Wound on leg, advice needed (*Graphic*)

[Miss M]

I am so new to everything I don't know if I have the capabilities to do a surgery type procedure.

I understand... to be honest, I've removed abscesses, but I don't know that I'd be able to do this procedure myself. I'd be afraid that I'd open it up, and find a situation I'm not equipped to handle. Or not know well enough what I was looking at. I'd probably put the rabbit down.

Hopefully, the vet will work with you. I don't have the funds to take a rabbit to the vet at all... no matter how attached I am. I either treat it myself, or I put the rabbit down. So far, I've had to put only two down, only one of which I was attached to.

As far as the photo, I think he chewed that tip bone off then?? the middle pic was that night, then bottom was in the morning.

I think the swelling engulfed the bone tip, actually. I doubt he's chewed it, though it's possible. I think it's in there, hidden by the swelling.

 

[Noblegarden]

Just got back from the vet. They did two X-rays, his foot is fractured and infected from the wound down to his toes. The bone is still there, he said if Lucky chewed it off we would have heard horrible screaming.
The Dr gave a Pencilllin G injection and prescribed Tramadol, Enrofloxacin, and Meloxicam.
He said that if the infection goes away and Lucky doesn't self mutilate then he won't lose the foot.
If the infection does not go away it will be amputated. I am praying it heals because amputation is crazy expensive.
The fracture is already fused together, so Lucky will never be able to bend that foot. The Dr thinks it happened about 6 or 8 weeks ago, possibly by a fall, being stepped on, or door being shut on him. Who knows. As of now he is expected to heal up just fine, Dr said it would be very obvious if it were going bad to where the leg had to be amputated.
Dr said I was doing everything right, just had to clean out the infection. I had no idea his poor foot was fused, I am glad I did t try to force him to stretch it.
I will be definitely touch, wiggle and strech any future bunnies I purchase. (0_0)

Miss M - I understand the not having funds We are going to be moving in September and I probably just spent money we couldnt afford to spend. Hopefully it all works out, this little guy truely earned his name Lucky.

 

[Miss M]

Poor bun!

I hope the infection goes away and he heals up alright! :clover:

Keep us posted!!!

This definitely reinforces my thoughts that I would not go opening something like that up myself!

 

[MamaSheepdog]

I'm so sorry that you are going through this with your poor bunny.

We have a cat that had a horrible abscess in his foot when he was a kitten. He was a "barn cat" so was designated as livestock in our eyes, which meant taking him to the vet was not an option. We thought he had been bitten by a spider or something. For about a month we kept flushing the wound and expressing the pus, and battled through several fevers, etc.

We-e-ell... like you, we became attached and also admired his will to live, and were amazed by him being calm enough to let us treat him, knowing that it must have been very painful for him.

Like you, we finally broke down and took him to the vet, and he had a compound fracture of the leg. :x I wanted to crawl under a rock and hide myself in shame.

Long story short, we now have a three-legged house cat. He belongs to my son Firstpup, and rarely gives me or Hubs the time of day unless his food bowl is empty. I can't say I blame him, after what we put him through.

Not to put a damper on your enthusiasm about his winning personality, but when animals are very ill they act a lot different than when they are healthy. Hopefully he will continue to be the sweet bun you know now once he is feeling better. :good-luck:

 

[Noblegarden]

This definitely reinforces my thoughts that I would not go opening something like that up myself!

Lol- I know right! When I saw the X-rays his poor little bones were going every which way, yet all stuck together :x looked like someone played pick up sticks. I would have freaked if I opened it and saw that!

Not to put a damper on your enthusiasm about his winning personality, but when animals are very ill they act a lot different than when they are healthy. Hopefully he will continue to be the sweet bun you know now once he is feeling better. :good-luck:

I completely agree, the little bugger pulled out all the cards that would help him survive lol :lol: Maybe with his handicap he will stay sweet, I wouldn't be sad if he were a house bunn, but will see how it goes. I would be fine with him living as a grumpy bunny, so long as he was happy - if that makes sense.

I am curious what he will look like when he is hopping around (once all healed), since the foot can't extend....will he always look like a human hopping on one foot?
I will definitely keep everyone posted

 

[michaels4gardens]

probiotic ? to go along with the pen G

 

[Noblegarden]

probiotic ? to go along with the pen G

Arg - I was in such shock I didn't even think about asking... I will call them today.
I have a pineapple - would that help in the meantime? I won't get to my vet office (assuming the have probiotic?) until late afternoon.
I've read online about giving horse probiotic paste --- is that good?
Or I think there is an Oxbow, but I'd have to order online, feed stores out here have very little rabbit supplies.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

You can get probiotics at a feed store. I use Bene-Bac paste by MannaPro. The label shows horses, goats, sheep, etc. so it should have at least some of the more common bacteria that rabbits need for healthy gut flora.

 

[Noblegarden]

All the feed store had was pro-bio powder that goes into water or added to food. I didn't yet because I wasn't sure if that was a gold one (?) Or if I should order online and just overnight it.

 

[Miss M]

I completely agree, the little bugger pulled out all the cards that would help him survive lol :lol:

:lol:

I am curious what he will look like when he is hopping around (once all healed), since the foot can't extend....will he always look like a human hopping on one foot?

Whatever he has looked like through this whole thing is pretty much what he'll look like permanently. His gait may improve a little with the reduction in pain that will hopefully accompany healing.

probiotic ? to go along with the pen G

YES.

I have a pineapple - would that help in the meantime?

That helps other things, but won't help with keeping gut flora during a course of antibiotics.

All the feed store had was pro-bio powder that goes into water or added to food. I didn't yet because I wasn't sure if that was a gold one (?) Or if I should order online and just overnight it.

You can get the powder, and sprinkle it onto food, or mix it with a little oats and molasses as a treat.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

I have the powdered pro-bios for my horses, and used that before I bought the paste. I just sprinkled it on the food, but you could make a slurry of it and syringe it into her mouth to make sure she gets enough.

 

[BC Belgians]

Oh wow, you guys are awesome coaching Noblegarden through this trying time. I admire Noblegardens perseverance and updates with pictures. I am sitting at the end of my seat waiting for the good ending.

 

[Miss M]

Oh wow, you guys are awesome coaching Noblegarden through this trying time. I admire Noblegardens perseverance and updates with pictures. I am sitting at the end of my seat waiting for the good ending.

Me, too! I sure hope it turns out okay! And with all four legs!

 

[michaels4gardens]

All the feed store had was pro-bio powder that goes into water or added to food. I didn't yet because I wasn't sure if that was a gold one (?) Or if I should order online and just overnight it.

IMHO, -any pro-bio is better then none,-
But, ---I also like bene-bac [and it does not have to be refrigerated] but I keep mine in the frig, because I don't use it very often, and sometimes have a tube around for a year or so. I give rabbits on injectable antibiotics 1 ml 1 x / day [SID] and rabbits on oral antibiotic meds 1 ml 2 x / day [BID] [ when giving a pro-bio to rabbits I wait about 30 min after giving oral antibiotics, before giving bene-bac , or other pro-bios]. .. -again, JMHO ..

 

[Noblegarden]

I very much appreciate all the help and advice
I am putting the probiotics in his food and making the slurry. Yesterday he started getting a bit touchy - didn't want to come out, didn't want to be picked up, didn't want meds - and tolerated me petting him. Before I could turn him any which way, he really didn't care. I am taking it as a good sign that he is feeling well enough to have some attitude :lol:
The swollen area went from the size of a large marble to a small marble, and as long as he keeps eating and drinking, and acting like a normal bunny -- so far so good.

 

[Miss M]

Yes, that's what we found with our wry-neck bunny... once he started really fighting us, we took it as a sign he was on the mend. :lol:

 

[Noblegarden]

Just updating with some pictures He is doing good, infection is still size of a small marble. I am hoping it starts to go down more.

 

[Miss M]

That is looking better, definitely not as angry.

It's been five days... how much longer do his meds run? When are you supposed to take him back to the vet?

 

[Noblegarden]

His antibiotics are for 14 days, anti-inflammatory 1 week (stopping tomorrow). I think I take him back in when meds are up or if it starts to regress.

 

[Miss M]

Okay, I was worried that his antibiotics were stopping in another day or two. But he has another week+. It's looking better, but not enough to be done with antibiotics!