a steroid injection and said to bring him back in 48 hours and said if their is no progres he may have to be put to sleep.
there was a slight improvment so he gave him a longer lasting injection but hes no better.
hes drinking eating and seems fine apart from his legs.
he does bring his legs up from time to time when sitting and he yawned the other day and his toes opened up so he must have feeling in his feet.
ive read about splayed legs.he is a great rabbit
i dont want him to suffer or be in pain
please can you help with this
many thanks steve

Answer
Hi Steve

I am going to give you an article to read about splay legs.  If this is indeed what the vet says your rabbit has I think its best to be well informed.

http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Bone_diseases/Genetic/splayleg.PDF

Ms. Dana Krempels does extensive work with rabbits and she has wrote a nice article on how the legs can be splinted in hopes for improvement.  Please read her article also:

http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/splayleg.html

As far as what your vet has done I think he is doing what any reasonable vet would do.  The only thing you didn't mention is if he took an Xray or not.  Before I would let my rabbit be put down I would absolutely insist on an Xray.  I would demand every possible treatment available.  Print out Ms. Krempels article and take it with you.  If your rabbit has feeling in its legs then its not to late to try something.  Unfortunately once they are over 5 or 6 weeks old their bones are pretty much developed so there may not be much improvement.  

Rabbits can live with disabilities.  There are plenty of happy rabbits out there with all sorts of disabilities.  The big issue is that their disabilities cause all sorts of other illnesses.  You often have to diaper them, bath them, move them to different locations for change of scenery etc.  Its a full time job to say the least. I always try to tell people that if you believe in your heart that your animal will have a good quality of life then let them have it.  If at any time you think your animal is suffering then let them go.  They trust you to make decisions for them because they can't make them for themselves.

Good luck Steve and I am so very sorry that your beloved bunny is ill.

Sincerely,

Pam