- I guess every rabbit raiser goes through their own mishaps. Its an inevitable fact that we must face.
Take, for instance, that treasured little bunny that you have been keeping you eye on since it left the nest box. Bunny is eating well , gaining nicely , and has that dense coat you have been dreaming about. And better yet, it is that perfect mate for a bunny you have in mind.
One day during the preliminary cull, you have him out on your grooming platform with another littermate. Ah heck....the table is not even that high, but high enough that you don't think bunny will jump. You feel comfortable about walking away to take one of the bunnies back to its cage. You take a few moments to take look at the other bunnies in the cage.
Those moments get longer and longer.. And before you know it , you have lost track of time and have suddenly remembered that one bunny is still on the platform. You rush back over to make sure things are okay. BUT...... no bunny. Bunny has taken a leap. "A leap" , not so bad; the table was not that high. Now if you could just find the furball.
You find him sitting in a corner just minding his own bunny thoughts. A bit relieved, you pick him up and place him back on the table to finish the evaluation. But for some reason, he just WON'T pose. He does that little lean to the side thing so you can't get a good top or lower HQ view. But it is then that you realize that he is not just trying to be stubborn. Something is wrong. This is not the same carefree bunny that you had come to know.
It no sooner than you let go of him that he scampers off to the nearest corner. But that hop is just not right. Examining it closer you see that he is not bearing weight on all fours. You fear the worst but are hoping for the better; hoping for just a sprain.
Flipping bunny over with the utmost tenderness you gently palpate the hurt hind leg; first looking at the good leg to feel the normal anatomy then to the hurt leg which is swelling up fast.
Now you are putting two-n-two together. That leg "just ain't right". The leg is just flopped to the side and has a nerve wrenching dry, crackling sensation (crepitus) to it when manipulated. The break is very close to the knee. Your heart sinks. You can't afford a vet. What do you think you would do? What other things would you check before rushing off to call a vet? |
