rabbit hematoma

Question
My 12 year old rabbit has developed a bleeding tumour like growth on his leg as a result of a heel fracture which I'm told did not properly heal. What can I do? I have stopped giving medication now as the vet says there is nothing more to do. The rabbit"s leg is bandaged but appears to have started to swell near the nail beds.

Answer
Hi Deborah,

first I would probably go to a different vet, preferably a good rabbit vet.  If you need to look, go to

www.rabbit.org\vets

and find a House Rabbit recommended vet in your area.

Why would I recommend this?  Your rabbit needs medical treatment by a vet who hasn't decided there's nothing more to do.  Unless you are of that mindset, and it appears your rabbit no longer has a will to live, I strongly suggest another vet, but a rabbit-savvy vet.

The problem is that the bandage may be on his leg a little too tight, if swelling is occurring.  If you can adjust it to be slightly less tight it may improve circulation.

It would help to know what kinds of medication you were giving him but now have stopped giving him.  

He mostl likely needs pain medication.  A good rabbit vet would prescribe one (probably metacam) and also an antibiotic to prevent/treat infection (like baytril).  If you still have any of this I would continue to give these meds to your rabbit.  The pain med will help him be able to function and continue eating and keep his strength up.  The antibiotic is needed as he's got an open sore.

If you don't have any prescription meds, get to the new rabbit vet asap and explain you want this treated and that he requires pain meds and an antibiotic.  The vet will probably tell you that, anyways.  I would get to a vet as soon as physically possible as rabbits do not have a large blood supply and you don't want an infection in the blood or for him to lose too much blood and weaken or die.

In the meantime, if you have some arnica montana pills, you can get them from a health store, and arnica cream for use on the wound only.  These help allieve mild to moderate pain.  If you don't know about this or can't think where you'd get it, don't try now.  You could try to use styptic powder or gel and see if it can help reduce or eliminate blood loss.

In any event, the vet will probably need to do some kind of surgery to remove the tumor-like growth and stitch the wound area, and maybe that will also require him to do something with the leg as well.  Rabbits can survive with a leg being in a cast.  Don't let anyone tell you different.  That is why you need a good rabbit vet who knows this and can do it properly.

Now on the other hand, if you think it's his time to go, the nicest thing you can do for him is to stop him from living in pain and slowly dying in pain.  But since you are asking 'what can I do' I am assuming that this is not your view and that my above advice should be taken.

Please write me anytime and let me know how this works out.  Just don't wait any longer to get a good rabbit vet and tell them it's a critical/emergency case to get in sooner.

Lee