paralysis

Question
Is it possible for a male rabbit to injure a female rabbit during the mating ritual?  (I suppose anything is remotely possible but is this likely?)  My rabbit pair have lived together for over a year.  The male is not neutered but the female is spayed.  I noticed that she is having problems with her hind legs.  Specifically, she cannot hop normally and she will sometimes fall over on her side.   When I held her today she seemed to be giving out little cries.  BUT - she is eating and does not appear to be in obvious pain.  I am curious about the mating ritual because the male does this quite a bit (especially when people are near their hutch; to show himself the male, I suppose), and I'm wondering if he could have injured her during this ritual.   The male is about 2 years old.  I believe the female is 7+ years old.  I got both of these rabbits from owners who no longer wanted them.   I placed them together (since she was already spayed) and they seem to be a happy, bonded pair.  Thanks for any information you provide.  ~Blair  

Answer
Dear Blair,

It is not common for a male to injure a female with his mounting, but at her age, she might well be more fragile and prone to injury in the spine and hips.  Please get her to a good rabbit vet ASAP:

www.rabbit.org/vets

for examination and treatment.  If this is due to a traumatic injury, then quick administration of corticosteroids (not usually recommended for rabbits, but in an emergency they can be life savers) can mean the difference between saving her mobility and a bedridden life.

There are other possible causes of hind limb paresis, and treatments appropriate for each.  So please also read this before you go to the vet:

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

It would be wise to have the male neutered for the female's safety.  This is a relatively minor operation, and if he is a good surgical candidate (the vet can tell you this, too), then I would have it done *soon* so that no further injury can happen--if mounting is the cause.

Bottom line:  get both bunnies to a good rabbit vet ASAP.  I would not wait another day.

I hope this helps.

Dana