Woke up this morning to a sick (?) rabbit. She is my breeder doe, age 11 months. Had kits 8 weeks ago. Been doing wonderfully well, until now. She has been in the nest box for a good 24 hours, before I realized that she hadn't gotten out of the nest box. I picked her up this afternoon and placed her on the floor of the cage by the water dish, and she drank and drank. Then when she tried to move, she acted like her back end was partially paralyzed. Can't be real sure if it is one side or the other. She tried to jump up onto her ledge, and didn't make it. She dragged her back end across the cage and tried to get back into the nest. I picked her up and examined her closely, and here is what I see; no diarrhea, but, a messy bottom (looks like she couldn't move and simply sat in her mess), she is fat, and her furr looks wonderful; ears are up and perky; no discharge from nose,mouth or ears. She allowed me to pick her up and examine her, and then, when I put her down and offered her water and a piece of carrot, she drank and ate her carrot just fine. Her feces are firm and normal. Any ideas? Could she have simply injured her back? Thankyou for your thoughts. In His Grace, Sissy

-- Sissy Barth (iblong2Him@ilovejesus.net), January 20, 2002

Answers

Sissy, I'm sorry, but it really sounds like she broke her back. Rabbits do this quite often. I guess they are just very prone to it. You'll most likely need to put her down. Maybe give it a day and see if she moves, but it doesn't sound good. God bless.

-- Doreen (animalwaitress@yahoo.com), January 20, 2002.

Sissy, Any change with the bunny?

-- JOhn in S. IN (jdoofus@hotmail.com), January 22, 2002.

John, she is about the same. She is eating alfalfa hay and carrots. Drinking lots of water, but no pellets. She can hop alittle. She even stretched out on her side with one leg out this morning. I have been putting 1/4 of a baby aspirin in her water. Figure it can't hurt, maybe help make the swelling or pain better. The kids keep praying over her. Thankyou for asking. In His Grace, Sissy

-- Sissy Barth (iblong2Him@ilovejesus.net), January 22, 2002.

YEAH!!! I truly hope she recovers. You know the prayers of children often find special favor wih the Lord. Thanks for the update, and please keep us posted on her progress.

-- Doreen (bisquit@here.com), January 23, 2002.

We caught our cat chasing a young cottontail around our yard. By the time we caught up with the cat, the bunny had experienced what looked to be a puncture wound in her neck and some of her skin had been torn away from her thigh. We called the wildlife rescue facility near our home and we are taking her there tomorrow morning. In the meantime, we have gathered clover for her and water. Covered a large box up with a sheet and kept her in a quiet, warm place. She has been in the box over 7 hours now and appears alert and comfortable. She drank all her water and has eaten most of her clover. We are praying Jesus is watching over her and will bless our efforts to mend her until we can get her to safe hands.

-- Karen (kiawahinme@aol.com), July 30, 2004.