Rabbit with fractured back :(

Re: Rabbit with fractured back :(

listhestar — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 19:50:30 GMT

Thanks everyone for the general comments and support. It made me feel a bit better. I guess client education continues to be the key.

lisa

Re: Rabbit with fractured back :(

Mark Hedberg — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 08:23:02 GMT

[quote user="Evelyn Barbour-Hill"]

[quote user="Peter Ding"]Whilst the care of those that attend vets regularly may well have improved, should we not acknowledge the welfare standards of the majority of of rabbits is unknown but is likely to still be very poor indeed?[/quote]

Yes, you are right.

[/quote]

Totally agree. I had to put one down yesterday as it had practically wasted away to nothing. Owner had bought it from a major pet store chain, thought he was "quieter" than his "brother" (the other rabbit she bought with it) and brought him in immediately when he quit eating.

I believe that pet stores could do more to inform owners of the requirements and husbandry needs of pets they sell.

Is it legal for me to crank out a few pamphlets on pet husbandry with my practice's letterhead and offer them to some local pets stores to display to clients?

(Trying to think of a solution to this one.)

Re: Rabbit with fractured back :(

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 19:13:50 GMT

Yes, you are right.

Re: Rabbit with fractured back :(

Peter Ding — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 15:50:20 GMT

You write as though poor feeding and husbandry of rabbits was a thing of the past Evelyn: What evidence do you have of that?

Whilst the care of those that attend vets regularly may well have improved, should we not acknowledge the welfare standards of the majority of of rabbits is unknown but is likely to still be very poor indeed?

Re: Rabbit with fractured back :(

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 00:38:49 GMT

I have a client who had a Flemish Giant rabbit which broke its back while, apparently, doing very little (nobody was actually watching it at the time).

Thank Providence it happened at the client's place, not mine.

I'm sure Peter Ding is quite right about osteoporosis. This sort of thing used to be very common when rabbits were confined in hutches and badly fed. But I'm wondering if people are underestimating a Giant rabbit's requirements for nutrition and exercise.

Re: Rabbit with fractured back :(

Maya J — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 18:39:40 GMT

i had this happen to me once also and it has made me very careful when handling rabbits and a little paranoid!! i now examine them on the floor as much as possible. the rabbit that i saw came in for routine myxo jab and was in a cardboard carrier. the client opened the lid and the rabbit literally hurled itself at the far wall - the examination hadnt even begun!!! the poor soul managed to break its back.

in essence, its nothing you did, its just sod's law. dont think you could have been more careful. just one of those things. unfortunately that doesnt make us feel any better, but you are not the first and you wont be the last!

maya.

Re: Rabbit with fractured back :(

Peter Ding — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 08:48:00 GMT

IMHO the real culprit is likely to be osteoporosis as a result of a low calcium diet and inactivity.

If your practice already really strongly promotes a high roughage diet, regular exercise, minimises the risks associated with selective feeding of ad -lib proprietary concentrates and gives out that nutritional advice verbally and in a handout to all rabbit owners then it is doing all it can to reduce the risk of such calamities.

Re: Rabbit with fractured back :(

listhestar — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 21:52:19 GMT

[quote user="Gillian Mostyn"]

It has happened to me once and, like with you, the rabbit actually moved very little. Luckily it was the owner restraining it at the time while I prepared something so they knew themselves how nothing could have been done differently. When I think of all the times rabbits have bounced, twisted and fallen despite every effort to keep them safe, it is annoying when something like this happens with no good reason. (I had one jump out of my arms and land in a swing bin - I can still see the owners face as the top of the swing bin continued to spin.......rabbit was fine!) There may have been pre-existing pathology or weakness, or maybe it is just a case of massive lumbar muscle contraction against a fixed spine? Either way, s h i t happens - don't beat yourself up about it. Hope the owners understood the situation. Whatever their attitude, , make comprehensive cliniocal notes on exactly what happened, and ideally also any staff with you at the time should also write a report about the incident. Makes life a lot easier if anything comes of it.

[/quote]

Thanks Gillian...just needed some kind words I guess....aren't we humans a silly breed?! I thought that perhaps massive contraction against fixed spine or poss prev damage as she says quite flighty. full clinical notes made, in detail already, took account from my nurse already and listed it on as well. sat with owner with tissues, glass of water etc and discussed it through with her. As I said to her- we had done nothing different at all, lady seemed to understand but always worry more when they don't shout at you...always the silent ones I worry about......

thanks

lisa

Re: Rabbit with fractured back :(

Gillian Mostyn — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 21:47:07 GMT

Re: Rabbit with fractured back :(

listhestar — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 21:37:45 GMT

[quote user="emerald"]

Don't think you could do anything differently, just really bad luck. I deal with most of my rabbits on the floor now just incase they decide to try and fidgit too much.

[/quote]

Thanks, I just wonder if all the big dogs from earlier passing through the waiting room and consult room had panicked the rabbit more ...I guess I will never know.

Re: Rabbit with fractured back :(

emerald — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 21:34:22 GMT

Don't think you could do anything differently, just really bad luck. I deal with most of my rabbits on the floor now just incase they decide to try and fidgit too much.