Dry bath

Question
QUESTION: I followed your guidelines on dry baths and cornstarch baby powder and this seems to be working better for me on my arthritis rabbit than wet baths.  Do you recommend removing the loose hair around urine burn areas.  Does that help healing ?  

 Also, my rabbit is on metacam .  We first tried dexamathasone which didnt seem to help mobility.   Should I stretch out his back legs that really dont move anymore or would that be too painful ?   His front feet can't support the weight either anymore although he tries to move them.  I am considering a cart but dont know if he has the strength to use it.

Thank you.

ANSWER: Dear John,

Removing any loose hair that's trapping urine will help him heal, and eventually it may grow back when the skin is better. So I'd go ahead and gently remove any loose fur.

Gentle massage is always a good idea, as long as you pay attention to bunny's signals and don't pull so far that it hurts.  Little stretches and range of motion will help to keep him from "freezing up," and gentle muscle massage will keep him comfortable and less likely to cramp.

If his front fee cannot support him, then nix the cart. It won't work.  Just be sure to provide him with a comfy bed of high-quality fleece on top of absorbent mats and/or towels, and he'll be happy as can be.  Palacepet (www.palacepet.com) makes fantastic fleece that's well worth the price.

Hope that helps!

Dana

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QUESTION: Thank You Dana.  

Are there instances when a bunny who is immobile can get up again ?   Should I continue trying to give him glucosamine with the metacam.  And is there any juice that is safe for bunnies to help me give it to him.  He likes the metacam but he hates the glucosamine even in fruit. Also,  can chiropractic care help ?  

 Thanks again,  
John
ANSWER: Dear John,

I don't remember your original post, but did you mention that the bunny doesn't have the use of his hind legs before?  If he does suffer from hind limb paresis, his chances for regaining mobility depend on how long he's been in that condition.  The longer you wait, the lower the chances.

Please read:

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

This problem could be more than arthritis; it could involve Encephalitozoon cuniculi, which can be treated with Panacur (fenbendazole) and/or ponazuril.  Results will depend on the individual rabbit's affliction and degree of infection.  But it might not hurt to try.  Please ask your vet about this.

If he really hates the glucosamine, I'm not really sure what benefit it's giving him if he's immobile.  But I've found that a rabbit will usually accept even the nastiest medication if it's suspended in a dilute mixture of *molasses*.  The molasses already has a faintly bitter flavor, and it seems to help mask bad-tasting meds better than anything else.

We mix molasses about 2 parts molasses to 1 part water, just so it's got liquid consistency and isn't so gooey.  Then just use the appropriate amount to compound your meds.

As far as chiropractic help for bunny is concerned:  you need to find a *good* practitioner.  Acupuncture might also be something to try.  There's a web site here for the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association, complete with a link at the bottom for searching for a vet in your area:

http://www.avcadoctors.com/

Can't hurt to ask around, right?

I hope your bunny will be fine, and he's lucky to have such a caring dad!

Dana


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

QUESTION:   Thank you for your assistance and articles on the internet which helped me with my rabbit,  Slippers .  He died last night.  Dr. Saver had been treating him for arthitis for the last few months and you helped me answering some of the questions that I forgot to ask her and giving me some great help with caring for an immobile bunny .  The cornstarch powder helped a lot.  I also gave him simethecone liquid the last few days in case he had gas.  He was also taking metacam .  

 I had spoken to Dr. Saver Saturday about his worsening condition and asked about e-cunniculi which she treated another of my bunnies successfully.  She did not believe it was e-cunniculi based on her exam in March and the x-rays, but would have done the tests if I wanted.  However,  for the first time he did not look happy and was having trouble breathing and my wife and I were deciding when to bring him in to put to sleep.  We went out and came back and he was gone.  His mate seems to be ok.

 I admire your taking care of your immobile bunnies.  It is a lot of work.  But I didnt mind as long as he still seemed happy.

John  

Answer
Dear John,

I am so sorry you lost Slippers.  I know you did everything you could.  But in the end, we are mortals, and there is only so much we can do.

We lost our Maggie yesterday.  She was 13 in February, and had been immobile for years.  Her kidneys finally failed her, and there was just nothing more that we could do.

I hope she and Slippers met on the way, and are now running happily in the Black Rabbit's owsla.

Take care,

Dana