Why is my rabbit bunny hopping? Is it hip dysplasia or nerve pain?

Yes, this can be a sign of poor hip conformation or hip dysplasia. Usually dogs with hip joint laxity run with both rear legs together or bunny hop. As Coco is still growing the pain also could be due to panosteitis which is pain in the bones from growing too fast. I recommend switching her to adult large breed dog food so she will grow slower. She will still reach her full size, it just may take a little longer. Adult food is fine for all ages so you do not need to be worried, she will still get the nutrition she needs. Your veterinarian can feel her hip joints for laxity, but X-rays are not conclusive until she is six months or older. It is best to exercise Coco on a leash and prevent running and jumping. Your veterinarian may also prescribe pain medication to make her. more comfortable. While hip dysplasia can cause arthritis later in life, many dogs go through short painful episodes, then they are pain free for long periods of time. If she has poor hip conformation she shouldn't have puppies as they may have bad hips also. Keeping Coco active, thin and well muscled in addition to joint supplements and pain medication when needed will give Coco the best chance to live a normal active life. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Coco.

Hello, sorry to hear about Dexter. He is still very young to tell accurately, but he could have early signs of hip dysplasia. One way to tell for sure is by having Dexter evaluated by an orthopedic surgeon no later than by the time he is 3 months of age. They will then schedule him to have a PennHip study to confirm more than normal joint space in his hips. If so, they can talk to you about certain types of procedure which can aid in decreasing the possibility that he could have full hip dysplasia. Other causes of this is that he is a growing puppy this could just be associated with him growing. Hope this helps and best of luck.

Hi and thanks for posting! Bunny hopping in dogs can be a sign of hip dysplasia but not always. An x-ray can be taken of the hips to determine if signs of hip dysplasia is present. Bunny hoppingn or a awkward gait can also be a sign of luxation of the knee caps (patellar luxation). If you are concerned you can always get a few x-rays done to check. Patellar luxation can be daignosed by palpstion if the knee during an exam. I hope this helps! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

At this age, it’s hard to say- it could be either. Bernadette will need to start or continue her puppy vaccines around this age anyway, so have your vet do a good exam of the hips while you’re in for that. We really can’t diagnose hip dysplasia without xrays (unless it’s so severe that the hips are popping out of their sockets) but your vet could certainly do that at any time. Hope this helps and best wishes to you and your big puppy girl!

Hello. It can actually be rather difficult to diagnose hip dysplasia in a puppy this young with x-rays. Often we need to be able to diagnose laxity in the joint under anesthesia or see pain when the hips are manipulated, Lameness when walking or bunny hopping when running are classic signs, too. I am not sure I would be doing the Osnate - d ( Vitamin D ) or the Xobix ( anti-inflammatory medication ) as the Vit. D can cause imbalances & if there is no pain or lameness, the anti-inflammatory is not going to do any good. I think you need another opinion, perhaps with a veterinary neurologist, to make sure there are no spinal cord lesions affecting his gait. If this is hip dysplasia, unnecessary supplementation with the Vit. D may make things worse as most dogs seem to get much better on their own by the time they are 12-18 months of age. If you can have Ghost reevaluated, that would be the best thing to do. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach..

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I'm sorry to hear Trick is uncomfortable. If his stifle is swollen or tender we would be concerned about an ACL injury, a sprain or muscle pull, or another ligament injury. If his hip is uncomfortable he could also have aggravated a congenital dysplasia issue, or pulled a muscle or ligament. If it does not improve or worsens after 24-48hours of rest, I would recommend he be evaluated by his regular veterinarian to determine the underlying cause for his discomfort. I would touch base with your regular veterinarian before altering his medications. Good luck!

I am sorry to hear about Bun Buns! Rabbits unfortunately are prone to developing back injuries which can cause weakness or paralysis in the hind legs due to neurological damage. I would recommend confining Bun Buns and getting him to the vet as soon as possible for evaluation. The vet will do a physical examination, test reflexes, and may recommend an x-ray to help determine what is causing his symptoms and how best to treat Bun Buns.