Help, what's wrong with my Doe?

[Reids Rabbits]

I bought some new bunnies last week. My one junior doe (3 months). Yesterday she was normal ... this morning I headed out to do my bunny chores and noticed she was acting odd; Lathargic. She can not move around and isnt using her legs. She just falls over if she tries to hop. I picked her up and she was as limp as can be! I checked the straw and her urine was bloody. Her sister is fine. They share the same space.

Any suggestions or advise?

 

[Marinea]

I'm sorry I don't have any advice, but *fingers crossed for a good outcome*.

Hopefully, someone smarter than me will weigh in soon.

 

[jollysrabbits]

OMG I don't know how I missed this earlier, any change in eating/drinking, did you check for wounds? Is she grinding her teeth like she is in pain? Are you sure it is blood, discolored urine is normal in rabbits. Possible wry neck?

 

[LauraNJ]

Have you noticed her holding her head just a little off? That is how it started with my rabbit and then all of a sudden her head was turned alot, like overnight it went from me thinking; is she holding her head normal to omg why is she holding her head like that.

Her balance was off, she would sometimes fall but overall was able to hop around (albeit in a circle, always in the same direction ), ate, drank normal. I did move a water and food bowl to the floor to make sure she had easy access to both and showed her where they were.

I hope your bun is ok and recovers from what is wrong. Thinking good thoughts.

 

[Reids Rabbits]

I have been keeping a close eye on her all day. After cleaning up the pen, discovered that it is not bloody urine. Just coloration from the grass and hay.

She is eating and drinking. She seems a little bit stronger, but compared to this morning, anything is better. She doesn't have wry neck. She has no physical wounds. But it's like she has no muscles, no mobility... Or at least very little. She can sit and turn slowly. But can't really hop. This morning it was like her front legs were paralyzed (and fell on her face when she tried to hop).She is using them a little more this evening. When she tries to hop, she is keeping her legs/knees closed ... Not extending them out.

The only conclusion I can come up with, is she tried to jump out of the pen and maybe caught her legs on the bars. (tall exercise pen). I have stretched out her legs, and it doesn't hurt her. She isn't chattering her teeth either.

Not sure what to think.

 

[ottersatin]

Are you sure that she hasn't eaten any "Milkweed"?
Sometimes Milkweed gets mixed in with Hay.
It will cause the symptoms you have described,
and can even cause DEATH.
Ottersatin. ldtimer:

 

[Miss M]

Wow... if not the milkweed, then maybe she injured herself, and is dealing with swelling that is pressing on her nerves.

It might be good to put her in a very small cage or animal carrier with shavings, and have the feed and water right in front of her, so she really doesn't have to move for a few days.

 

[Reids Rabbits]

I don't think so. The hay mixture I have been using for months now. All my other rabbits eat it and have never shown these symptoms.

I went back out and took a video. But it's too large to attach.
she is definitely stronger then this morning. I could push her over this morning and she wouldnt resist. She would just fall over. Now she tries to stay upright I'll see how she does tomorrow I guess!

I moved her this morning to a large open box. Filled with hay and a bowl of pellets and water. She seem quite content.

 

[TheLittleBunny10]

sound like what happened to my 4 week old, Oreo.
It seemed like her back legs where broken, but she was really dehydrates, any chance that could be it?

oh, and she is perfectly fine now

 

[Miss M]

Fingers crossed! :clover:

 

[Reids Rabbits]

She seems to be doing so much better today ... Weird. Starting to get back mobility in her legs and hoping around more. Not sure what to think. I was pretty scared yesterday.

I don't think she was dehydrated unless she wasn't drinking while she was in the outside pen.
I'll be keeping a close eye on her to make sure she bounces back 100%

Thank all for the advice.

 

[AmysMacdog]

Oh wonderful! Hopefully it was just something in the hay and its leaving her system. I hope so!

 

[GlitterMomma]

Glad to hear your little one is doing much better. That happened to Delilah as well, I really thought she was going to pass away. She was fine one day and then the next she was different, slowly went from hopping to being a lump.. she could not move her limbs at all but would still eat. Then after nursing her to health the next day slowly she began to move her front limbs and then later that day moved her hind limbs. Day later it was as if nothing had happened. Poop was fine and peed all the time, ate even while a lump but did have to force home-made version of pedalite to her and once she was mobile gave her puree pumpkin to hydrate her. I think it was partial to the loss of her brother ( her mourning) and possible not getting enough water from the water bottle. She would not drink from the dish just flip it over. So these days she always gets a little pumpkin to be safe Hope your little one continues to do better.

 

[OneAcreFarm]

Could she have eaten something in the outside pen that was poisonous to rabbits?