Hutch rest - is it appropriate?

RE: Hutch rest - is it appropriate?

Mark Rowland — Thu, 25 May 2017 21:59:28 GMT

Rabbits are used as a model for muscle contracture studies.

It is more than likely there will already be significant contracture here causing a non union.

I doubt this will do tbh

Goodluck

Mark

RE: Hutch rest - is it appropriate?

Neil Wheadon — Wed, 24 May 2017 15:13:34 GMT

[quote user="Joyce Whitehead"]I suspect it means the fracture is 2 days old, not the bunny...[/quote]

Yup

Neil

RE: Hutch rest - is it appropriate?

Utlendigur — Wed, 24 May 2017 15:07:15 GMT

I had a case a few years ago where the rabbit had a fracture in the distal third of the femur and a colleague had advised just cage rest (without any alternatives offered). It did heal - but as a malunion with massive over-riding and also rotation - leaving the rabbit with a useless leg that was fairly much fused in semi flexion, made it difficult for it to hop, and it also developed pressure sores over the points where the bone ends were prominent.

RE: Hutch rest - is it appropriate?

Lucy Fleming — Wed, 24 May 2017 14:55:35 GMT

Theoretically nothing, but I would be very concerned about both acute and chronic pain in a species that is notoriously poor at showing it (I'm sure Neil has considered this and discussed it with the owners)

RE: Hutch rest - is it appropriate?

Robin Grimmer — Wed, 24 May 2017 14:15:34 GMT

What's to lose?

RE: Hutch rest - is it appropriate?

Gillian Mostyn — Wed, 24 May 2017 13:27:00 GMT

[quote user="Joyce Whitehead"]I suspect it means the fracture is 2 days old, not the bunny...[/quote]

Ahhhhhh.....

In which case I would be cautious - the chances of this healing are probably quite poor as the strength of the muscle pull in the back legs will mean the bone ends will probably overlap quite considerably!

RE: Hutch rest - is it appropriate?

Joyce Whitehead — Wed, 24 May 2017 13:21:07 GMT

[quote user="Gillian Mostyn"]

In a 2 day old (really?!!??), I'd give it a bit of time - with the likelihood of malunion/poor alignment being stressed.

[/quote]I suspect it means the fracture is 2 days old, not the bunny...

RE: Hutch rest - is it appropriate?

Martin Atkinson — Wed, 24 May 2017 13:04:19 GMT

I would be pretty sure that it will heal so long as its not compound and the rabbit can probably have a normal life but you have to question whether it is worth it in a new born.

RE: Hutch rest - is it appropriate?

Gillian Mostyn — Wed, 24 May 2017 12:25:22 GMT

In a 2 day old (really?!!??), I'd give it a bit of time - with the likelihood of malunion/poor alignment being stressed.

RE: Hutch rest - is it appropriate?

Lucy Fleming — Wed, 24 May 2017 12:09:59 GMT

I would wonder about the stresses on the fracture site. I'm no expert, but the mechanics of motion in rabbits and cats are quite different. Thin cortices, large/ strong muscle mass and hopping gait I would have thought more likely to lead to a malunion than in a cat of a similar age/ size.

RE: Hutch rest - is it appropriate?

Braden Collins — Wed, 24 May 2017 10:12:08 GMT

My first instinct was no, it's not appropriate. But then I thought about my own experience. My leg was broken as a newborn and set itself without intervention. I don't remember the pain, though I am pigeon-toed and have a slight limp. Glad I wasn't put to sleep at the time.

Probably worth a go if the only alternative is death.