hind Leg lameness

[Wheels]

This weekend I took a couple of rabbits to a Friday/Saturday show. Rabbits seemed fine but now Chip our broken mini lop buck is favoring his right rear leg (pretty sure it's his right).

I checked his foot the nails are all there and the foot looks good. I extended his legs and he will stretch it out but he'd rather not (it feels stiff) Didn't seem hot to the touch or really swollen - but with all that fur I may have missed something.

He keeps it tucked up and tries to keep weight off of it but will use it to balance and pivot. He is eating, drinking, eliminating fine, and in general seems OK. My gut reaction is to wait and see, give him a week for improvement but I am worried even though I'm not sure (other than medication) what a vet might be able to do... I really don't think it's broke. I also would hate to loose this fellow in my breeding program so I am worried that if his leg doesn't improve he won't be able to get the job done - he's willing to try but he can't get enough lift or er... thrust.

Is there any signs I should be looking for, anything I can offer to him for discomfort? How long would you give an injury like this to heal before seeking a vet?

 

[MaggieJ]

Injuries like this often heal up on their own, given time and rest. You could give him some willow branches (Salix spp.) so he can self-medicate for pain by eating the bark. Willow is a safe rabbit food as well.

 

[Miss M]

Yep, what Maggie said. If you do not have access to a willow tree, you can give chewable baby aspirin.

Medirabbit says:

10 - 100 mg/kg (up to 400 mg/kg)

PO (orally)

sid-tid (once - thrice daily)

Aspirin is a blood thinner and *must* therefore be avoided in case there are internal bleedings or when
surgery is planned

I have given 1/2 twice a day, which doesn't even come close to the max. I think I've given 1 whole twice a day one time for a short time, which still isn't close to the max.

 

[Wheels]

Update: Chip seems to be doing better still favoring the leg but he's more mobile. I did put a doe in with him but he's still not able to use that leg to help him get the job done. Hopefully he'll continue to improve and be back in working shape soon.

 

[Miss M]

Good, glad to hear he's improving! I hope he'll make a full recovery!

 

[Marinea]

*fingers crossed he continues to heal*

 

[Wheels]

Well he's still improving but it's more that perhaps he's learned to compensate than that of returning to normal... It's still not used to 100% but he moves around really well now. He is back to bounding around his cage when I come to feed and by his behavior I can tell he's feeling good.

Still haven't got successful breeding but again it's not for his lack of trying! I've put a doe in with him about once a week for just a few minutes, just long enough to realize that it's not going to happen and before the doe gets frustrated and mounts him too much.

I'm being impatient (I know) I just really wanted to breed him to this particular doe so I could have kits a certain age come spring. -bah- Now I'm trying to decide if I just use my other less impressive buck and hope for the best or wait on Chip to hopefully recover... of course I guess I could go ahead breed the doe and hopefully once she's ready to breed again Chip will be better... decisions, decisions...

 

[Miss M]

Oh, that's so good to hear... I hope he can get the breeding worked out soon!

 

[Wheels]

Chip would like you all to know he got his GROVE back this weekend. As long as those silly girls don't lift sky-HIGH... it's hard to get things done on your tiptoes!

 

[JenerationX]

Glad to hear he's doing alright!

 

[Sagebrush]

I am so glad to hear he is doing so much better!

 

[Zass]

Chip would like you all to know he got his GROVE back this weekend. As long as those silly girls don't lift sky-HIGH... it's hard to get things done on your tiptoes!

I had a doe doing that toady. :roll: Must be the weather.