Arthritis |
Arthritis and how to handle it.
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What is Arthritis?
Arthritis is painful inflammation and stiffness of the joints. Signs include:
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Why Arthritis and Your Disabled Rabbit?
Causes of arthritis include:
Some rabbits develop arthritis naturally due to age or genetics and it grows to be a disability for them. Other rabbits develop arthritis due to another condition or injury they have had. For example, arthritis is often developed in rabbits that have fractured their spine and lost mobility in their hind legs, rabbits that have splay leg, rabbits that have broken or malformed legs, and rabbits that have had one or more legs amputated. In these rabbits, arthritis is commonly developed over time because the remaining "healthy" legs have to compensate for the ones that are not operating properly. This adds stress to the joints and can lead to arthritis.
Whether a rabbit is disabled due to arthritis or has developed arthritis in response to another disability, they need our help to manage its symptoms.
- Age
- Injury (typically to a leg or joint)
- Genetic condition or predisposition
- Obesity (puts extra pressure on the legs and joints)
Some rabbits develop arthritis naturally due to age or genetics and it grows to be a disability for them. Other rabbits develop arthritis due to another condition or injury they have had. For example, arthritis is often developed in rabbits that have fractured their spine and lost mobility in their hind legs, rabbits that have splay leg, rabbits that have broken or malformed legs, and rabbits that have had one or more legs amputated. In these rabbits, arthritis is commonly developed over time because the remaining "healthy" legs have to compensate for the ones that are not operating properly. This adds stress to the joints and can lead to arthritis.
Whether a rabbit is disabled due to arthritis or has developed arthritis in response to another disability, they need our help to manage its symptoms.
How Do You Treat Arthritis?
Your veterinarian will diagnose arthritis through a physical examination. They will take the joints through a normal range of motion, check for pain reactions, observe the reflexes and determine muscle strength. They will take x-rays and look for signs of joint and bone deterioration and signs of inflammation. Initial treatment consists of rest and medication to reduce pain and inflammation. Long term arthritis treatment centers around slowing arthritis formation, strengthening and protecting the joints and controlling pain. Techniques for long term arthritis management include:
Supplements
Glucosamine and chondroitin
Myristol pellets
- Help to build cartilage and support the overall health and mobility of the joints
- Available in many brands- we recommend getting one prescribed through your vet
Myristol pellets
- Broad spectrum joint health supplement
- Contains four major active ingredients: cetyl myristoleate fatty acid complex, methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), glucosamine HCl and hydrolyzed collagen
- Also contains vitamin C, copper, manganese and zinc to further support joint health
- Though designed for horses, dogs and cats, some owners have had success with these treating arthritis in rabbits
- Consult your vet before trying
- Feed only 1-2 pellets twice daily
- Available here: Colorado House Rabbit Society (third item down)
Oxbow Joint Support Hay Tabs
- Timothy hay-based high fiber treats
- All natural ingredients with no artificial flavors, colors or preservatives
- Contain natural plant ingredients to support normal joint health and natural mobility
- Ingredients include glucosamine, turmeric, ginger root and yucca schidigera extract
- Glucosamine helps to strengthen cartilage and smooth movement in the joints
- Helpful for older pets or those suffering from arthritis
- Fed as a daily supplement
*Remember that you will not notice the effects of supplements immediately; allow 4 weeks or so of continued use for your rabbit to show improvements.
Medication
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Metacam (meloxicam)
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Tramadol
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Buprenex (buprenorphine)
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*Always consult with your vet to discuss which medication or medications would be appropriate for your particular rabbit and what doses your rabbit will need.
Massage & Therapy
Massage and other forms of physical therapy can help to exercise and ease tension in the joints and sometimes helps to relieve arthritis symptoms. See our Massage and Physical Therapy sections for more information:
How Else Do You Aid a Rabbit With Arthritis?
Most arthritis is not fixable- just manageable. In addition to the treatment options described above, here are some things you can do at home to help a rabbit that has arthritis:
- Restrict activity until the arthritis is under control to prevent further damage to the joints
- Encourage stretching and exercise (under the guidance of a veterinarian) once symptoms are under control
- Add soft bedding to your rabbit's enclosure to make them more comfortable and reduce stress to the joints
- Add a low entry litter box that they can move in and out of more easily. See our Litter Boxes section for more information:
- Fifteen minutes on a warm heating pad can help soothe the joints and increase circulation. This is a great before-bed routine.
- If arthritis progresses to a point where it limits mobility, consider adding incontinence bedding to your rabbit's enclosure. See our Bedding section for more information:
How Do You Prevent Arthritis?
Arthritis can be tricky to prevent. If your rabbit has a disability that puts their joints at risk, they are likely to develop arthritis in those joints as time goes on. While we may not be able to prevent arthritis, there are steps we can take to postpone and/or lessen the severity of arthritis symptoms. Here are some of those ways:
- Keeping your rabbit's diet healthy (nutrition plays a great role in all kinds of diseases)
- Ensuring your rabbit gets lots of exercise (keeps joint mobility high)
- Making sure your rabbit does not become overweight (overweight rabbits do not move around as well or as often, which results in reduced joint mobility, and the extra weight wears cartilage down faster; keep rabbits at a normal, healthy weight to reduce wear-and-tear on joints)
- Cutting your rabbit's nails as needed (long nails put pressure on the feet and can cause a rabbit to walk awkwardly and wear down joints)
- Giving your rabbit massages to exercise joints and help with general mobility
