Rabbit 🐰

[anjamls ar my jam]

I have a rescue rabbit, we have no clue how old he is but we know he’s a mini Rex and that he is most definitely full grown. He’s being losing a lot of weight, you can see his spine and ‘hips’. His ears are constantly down but I’m not sure if that has anything to do with what’s wrong. The main problem is his walking, when he walks he sort of drags his back legs, but not fully he still uses them to little degree but mostly he’s dragging them and it’s worrying me. He has hay 24/7, and water, pellets once a day and treats every now and than. His bonded partner had the same issue, she lost a bunch of fur and then had to be put down because she physically couldn’t walk or move anymore. Hammy, the mini Rex, can still walk and he does but I’m not sure how long it’s gonna last.

 

[nuthatched]

What exactly are you feeding? Any forage?

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Have you checked his teeth? Are they overgrown? Can get a picture of his teeth? If I had to guess it sounds like hypovitaminosis (most likely vitamin A deficient at the very least based off of the paralysis issues) caused by either not being fed enough, not being fed quality food or from overgrown teeth inhibiting how much they are consuming. If you have been feeding them appropriately and they are declining my guess is that they have overgrown teeth preventing them from eating correctly. I used to use Oasis vitamin drops for rabbits. I would start with those and if his teeth are overgrown schedule to have his teeth trimmed. https://www.amazon.com/OASIS-80062-...IKX0DER#aw-udpv3-customer-reviews_feature_div

 

[anjamls ar my jam]

What exactly are you feeding? Any forage?

They get mixed grass hay, we get a big hay bale from a farm that specializes in rabbits. They also get oxbow adult rabbit food with 14% crude protein, usually in bowls but I do have a few of those mats that they can scavenge in. I usually get mixed dried fruit(full cheeks) and give them fresh fruit every now and then.

 

[anjamls ar my jam]

Have you checked his teeth? Are they overgrown? Can get a picture of his teeth? If I had to guess it sounds like hypovitaminosis (most likely vitamin A deficient at the very least based off of the paralysis issues) caused by either not being fed enough, not being fed quality food or from overgrown teeth inhibiting how much they are consuming. If you have been feeding them appropriately and they are declining my guess is that they have overgrown teeth preventing them from eating correctly. I used to use Oasis vitamin drops for rabbits. I would start with those and if his teeth are overgrown schedule to have his teeth trimmed. https://www.amazon.com/OASIS-80062-...IKX0DER#aw-udpv3-customer-reviews_feature_div

These are his teeth(he was being very stubborn about showing me his teeth but they look fine to me) I feed him a grass hay mix and oxbow pellets 14% crude protein. I’ll definitely look into the vitamins!

 

[Kiki]

"Disease-causing agents or organisms are sometimes at the root of the onset of paresis. Bacterial infection or infection by certain types of parasites can cause a rabbit to lose mobility in the rear or front limbs. Treatment for this cause of paresis will, of course, differ from that given for mechanical problems."
https://rabbit.org/health/hind-limb-paresis-and-paralysis-in-rabbits/

 

[CombNWattles]

Is cuterebra a possibility? Years ago my rabbit had paralysis in her back legs, and the vet wanted to put her down. We decided to give her more time, and discovered the cuterebra. It was putting pressure on a nerve and paralyzing her. When we removed it she regained mobility.

 

[anjamls ar my jam]

Is cuterebra a possibility? Years ago my rabbit had paralysis in her back legs, and the vet wanted to put her down. We decided to give her more time, and discovered the cuterebra. It was putting pressure on a nerve and paralyzing her. When we removed it she regained mobility.

I don’t think it would be. I’d definitely notice something like that but I’ll definitely bring it up to my vet as well.