My 8-week-old bunny is suddenly dragging its back legs. What's wrong?

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.

Rabbits have sensitive backs and if they thrash around and kick strongly with their rear legs they can damage their spinal cord and become paralyzed. You can check to see if he still has pain sensation. Try squeezing a rear toe or paw to see if Nicky can feel it. If he turns around he then has deep pain sensation, if not he is paralyzed. He may pull back the leg which is a reflex, that isn't the same as his brain feeling the pain in the foot and looking around or crying out. If he's paralyzed he may also loose control of his urination and defecation so instead of going to the bathroom in his usual place, he may become soiled with urine and feces. To be sure about his condition a veterinary exam is recommended. If there is no improvement in the use of his legs in a few days then he probably is permanently paralyzed. This is very sad. If he isn't able to move or control his urination or defecation euthanasia may be the humane thing to do. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to get answers to your veterinary questions.

Thanks for reaching out about Snip. A veterinary visit is recommended for the concern of a fracture or luxated leg or back injury. These can be painful. Even though it is Sunday, a veterinary visit is recommended today, as tomorrow is a holiday for most veterinary clinics and this should wait until Tuesday. Keep quiet and comfortable for now. Prevent jumping. Good luck.

Rabbits can break their back if they kick too hard. If June isn't able to move the legs at all, then I would recommend taking him to a vet immediately for evaluation to see if there is a treatment available.

Hello, and thank you for your question. I'm sorry to hear that Roger is unwell. It sounds like he has a neurological issue causing a head tilt and partial paralysis. Rabbits are prey animals that are very good at masking their pain, so even if he seems okay to you, I would still assume he is in some pain and take him to the vet within the next 24 hours. Causes of head tilt include an inner or middle ear infection, or a neurological parasite called E. cuniculi. Causes of hind leg paralysis include spinal or head injury. The vet can perform a full physical exam, and may recommend taking x-rays. They can prescribe medications to help with pain and inflammation, and treat for infection if suspected. I hope this helps, and that Roger is feeling better soon.

Unfortunately, figuring out why your rabbit is unable to walk is not going to be a simple matter. You should start by asking your self if it is possible that Lupita could have experienced something traumatic resulting in a break, strain, or sprain or a leg / back. Back problems are extremely common in rabbits and can unfortunately result in paralyzing injuries in many cases. Extremely weakness can make your bunny unable to walk, which can be the result of certain neurologic disorders or nutritional deficiencies. There are also certain parasites that can affect the central nervous system that will make your bunny unable to move around appropriately. While I can certainly appreciate your financial hardship, you may want to consider applying for something like CareCredit in order to get the funds needed to investigate this matter further with your veterinarian. Your bunny is going to have to be able to move around and get to the food and water bowl readily if she is going to be able to live a normal life. Hope this makes sense.

If she is holding the foot in the air and not using it, it's probably a serious injury, either a fracture or a dislocation. you need to take her to the vet ASAP, they will need to check her and will probably recommend doing an xray to evaluate the severity of the injury.