Paraplegic Bunny

[Boe]

We now have a paraplegic bunny!!!

It could only happen to us but he has apparently broke his back and although he is not in pain and can drag his back bit round with him I have to confess that it makes me feel a little sick.

He was DD's birthday present and we have only had him 3 months so I feel like a complete loser but when do you actually have them put to sleep.

Not sure if is ethical if is just cause makes me feel sick but there is also the moeny aspect - I did not get him insured (too busy on mumsnet) and now it is costing us a fortune - he was only 35quid and he has already cost us 4 times that in vets bills.

I know DP won't want to make the decision and I am dreading being the one to do so.

Also what to tell DD - do we just go on a frantic hunt for another one and just replace him or do we tell her that he died - she is only 3 and far too young to know that people die I think.

So what do I do - have him out down/let him drag hiself around for the next god knows how long and now as he is already like this we will not be able to get him insured and so will cost more and more money.

God sorry that I sound so heartless, he is sweet and cuddly and furry and so nice but someone is going to have to make the decision!!

Boe - I know it's expensive but I must say that unless he is suffering I would say NO NO NO to getting him put down!!

There are alternatives to having him out to sleep if you can't bear to look after him anymore. Can you give him away? Or phone the RSPCA they'll probably take him. Speak to the Vet and ask him/her if he thinks the rabbit will have a good quality of life.

In fact f*ck it.... I'LL take him. I have been brough up surrounded by many animals. I have had 5 rabbits in the past and have a house rabbit just now.... and a rat... and fish. I have had to accompany many of my pets to be out down uncluding 2 old dogs (both with terrible cancer). It's horrible, but in their situation they were in great pain and were having fits.

I had to have my mouse put down coz it scratched it's own ears off and started on it's own feet!

I am a firm believer that animals should NOT be put down for what I class as relatively trivial reasons ie other than behaviour problems or being in pain. There is always another way.... and if you decide that you really want to get him put down then I am serious about taking him in, drop me an email through mumsnet.

£35 is quite expensive for a bunny.... what breed is he?

Thanks M2T I do hate looking at him but still love him and give him a nice cuddle each night (am broody though!!!), I just don't know what to do as I can't see that it isn't horrible for him.

He is a lovely little dwarf lopped eared bunny and was fine until a week or so ago and then he just started dragging his back end along, DP says he is just dragging right leg now but the vet says that it is a broken back so I believe him over DP - he trades FX and has no clue about human biology let alone bunny biology.

I have to ring vets at 2pm to see what they say but hope that they can fix him up so he can hop around like he used to.

Our bunny did the same Boe, and the vet said it was kinder to put him down. Sorry to be the bearer of our bad news, but we were told he wouldn't have any quality of life and vet bills would be astronomical .

I see, so it might not be permanent? How could he have broken his back?

Fox kept trying to get him so we got him a cage for indoors - it was second hand and has a seperate bit with a hole that goes from one side to another - vet said he may have bumped it on that but he also said that it is quite common in young rabbits as their back legs are so strong and sometimes their backs can't cope when they bounce around - he was particularly active and juped out of his run a few times.

He just looks so sad and sorrowful - I am not sure he would have a great life if left like this and we do stroke him and play with him for an hour each night and give him nice cuddles but I just want him to be a happy bunny.

Boe have never known anyone with a paraplegic bunny before. u are brave, will he get a wheelchair on the NHS? I know is not funny...sorry

Ha ha - no it is rather funny at times - have even asked vet about getting hmsome little roller skate type things to help him get about!!

Bless him he is so scrummy.

u would just have to invest in baggy trousers and outsized t-shirts if he got rollerskates-then he would demand inline skates - there would be no end to it...

Is the rabbit actually unhappy?

Would your child be so heart-broken, esp. if you got another bunny and then explained why you wanted to put the first one to sleep for its own good? Our guinea pig gave birth to 5 pups on Sunday and so far 2 have died. 3yo DS hasn't been upset at all, if it helps. He's just taking the GP deaths as some fact of life. Good, because we reckon another one will die in next few days (the sow just isn't a very good mother to them).

Zebra we had another rabbit who gave birth unexpectedly, and she just left them in the sun to die! The children were ok about it too, like yours.

Well chaps - forgot I put this on here so thought better update you.

Vet said that looking at the x rays the only thing that could cause that much damage to spine is a truck and considering he has never been near a truck it must be a growth deformity. There is literally6 a right angle in his backbone!! So he is officially a paraplegic as he will never regain the use of his back legs or his lower back!!

Vet also said that as long as he not messing himself or in pain there is no reasn to put him down.

DD is ok with it - expalined as best I could and she is fine and has told everyone she has a special rabbit with a bad back.

Anyway - should not get any worse so just have to try and let him get on with it.

Boe - Aw bless, good news and bad news I s'pose.

I'm glad he's not suffering and getting put down.

But sad that the wee soul is paralysed.