When breeding rabbits quite often you can face the problem of paralysis of the limbs. If you see that your pet has become sluggish and does not move well, do not hesitate, contact your veterinarian. And to be fully armed, you must know everything about the paralysis of your eared pets' limbs. About this and tell our article.
Can a rabbit live with limb paralysis?
You noticed that your rabbit has movement problems. The first thing that will interest you is the question of the survival of the animal. It is impossible to immediately assume something. In one case, the disturbances in the limbs are reversible, and the legs may recover, in the other, the animal may remain disabled. 
And, perhaps, the saddest case, when the pet has nothing to help. A clear diagnosis is needed, then it will become clear whether your eared friend has a chance to please with his presence
Important! For a diagnosis, contact a veterinarian who can do this on the basis of tests, diagnostics, and characteristic symptoms of the disease. Do not self-medicate, because it can lead to disastrous consequences.
Priority action in case of limb failure
Immediately after finding a problem with the paws of your pet, isolate it from other relatives. Check on the touch of his legs and spine, perhaps the problem is there. If there are obvious signs of a fracture, restrict the movement of the rabbit, try to put a tire.
If you feel that the animal is in pain, you can use painkillers and inflammatory drugs, for example, Travmatinom as an injection, and as soon as possible get ready to go to the veterinary clinic. 
Be sure to ask the veterinarian to make an x-ray that will unequivocally indicate a bone fracture or will refute it.
Rabbit breeders should learn how to use Chiktonik, Yod, Gamavit, Baytril, Dithrym and Amprolium for rabbits.
Why did the rabbit have hind legs?
It would not be superfluous to know if you have rabbits, the reasons for which the hind limbs can refuse, and the symptoms inherent in paralysis.
Scare
This is perhaps the most banal reason, and it is due to the very nature of rabbits. It's no secret that rabbits are very shy. In addition, they are contained in the cells, which limits their movements, and this, in turn, leads to the fragility of bones, so when the eared mouse is frightened, it twitches, and this leads to injuries. 
To avoid fright, try not to create stressful situations, namely:
- harsh and loud sounds (barking of dogs, repairs, music);
- unexpected turning on of the light in the dark;
- sudden movements of the owner in the care of pets;
- the presence of mice or rats in the room where rabbits are kept.
Consider in more detail the symptoms and methods of treatment of the most common diseases of rabbits: psoroptes, flatulence, viral hemorrhagic disease, conjunctivitis, pasteurellosis and scabies.
Injuries
As we have already noted, if there is an injury, an X-ray examination is necessary. And if X-rays showed that there are no fractures of the limbs, then paralysis may be due to dislocation of the joints, muscle strain, ligaments or bruise, otherwise you will not escape the gypsum and the rehabilitation period. The treatment in this case will be the following:
- physiotherapy (usually used apparatus "Almak", which affects the electrical impulses on damaged tissue);
- foot massage;
- painkillers.
Apparatus "Almak" Spinal injuries are very unpleasant. If the diagnosis by the veterinarian found that signals to the muscles do not pass through the spinal cord, then the problem is very serious. In this case, the treatment most likely will not help, and the animal faces disability. Also, the rabbit may have a head injury.Treatment consists of massage, gymnastics, use of B vitamins and decongestants, such as Dexamethasone.
It will probably be useful for you to learn how to choose the right rabbit when buying for breeding, and also consider what breeds of rabbits to choose for crossing.
Fights
Despite the fact that rabbits look quite harmless, in the presence of a large number of individuals, fights between males cannot be avoided. The hind legs of animals are strong, and in the process of fighting, they can inflict injuries to each other, usually fractures and dislocations. Must be careful when mating animals, love games can also lead to minor injuries. 
Calcium and trace elements deficiency
The lack of calcium in the body of rabbits leads to the fact that their bones become fragile. With a deficiency of this microelement in the diet, it begins to leach out of the bone tissue, because of this the risk of fractures and other injuries increases. But, in addition, calcium is involved in other vital processes, so if it is lacking, there may be problems with the functioning of muscles and the brain.
Especially acute shortage of calcium and other trace elements may occur in females during the feeding of offspring. Rabbits grow, more and more milk is needed, and if you eat the wrong diet, the rabbit's mother will have a depletion of the body. Kids can also suffer from this, because they will not receive the required amount of the necessary substances.
Did you know? Newborn domestic rabbits are not covered with fur, they are blind and deaf, which can not be said about their wild relatives.
Lack of calcium and other trace elements can be the result of an unbalanced monotonous diet. Follow the nutrition of your rabbits, it must be complete and in the right quantity. 
If your eared pets are deficient in calcium, you can solve this by adding the following foods to their diet:
- bone or fish meal;
- dry milk;
- egg shells (be sure to boil well and grind into flour);
- ordinary chalk
Important! Be sure to consult with a specialist before using any additives and carefully read the instructions. It is especially important to know the correct dosage, because an excess of minerals and vitamins can also lead to health problems in rabbits, only of a different kind.
You can also include in the diet of nursing rabbits a variety of mineral supplements, which in their composition have calcium and phosphorus. These include tricalcium phosphate and kalfaponic. It should be noted that in these supplements there are other trace elements, as well as vitamins. 
Viral infections
A very unpleasant cause of paralysis of the hind legs in rabbits can be viral infections. These include diseases such as listeriosis and encephalosis, caused by appropriate pathogens.
Did you know? The rabbit is a very good jumper, the height of the jump can be a meter or even higher, and the length is about three meters.
Such ailments have in the symptoms not only immobilized hind limbs, but also others, for example, an enlarged liver, spleen. And the presence of seizures in a rabbit indicates a very high probability (95%) of listeriosis infection.
Unfortunately, if your pet is diagnosed with these diseases, then there is no point in treatment. Urgent measures should be taken to isolate and recycle it, and thorough disinfection of the habitat of the infected individual should also be carried out. 
Listeriosis in a rabbit
Constipation or diarrhea
When the digestive system is disturbed, such as constipation or diarrhea, the rabbit will be very sluggish, its hind legs may drag, and the food may remain intact. So the pet tells you that it is bad.
We recommend reading about how and how to treat constipation in rabbits.
As soon as you notice this behavior of the rabbit, immediately contact the veterinarian. The doctor will determine the causes of disorders of the digestive tract and prescribe adequate treatment. Often it will be enough to correct the diet of the animal, and all the problems will go away by themselves.
Brain inflammation
Another cause of paralysis of the hind limbs in rabbits is inflammation in the brain. Although in such cases, other symptoms are added. If, in addition to paralysis, you notice that the coordination of movements of the animal is disturbed, the reflexes are slowed down, then, most likely, it has one of the diseases that lead to brain inflammation. These include:
- encephalitis;
- encephalomyelitis;
- meningitis.
The final diagnosis of your eared mouse can be made only by an experienced veterinarian after conducting a series of tests. But if the diagnosis is confirmed, then the poor fellow has practically no chances for a cure. Even if a miracle happens, and the rabbit is still alive, it will not be the same, any violations in behavior will remain.Preventive measures
As you can see, the causes of paralysis of the limbs in rabbits are sufficient. They need to know and take measures so that such troubles avoid your pets as much as possible.
In order to prevent experienced experts advise the following:
- To avoid injury, create good living conditions for your rabbits. Make sure that they do not experience stress due to loud noises, bright light, etc.
- To avoid fights, do not lodge together in the same dwelling male individuals.
- Feed your pets properly, keep the balance. The menu should include vegetables, fruits and cereals.
- Keep the cells clean, periodically disinfect.
- Limit the possibility of penetration of other species of animals in rabbits, especially alien or wild ones.
- If you have a new eared friend, then do not settle it immediately with other relatives, make quarantine.
Unfortunately, poor nutrition, poor living conditions lead to the fact that rabbits are sick and dying en masse. Get acquainted with all the subtleties of breeding rabbits at home.
In conclusion, we say that if you are an attentive and caring owner, then your pets will have minimum problems. And if paralysis of the hind limbs is found in a rabbit, then you already know how to preliminarily determine the cause and provide first aid. And do not delay the visit to the veterinarian.
