Unfortunately, paralysis of the limbs is a phenomenon that is quite widespread in rodents. If you have a rabbit, or you plan to get it, you should read this article. From it you will learn about the causes of this disease, first aid methods and treatment methods.

Why do rabbits have hind legs failing

In order to provide adequate first aid and in the future to prescribe the correct treatment, for a start it is worth determining why your limbs were paralyzed. There may be several reasons why this disaster happened to your pet.

Central nervous system failure

The most obvious reason that an animal's limbs have failed is damage to the central nervous system. Due to problems with the brain, a violation of its connection with other organs, it happens that the rabbit's paws stop listening to him. This problem can arise due to a strong fear of the baby, his stress or blow to the head.

Did you know? Thanks to the bifurcated uterus, the rabbit is able to bear offspring simultaneously from a pair of males.

As a rule, if the sensitivity of the paws is maintained, the pet needs about a week to learn how to manage them again. It happens that after a difficult birth, the rabbit can get a nerve pinched, which leads to temporary paralysis of the hind legs. Such a rabbit is better not to leave unattended with the rabbits, as it can crush one of them during feeding or immediately after it.

Digestive system malfunction

Banal constipation or diarrhea can cause the rodent's paws to not walk. Digestive problems greatly affect the overall health of the rabbit. In acute cases, you may notice an admixture of blood in the feces of the animal - then you should immediately show the patient to the veterinarian.To avoid complications, at the first sign of diarrhea or delayed stool, pay attention to the animal’s diet. It must necessarily contain all the necessary vitamins and minerals; try also to give more fiber. In addition, problems with emptying can be caused by various infections. To find out, you must definitely contact a specialist.

Listeriosis

This dangerous infectious disease provokes listeria bacteria. It is transmitted to a healthy rodent through insect bites, in contact with a sick relative, through the feces of infected birds or wild animals. The most vulnerable to this disease are pregnant rabbits. If the expectant mother contracted listeriosis, in 90% of cases the pregnancy ends in a miscarriage and her death; less often, the female can give birth to dead rabbits and remain alive.

If listeriosis is found in the nursing rabbit, the rabbits will probably have the same disease. Unfortunately, in most cases they die within a day. Since this infection is easily transmitted, the sick rodent needs to be removed from other animals as quickly as possible, and the cage and household items that he used are thoroughly disinfected.

Fright

The nervous system of rabbits is very unstable. These rodents are very shy and can respond to any severe stress with paralysis of the limbs. To avoid this fate, you should be more careful about the mental state of your pets:

• avoid sharp loud noises (such as dogs barking) near the cage with rabbits;
• use caution during physical contact with animals (do not grab sharply by the ears and withers, do not beat or shout at animals);
• Do not bathe them under a stream of cold water and do not drop them sharply into a pond;
• Avoid abrupt change of scenery.

Important! Care must be taken to ensure that your rabbit does not come into contact with wild animals. Besides the fact that they can be carriers of dangerous infections, they are also able to greatly scare a pet. There is a risk that such a meeting will provoke severe stress, which will result in paralysis.

Falls

Falling even from a low height can be a sentence for a rabbit. Its fragile skeleton can not withstand a blow to the ground, which will lead to a fracture of the ridge or limbs and, as a result, to the fact that the front or hind legs will be paralyzed. Always make sure that the door of the cage in which the pet is located is carefully closed, and the area where the rodent walks free is free from deep pits and high mounds.A surge in activity in rabbits, as a rule, occurs in the early morning and late evening. Try to provide your pet with maximum safety during this period so that your baby does not harm himself while awake.

Fight

Rabbits can inflict very serious injuries on each other during the relationship. To avoid such consequences, it is better not to put two representatives of the same sex in one cell. When mating a female and a male, it’s worth first to put the boy in the box, and then the girl, otherwise she may, in defending her territory, beat the “groom” badly.

Nervous system diseases

Paralysis of the extremities in rabbits can be caused by diseases such as:

• encephalitis;
• encephalomyelitis;
• meningitis;
• pachymeningitis;
• meningitis;
• subdermatitis.

Symptomatology

Paralysis of the extremities in rabbits can take a form in which it is difficult to recognize at first - for example, you can take it for fatigue. There are specific symptoms that clearly indicate that the animal has had this disease:

1. The rabbit hardly moves or cannot walk at all.
2. The hind or front limbs of the pet move apart, do not obey the owner.
3. The animal becomes lethargic and inactive.
4. Any movement of the limbs causes pain in the rodent, which can be reflected by the grinding of teeth or small tremors.

What to do if the rabbit's paws are taken away

Consider the methods of treatment and first aid techniques for a sick animal.

Video: the rabbit's paws refused

First aid

If this unpleasant fate befell your rabbit, first provide a separate space for your pet. It should be spacious enough and comfortable for prolonged lying. Drain so that the light around the patient is dimmed and no loud annoying sounds are heard nearby.

If there are signs of fractures, a special splint should be applied. Further, it is necessary to take the pet to the veterinary clinic as soon as possible and show it to specialists for a professional examination, diagnosis of the causes and the appointment of adequate treatment.

Methods of treatment and rehabilitation

To understand how to treat a paralyzed rabbit, you need to know exactly what caused the disease.

Important! In all matters related to medicines, we strongly recommend that you not self-medicate. All drugs should be prescribed only by a doctor, after a thorough examination and identifying the true causes of the disease.

However, there are general methods that will facilitate the life of a sick rodent and help him to stand on all four legs faster:

1. Taking anti-inflammatory drugs. In any case, if the limbs of the animal refuse to walk, an inflammatory process takes place somewhere in the body.
2. Relieving pain by pain medication. If the rabbit ceases to feel pain in the affected limbs, this will positively affect its general condition and mood.
3. Acupuncture. Doctors often recommend this technique and should only be performed by an experienced specialist. The introduction of needles in special places atrophied muscles of the animal can help them gain sensitivity more quickly.
4. Massage. This is something you can do on your own. Gently bend and unbend the pet's legs to stimulate blood circulation and prevent pressure sores.
5. Physiotherapy. Doctors recommend this method for paresis caused by brain injuries.
6. Walks in the open air. Providing your rabbit with safe movement on the grass somewhere in a sunny place, you will give him the opportunity to independently train his sick muscles with useful physical activity.
7. If your rabbit has a ridge or paw fracture due to a calcium deficiency in the body, he should take a course of injectionsaimed at replenishing this element in the blood.

Preventive measures

Preventive measures can reduce the risk of paralysis by 50%. To protect your pet from such a fate, adhere to the following rules:

1. Check your rabbit with your veterinarian regularly.
2. Follow the diet of the animal. He should receive a lot of fiber, as well as other vitamins and minerals in sufficient quantities.
3. Keep your pet clean. Regularly clean the cage, tray, rabbit feeder.
4. Do not leave your animal unattended for a long time, especially while walking, to avoid injuries.
5. It should provide him with a quiet life. Do not provoke fright and stress in him.
6. If there are children in the family, make sure that their games with the rabbit are not harmful to the animal.

Can a rabbit live with paw paralysis

It is difficult to unequivocally answer this question - it all depends on the cause of paralysis and the ability of the animal's body to withstand the disease. Some rabbits die in a matter of days or even hours, others successfully fight the disease and eventually recover. But even if your rabbit's paws do not return to normal, there is a chance that he will be able to live his former life, provided that you take on the responsibility of ensuring his comfortable existence.You will need to independently carry it from place to place, often bathe your pet, replenish its daily diet with vitamin supplements, and prevent the occurrence of pressure sores.

Did you know? There are special devices that help the paralyzed rabbit to move independently, without experiencing discomfort. Such wheelchairs for rodents can be bought on the Internet, on specialized sites, in special stores for the care of animals. You can show ingenuity and try to make them yourself.

Now, knowing a little more about a disease such as limb paralysis in rabbits, you can prevent the development of this ailment in your pet. And also, if necessary, give him first aid and, together with the doctor, determine the correct course of treatment for the animal.