Splay Leg – Rabbit

"Splay leg" is an affliction involving improper development of the spine, pelvis, hip joint or long bones. Affected animals are unable to adduct the hind legs. The author has only ever seen this condition in young rabbits (less than three months of age), which tends to support the theory of some authorities.

It can affect hind limbs only (usually both) or all four legs (ie. one to all four limbs). The condition must be differentiated radiographically from nutritional hyperparathyroidism. Okerman (1994) states that it is a result of several different disorders viz hereditary (sub)luxation of the femur or hereditary nervous disorders such as syringomelia (fluid-filled cavities in the spinal cord). Euthanasia is the usual course of action.

The author has seen occasional cases of dislocation of the interphalangeal and metatarso-phalangeal joints which have responded to either conservative (cage-rest) or arthrodesive repair. The latter was effected in a New Zealand White using stainless steel laid as a box or mattress suture through the distal end of the metatarsal bone and the proximal end of the phalanx, whereas one four-year-old Netherland Dwarf doe after escape from an urban fox had sustained compound dislocations of both medial (no 2) phalangeo-pedal joints and responded to cage rest and parenteral oxytetracycline, ketoprofen and warmth being the sole other agents used in the initial stages of shock.

References

• Okerman L (1994): Diseases of Domestic Rabbits. Blackwell Scien¬tific Publications ISBN 0-632-03804 -7. 2nd Edition