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hard situation

22 11:18:52

Question
went to the vet this morning, i spoke alot with them about doing neurogical tests, but decided to try out a form of steriods first, i did say i had spoken to a specialist. However they think that my rabbit is far to progressed in the condition that she will probably not be able to walk a great deal. So was wondering if you had any tips for rabbits that can't really move around alot. you said you have two in a similar condition so am hoping for some advice, just want what is best for her. thankyou so much again for all your help.
emily blackman
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Followup To

Question -
My rabbit has got paraylisis, it started not being able to stand up a few weeks ago, i took it straight to the vet but they cou;ldnt find anything wrong with it, no broken bones, then i found out about paraylisis, all the symptons match. Now my rabbit who is about 6 years old has lost all control of her back legs n can only drag herself around. We think it may have been brought on by the flystrike she had, but was treated for. I dont know what to do and am beside myself not knowing wether to put her down. I know that there is a possible cure with maybe therapy. I just feel so helpless, and now recently i have relised her front legs getting weaker to. Please help. thanks, emily blackman

Answer -
Dear Emily,

Please read this right away:

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

and find a good, rabbit-savvy vet here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

If this were my bunny, I would ask to get her on Panacur (fenbendazole) or oxibendazole **right away**, to try to prevent further damage if this is due to Encephalitozoon cuniculi.

Even if your bunny doesn't regain the use of her legs, she can live a happy, fulfilling life.  We have two bunnies now who are confined to a comfy hospital bed with special fleece changed every day.  They have their treats brought to them, and they live right in the middle of the living area so they get lots of mental stimulation and attention, which they love.

Physical therapy is a daily thing for Maggie and Hamish.  They are happy, even though they can't move around the way they used to.

So don't rush into any hard decisions just yet.  If your bunny is eating, drinking, acting interested in life and doesn't seem to be in pain (the condition almost never seems to be painful), give her a chance to recover with medication.  If that doesn't work, you still can provide her with a wonderful life with just a little bit of extra care.  I hope it doesn't come to that, but if it does, I'll be happy to share all the tips we've learned about keeping the bunny comfortable, flexible, and interested even if she can't move.

We don't put people to sleep just because they're confined to a bed or wheelchair.  Why do that to a bunny who otherwise has the will to live?

Hope this helps.  Please write back if you have more questions.

Dana

Answer
Dear Emily,

Corticosteroids might help in the short term, but I hope the vets will still consider a course of Panacur (30 days at a dose of 20mg/kg) to arrest the parasites and prevent further damage, which can be significant and fatal.  

To keep your bunny comfortable, try what we do for Hamish and Maggie.

1. Go to www.palacepet.com and purchase two generous-sized artificial fleece beds for bun.

2. Place this on top of a foam pad the same size, and cover the pad with a plastic protector so any urine will not soak in.

3.  Depending on how mobile or immobile she is, you might have to feed her cecotropes, if she can't reach them.  Also, be sure to offer her clean water from a bowl several times a day if she cannot reach the bowl herself.  

4.  Provide hay and pellets in an area she can reach comfortably.

Can she move at all?  If she is able to move around with her front legs, I would *definitely* find a vet who will prescribe the Panacur.  It can at least kill the remaining parasites and prevent further damage, which can spread to affect her front legs and other areas.  (We lost our Jamie Blue, who was not treated for E. cuniculi, when she finally lost the ability to even swallow.  Please don't let that happen to your bunny.  The Panacur could well prevent this!)

I hope this helps.

Dana