What Are Your Options if Your Rabbit Has a Dislocated Leg?
Posted on: 6 February 2019
Your rabbit should hop around using all its legs equally. If you notice one day that your rabbit is limping or is avoiding using a leg, then you'll have taken it to your local vet clinic to find out what's going on.
After x-raying the leg, your vet tells you that your rabbit has a dislocation. Rabbits can sometimes throw out knee or hip joints. What's the best way to fix the problem?
What Are Your Dislocation Treatment Options?
Depending on the site of the dislocation, its severity and the state of your pet, your vet may suggest various ways to treat the leg. You may have a choice of options here.
Sometimes, vets simply suggest that you leave dislocations alone. After a while, your rabbit's leg will heal, and the dislocation will stop hurting. Your vet may strap your rabbit's leg to give it support while it heals.
If the dislocation is giving your rabbit a lot of pain or is really impeding its ability to walk and hop, then your vet may suggest that they put the joint back in place and strap the leg. They may need to sedate your rabbit to do this. Fixing a dislocation isn't pleasant for any animal.
The last option is surgery. This typically involves putting your pet under a general anaesthetic so that your vet can go in and fix the joint once and for all.
What's the Best Treatment Option?
While leaving your rabbit's leg to sort itself out is the easiest and cheapest option, this isn't always a kind solution. Your vet will only suggest this option if they are pretty sure that your rabbit's leg will heal without too much discomfort.
If your rabbit's leg doesn't heal well, then it may develop problems with arthritis in the future. Joints that don't move smoothly and correctly in their sockets are at a higher risk of this kind of condition.
Popping the joint back in is less invasive than surgery and could well fix the problem. However, this may not work in the long-term. If your rabbit's joint has popped out once, it could well pop out again. However, this may be worth a go if your vet thinks it might work.
If your vet doesn't think that your rabbit's leg will heal or go back in permanently with manipulation, then you may have to consider surgery. Your rabbit's leg may need some bone removed or shaved to get the leg back into position again.
Before you come to a decision, talk to your vet again. Ask them which solution is likely to give the best results.
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