Did your bunny recover, Trinity?

How are Harry and Symphony doing this morning?

Yes, he recovered completely. Took a while for him to get all his strength back, but eventually he did. We later lost him due to other, unrelated issues (recurring abcess). He's the bunny in my avatar.

__________Sun Jan 22, 2012 11:24 pm __________

Shannon, how are Harry and Symphony doing?

Yes, I've been wondering how Symphony and Harry are doing as well. Time for an update, Shannon. Hope it is good news!

Sorry guys, I was AWOL for the weekend!

Symphony is doing well, she is back in her cage because her toe is healing up. Also, I walked by the carrier and noticed that she had a TINY piece of hay in her mouth...I thought "surely not..." and gave her some more hay, which she proceeded to gather in her mouth with what bordered on obsession! So, not sure if she is an early nester or has a false pregnancy. We shall see. So, she is back in her cage with a nestbox.

Harry is actually doing pretty well too. We had him in a carrier, immobilized, but he kept struggling so I took him out and noticed that he had soiled his hindquarters. I took him to wash and while we were cleaning him, noticed that he is getting some movement back in his legs. He will flex and extend his toes on both feet, although we have the injured one bandaged as it was getting inflamed. We put him back in his cage with the floor layered with hay and he seems to like that better, as he can stretch out fully. So, hopefully he will make a full recovery, but he is not eating as well as I would like, so any suggestions are welcome.

We put up a six strand electric fence around the perimeter of the rabbit area and so far, have not seen the dogs again.

WOW! So glad Symphony is doing so well, and Harry's moving his toes!

Keep in mind that since Harry is practically immobile right now, he's not burning many calories. Maybe his appetite will improve as his activity increases?

That sounds like very good news to me!

Does Harry have diarrhea or is the soiling simply because he is not moving around yet? For his appetite, you might try some parsley... Ladysown uses that to tempt her rabbits to eat, I believe. A small amount of anything he normally enjoys as a treat may also help. Are you offering him kitchen oatmeal? It usually goes down well with rabbits. That's about all I can think of right now.

Maggie, I think the soiling was due to him pooping and then peeing on it and laying in it for a bit. He has not been soiling himself since we moved him back to the normal cage. I am giving him grass, plantain, oats, and a bit of calf manna in addition to the pellets. He is eating a bit, just not a whole lot.

Not surprising that his appetite is less. If he's eating enough to poop normally, I would not be too worried. Sounds to me as though he is doing rather well, considering what he's been through.

One thing did occur to me. It might be a good idea to offer him water in a crock as well as or instead of a bottle. It sometimes is easier for rabbits to drink from a crock.

Yes, I think that is what I will do when I get home, change out his water for a crock.

WOW Shannon! Coming in late to this, and I just want to say I am so sorry this happened!! I hope your little guy will be ok. Crossing my fingers for him.

Thanks Geri, he does seem to be doing better! He is moving his feet and toes and while he is still dragging his back end some but he is able to pull his feet up underneath him. We thought we would put a month old kit in the cage with him for company.... ....Harry was trying his best to chase it down and mount it! So...out came the bunny... I guess if he can still feel those "urges" he MUST be improving, right?

Some fellows are like that- maybe it is a physiological response... "Woe is me, oh I'm dying!... I'd best procreate before it's too late!"

Well.... you found out how to get him to exercise...

So glad to hear he's improving so quickly! Maybe it wasn't too bad an injury!