What to do if a rabbit has lost its hind or front legs
Paralysis of the limbs in rabbits is a common problem. When the rabbit's hind legs have failed, it is necessary to find out the exact cause of such a pathological condition, because it depends on this how and with what to treat the pet.
Rabbit's hind or front legs have failed
There are several diseases that can provoke the manifestation of paralysis. A novice breeder should not waste a minute, because some diseases can lead to the death of the animal.
Severity of paralysis in rabbits
Paralysis in rabbits occurs both due to injuries and due to infection with certain diseases. The signs of such a pathological condition are always similar, because most often the paws suffer from it. Only additional symptoms, which indicate the presence of certain diseases in the animal, may differ.
It is not difficult to determine whether the rabbit is paralyzed or not: the eared ones usually fall to their feet. During movement, a sick rabbit drags its paws along the ground.
Regardless of the cause of the pathological condition in rabbits, paws fail to varying degrees of damage. When one leg is damaged, it is monoparesis, when two, it is paraparesis. And when the paws are taken away completely - tetraparesis. This form is the most difficult. The animal is completely immobilized and cannot move. Plus, it's not just injury or illness that can cause paralysis. Sometimes this condition is a response of the nervous system to a threat. The stress from the influence of external factors leads to other equally serious illnesses and even to the death of the pet.
What causes rabbits to fail paws
Hind limb paralysis in rabbits occurs for a number of reasons. The most common are:
- nutritional problems;
- avitaminosis;
- infection with infectious diseases;
- broken limbs and other injuries;
- pinched nerves;
- hernia.
It is no less rare for a rabbit to show paralysis of the hind limbs due to a calcium deficiency in the body. If the breeder makes mistakes in the preparation of the feed, not adding additives that are beneficial to the pet's health, this quickly affects the health of the furry. Calcium, necessary for the structure and strengthening of bone tissue, begins to wash out, as a result of which the skeleton becomes fragile.
Why do rabbits have paws fail
Particularly susceptible to the lack of this trace element are individuals that have a weak unstable immunity: a pregnant rabbit, as well as any eared rabbit prone to frequent illnesses. Young animals also suffer. Every second baby rabbit has very weak immunity and requires constant replenishment of vitamins and minerals.
Features of symptoms
If the rabbit's hind legs have failed, it is difficult not to notice. Fuzzies are motionless, and during movement they drag them along the ground. Often, this pathological condition affects the pet's appetite.Affected rabbits may refuse their favorite treats, as well as drink.
During this period, it is necessary to provide the rabbit with comfort and coziness by placing it in a separate cage. If the hind legs have failed in several individuals, this most often indicates an infectious disease. In order not to destroy all the livestock, you should quickly isolate healthy rabbits and contact your veterinarian.
Very often, when the paws of the eared ones are taken away due to some other pathological conditions, the course of paralysis becomes unpredictable. When the condition of rabbits worsens, other symptoms may appear:
- the formation of pressure ulcers of the skin of the extremities, which is in constant contact with the floor of the cell (sometimes the legs become bald);
- problems with urination;
- diarrhea;
- thirst;
- profuse salivation;
- disorientation in space.
When a pathological condition affects the nervous system, the development of the disease becomes unpredictable. Very often, veterinary intervention does not bring the desired effect and the animal dies.
Rabbit Disease Symptoms
In some cases, with timely referral to specialists, it is still possible to save the animal. But paralysis of the hind limbs in a rabbit with CNS problems requires long-term treatment, which can take from a week to one month. In addition, the drugs used for these purposes cost a lot, so very often breeders prefer to cull sick animals, and not expose themselves to waste.
Injuries to the legs in rabbits
Muscle and bone injuries are a common cause of rabbit hind legs failing. Most often, the eared ear is injured in the following cases:
- falls and bumps;
- fights;
- careless sharp movement in stressful situations.
This is partly due to poor physical activity.
Keeping rabbits at home negatively affects their health. Like many caged animals, they cannot afford to move a lot. This leads to a deterioration in the condition of the bone tissue. The result is a fracture from any fall or light blow. Even a sharp movement of the eared as a result of a fright can injure him.
The risk group also includes newborn rabbits who are artificially fed. Their immunity is weak and at greater risk than babies, who receive all the nutrients in breast milk. In addition, it is important not only to monitor the diet of small pets, but also to help them with defecation: they cannot do this on their own, so tummy massage should be performed. Moreover, the procedure itself requires the utmost care: any wrong hand movement can injure the baby.
Listeriosis as a cause of paralysis
There is no more dangerous cause of paralysis in rabbits than listeriosis. The emergence of this disease is associated with the spread of infection by temporary and main vectors:
- rabbits;
- insects;
- rodents;
- wild animals.
Rabbits can catch listeriosis through any contact with an infected animal or insect. In addition, their feces are dangerous. Veterinary intervention is powerless. In its acute form, the disease exterminates the weakest animals. Most often, young animals suffer, after which the rabbit also dies. Moreover, death occurs within a day. The chronic form is less fulminant. An infected rabbit can live up to 1.5 months. Very rarely, a lethal outcome can be avoided, but such an individual becomes useless for further maintenance.
Recognizing listeriosis is easy. Very often, in addition to the fact that the hind legs have failed in rabbits, other symptoms are also observed: in infected animals, the spleen is enlarged and the liver is affected. It is very difficult to identify such signs on your own. But if the body of the animal is cramping, this in 95% indicates infection with listeriosis.
When a rabbit has lost its hind legs due to listeriosis, there is no chance of recovery. The spread of this disease in the herd being kept is unpredictable. At the first suspicion of such a disease, a sick individual should be quarantined and consult a veterinarian. If the diagnosis is confirmed, it is necessary to discard the rabbit and conduct a thorough disinfection in the common cage. In addition, it is important to completely get rid of the killed carcass: bury it far from the farm or burn it.
Cause - brain inflammation
The brain is the organ responsible for the functioning of many systems. Its correct work allows every living being to think, react to some external and internal factors, succumb to reflexes, etc. The sphere of service of the brain also includes physical activity. Any violation of this organ can not only take away some important function from the body, but also lead to death.
Signs of brain inflammation
Inflammation of the brain can also be one of the reasons why the rabbit has failed hind legs. The most common diseases are:
- Encephalitis. Inflammation of the brain, the main symptom of which is paralysis. A sick individual not only cannot stand on its paws, but often even turns its head to the side. Such a disease does not respond to treatment. It is rarely possible to save the life of an animal, but even after healing, vital reflexes remain impaired.
- Encephalomyelitis. Brain damage occurs as a result of infection with infectious diseases. Paralysis is one of the main symptoms of this disease. From the moment the signs of inflammation appear until the death of the animal, it takes 1 to 4 days.
- Meningitis. Inflammation of not only the brain, but also the spinal cord, since it is very difficult to get rid of meningitis in other diseases.
It is best to ask a specialist about what to do when signs of brain inflammation appear. Experienced farmers advise against fighting for the life of a sick animal because of the minimal chances of its recovery. It is best to kill him.
Before proceeding to extreme measures, you should take the sick rabbit to the veterinarian. Very often, similar symptoms are manifested in disorders of the central nervous system, and the nervous system has a better chance of recovery. In addition, modern drugs used in specialized clinics can restore the animal's health in 5-7 days if the breeder contacts the breeder in time for help.
What a farmer should do
When looking for the reason why the hind legs of the rabbit have failed, it is necessary to act quickly.
Any hour or even minute can be decisive, so you should immediately contact a specialist for help. Experienced farmers do not recommend treating the livestock on their own: this only leads to a deterioration in the health of the animal and to its death. It is possible to identify the cause of the pathological condition only if the pet has broken its paw. This is noticeable both in his behavior and in external signs. In addition, a fracture rarely touches two or more paws, so it is easy to determine if the limbs are injured or paralyzed.
If the paws fail for another reason, only a veterinarian can make an accurate diagnosis. The first actions of a person should be aimed at isolating the rabbit from external stimuli. It should be moved to a separate cage in a warm and calm place away from noise. If the rabbit knocks with an injured foot, this is a good sign: the animal hits the cage inventory, knocks over the bedding and behaves unnaturally due to its own anxiety. The presence of physical activity may indicate the presence of pain resulting from an injury or pinched nerve.
When the legs are taken off, the rabbit does not stomp, it is completely or partially immobilized. It is in such cases that it is worth worrying not only for the health, but also for the life of the pet.The presence of paralysis of the hind legs can be one of the signs of serious illness.
If the farmer saw his pet fall, and after that he lost 2 or 4 legs, the spine is damaged. His fracture requires an urgent visit to the veterinarian. Doing something on your own is prohibited. Only a specialist who arrives on site can understand the problem. Very often, not only therapeutic treatment is required, but also surgical intervention. In addition, not many breeders prefer to pay attention to this, getting rid of problem individuals. When the rabbit's legs failed, the veterinarian is responsible for determining the cause, and the breeder is responsible for what to do with the sick animal.
Features of the treatment of rabbits
A broken limb in a rabbit requires splints and medication.
If the hind legs are damaged, the pet should receive a large amount of minerals in its diet, therefore it is necessary to provide the eared with high-quality balanced food. It is especially important to take this into account if the rabbit has received damage to the hind legs.
An equally important effect is also exerted by drugs that are prescribed as needed by a veterinarian. Very often it is required to give the animals vitamins in tablets or inject them. They have an important influence on the course of treatment, even when the paralysis is caused by disorders of the central nervous system.
We must not forget about the features of rabbit rehabilitation. In addition to high-quality balanced nutrition, they should also be provided with peace and comfort. They should not stand on their feet for the first 4-6 days. Plus, they need a daily vet checkup.