Alternative arthritis treatments

Question
Dear Dana,

Thank you for your response. Unfortunately, acupuncture is not an option with this rabbit.

I tried using the MSM, but it tastes terrible and Rosebug will not go near it even when it is mashed up into lots of banana. Do you have any other ideas of how to get him to take it, short of force feeding?

Other options are boswellia or green-lipped mussel, but I may have the same problem getting those in him. Do you know if these substances are tolerated by rabbits?

Thank you very much,

Michele

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Followup To
Question -
Rosebug is a 9 year old houserabbit who has severe arthritis in his left knee. He has been taking Medicam for several months, which helped to some extent.

Two weeks ago I began giving him glucosamine and chondroitin, but he has not yet shown improvement. I know this sometimes takes several weeks, but it also may not help. I am now looking into other alternative treatments.

I understand MSM has been used successfully with rabbits. I may start that soon.

Rosebug has an excellent appetite and a good mood. He has the run of the house but does not move around too much because of his knee.

I would like to know if you know of any other alternative arthritis treatments (there are lots of them) which have been used safely with rabbits.

Michele

Answer -
Dear Michele,

If you have a good veterinary acupuncturist in your area, this might be something to try.  Some people have reported excellent results with this method.

If you don't know of a veterinary acupuncturist in your area, please use the veterinary referral list here:

www.rabbit.org/vets
 
and ask one of those vets (or your own vet) whether they might be able to refer you to one.

I hope this helps.  Please write back if you have any other questions.

Dana


Answer
Dear Michele,

What's MSM?  I've not heard of it.

Anything that tastes fishy or nasty is hard to get down a bunny.  But if you mix it with something sweet (e.g., grenadine) and feed it via syringe (not just allowing bun to take it by choice), it's easier.

Just slip the tip of the syringe behind the incisors into the space there (the diaphysis) and gently squirt sideways.  It takes practice, but it's the only way to get nasty-tasting stuff down a bunny at the right dosage.

Hope that helps!

Dana