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Sometimes rabbits suffer from a disease such as paralysis of the hind legs. Unfortunately, many domesticated individuals suffer from this disease. And this disease can even be fatal, so it is worth taking action in advance.
Why paralysis of the limbs occurs in rabbits
Sometimes the owner has a question: the rabbit's hind legs have failed, what should I do? First you need to understand the reasons for the numbness of the hind legs. There are a lot of them, and you need to correctly identify one of them in order to start treatment on time.
Disruption of the central nervous system
Rabbit
It so happens that the eared one is very scared. He will be stressed, and the result may well be paralysis of the paws of the rabbit. Then it is not difficult to find the answer to the question of why the hind legs are taken away from rabbits. Situations such as:
- moving by car or other loud vehicles;
- an abruptly switched on light source in the middle of the night;
- repairs next to the rabbit;
- meeting other pets, be it a curious cat or a loud dog, or even a tiny mouse;
- rough lifting of the individual by the ears or withers;
- incorrect and sick vaccination.
The rabbit is actually a very shy creature, and this must be taken into account when looking after him.
Spine and head injuries
Physical injury is one of the most common causes of limb paralysis. There are all sorts of cases, from an unsuccessful fall from the cage to a clarification of the relationship between rabbits. In this case, it is best to seek advice from a veterinarian. But the most difficult option for paralysis is a spinal injury. Her treatment almost never gives results. Signals go along the spine to the hind legs, and after damage they may simply not reach. Then the rabbit will drag its legs along, will not be able to jump, will fall on its side and will remain so until the end of days.
The rabbit has lost its hind legs
With a head injury, the brain regions responsible for movement are inhibited. In this case, the individual's coordination will be disturbed or the legs will be completely taken away.
It should be borne in mind that the rabbit can also break the paw itself. If he drags only one limb, then there is a high probability that this is just a fracture.
Calcium and trace element deficiency
If there is not enough calcium in the diet of a long-eared, his body will use calcium from the skeletal system. The bones will weaken and can hardly bear the weight of their host. And besides, its lack will affect other body systems.
The most common cases of calcium deficiency are in females with rabbits. During feeding, the rabbit gives her milk, which contains a huge supply of calcium, to the children. By the time they begin to crawl out of the nest, the mother may remain exhausted and half immobilized. And if a 2-month-old rabbit has become depleted, why does this happen? A strong female sometimes does not give milk to the rabbits, and they do not develop completely.
In addition, calcium can be washed out of the body or not absorbed for some reason:
- fodder beet promotes accelerated release of calcium from the body;
- cereals slow down the assimilation of the element or do not allow it to be fixed in the cells of the body at all.
The rabbit has lost its hind legs
Other possible causes of paralysis of the paws
Another reason for numbness in the paws is a viral or infectious disease.
There is such a disease as listeriosis, caused by the microbe listeria. If a pregnant female becomes infected with listeriosis, she may have a miscarriage. The rabbits will be dead, and some may remain in the mother's body. After the start of their decomposition inside her body, the uterus will become inflamed, and the inflammation will spread to the hind limbs.
But the disease rabbit encephalozoonosis occurs due to the activity of the parasite. He penetrates into the most important organs and disrupts their work. Often the nervous system becomes a victim, due to which the rabbit's paws may stop moving.
The rabbit has lost its hind legs
Problem solving methods
Undoubtedly, this problem is solvable, and there is a chance to regain the ability to move. But it must be addressed as soon as signs of paralysis are noticed. Its signs:
- the individual does not lean on its hind legs, but drags along;
- the rabbit constantly falls on its side, or the rabbit lies, prefers to stay in one place and refuses to eat;
- decreased appetite and weight loss;
- the wool gets worse: rolls and ruffles.
Primary actions for limb failure:
- first you need to check the integrity of the paws and the whole body;
- then it is worth separating the patient from the rest of the rabbits;
- his place should be limited so that he could not worsen his condition due to unnecessary body movements;
- no need to shock the eared with a bright light, it is better, on the contrary, to dim a little;
- if a leg fracture is found, then it is important to apply a splint;
- when traveling, veterinary medicine needs to make a soft box with good ventilation, where to put the pet and carefully take it to the doctor.
Treatment
You can cure the victim as directed by your veterinarian. Different treatments will be offered depending on the cause.
The first step is to ease the suffering of the animal. The pain reliever is very important in the treatment, because then the rabbit will not die again, and the owner will be able to use medications or exercise without difficulty. And here there is an answer to what to do if the rabbit's hind legs have failed.
The rabbit has lost its hind legs
In case of disorders of the central nervous system, doctors often prescribe a massage that will help restore the muscles in the paws when the rabbit is just lying on its side. It is not difficult to produce it: one person must hold the eared one on his back, and the other will gently bend and unbend his hind legs. In addition, procedures are possible with special restorative devices that “revive” numb tissues. In some cases, treatment will take place with acupuncture.
If the animal is simply very frightened of something, then these actions will be enough, but with deeper damage, the methods of treatment will also be more serious.
For physical injuries, it is best to restrict the rabbit's movement until the internal injuries begin to go away; after that it is recommended to let your pet walk for about 10-15 minutes.
Calcium deficiency is also curable, because for this you need to restore its balance in the body. It is required to add products containing this component to the feed, for example:
- bone or fish meal;
- powdered milk;
- calcium-phosphorus supplements in a ratio of 2 to 1;
- white chalk without impurities and dyes;
- small eggshells.
Rabbit food
There are also medications containing calcium in their composition:
- calcium borgluconate (intramuscular and subcutaneous);
- calcium gluconate (intramuscular and subcutaneous; as a dietary supplement);
- calcium glutamate (as a dietary supplement);
- gamavit (all ways).
Prevention of paralysis of limbs in rabbits
You can save a pet not only during illness, but also in front of it.Preventing illness is very important, as proper animal care will significantly reduce the risk of illness.
Rabbits are just like humans, and they need variety in their diet. There is no need to focus on one micronutrient, because an excess of it will lead to the same consequences as a deficiency. Good should be in moderation!
Stressful situations are unacceptable. It is important to provide pets with a calm existence so that they live a long life: do not disturb the rabbits with bright light, do not hurt or spank them, do not allow meetings with other pets to happen, and during transportation, narrow the range of the animal's vision to a small box. Periodically give a walk in relative freedom. If the rabbit is in the cage all the time, its limbs will simply atrophy.
It is necessary to maintain cleanliness in the aviary, otherwise the eared one will easily pick up any infection or parasite.
In conclusion, I would like to add that one of the most important rules is to be attentive to your pet and monitor his health! The problem is easier to prevent than to cure the consequences.
