Possible HLD

I'm rather worried that Monty has the beginnings of HLD. I've had it at the back of my mind for a bit because he's got very thin from the waist down, bony even, but I dismissed this as just age because he's two tomorrow (woop!). Today however, watching him walk on the floor of the cage he was sort of wobbling from side to side on the back feet so he meanders a bit as he moves. Does this ound like that's what it is? I know there's nothing really to be done about it if it is.

Oh crap I'm a terrible mother, he's 2 today The celebrations will have to still be tomorrow

Happy Birthday Monty! im afraid i cant help with the hld,havent seen it,could it just be becoming a little stiff in his old age instead?plenty of rats get about just fine even with it from what i hear,specially in that cage with fewer levels

For a good month or two i thought my boy albie had hld. he dragged his tail and struggled to climb and get about. I changed his diet a bit and got him exercising more and he greatly improved. Now i'm starting to wonder again if he has it. He's about 26 months or so, so it could just be old age, but he has a sort of wobble like you've described and if he runs or jumps he tends to wobble so much he falls over.

I suggest just keep getting him lots of exercise and a good diet where he isn't overweight. If he starts falling off shelves or anything put hammocks below. Don't reduce levels or anything until he 100% can't manage at all. I have one steep ladder in for albie, but apart from that it's all ropes and ledges and he can still get about the whole cage.

Thanks guys I recently moved him to a smaller cage, height wise, which has made it more obvious because he wasn't climbing around the other one any more, maybe that's why. Birthday pics will of course folliow

I would say it could be a stiffness thing or the starts of HLD - as you say, there's not much can be done - I'm really pleased he's made 2 - silvers are not hte most robust, and I know the heartache with Reggie and Algy - but it's a good feeling that a silver based lad has made it to two again!

xx

Thanks I'm really pleased. I have a video of him walking and will post when I figure out how

Squeek started like that, the meandering and stiffness. It progressed really quickly and his weight dropped pretty quickly too. Once he curled up his toes and kept them balled he stopped using his back legs completely and started dragging himself around. I have no idea how old he was as he was a rehome.
Still even with the HLD he was happy, ate well and loved cuddles from Dave in the evenings. We moved him to a rabbit cage and he loved having tubes that he could crawl into and sleep.
Just to say even if it is HLD its not the end of the world, they still get along with the same love for life

Thanks Catz

Here is the videa anyway, the first 20 seconds nothing much is happening.

Yeah - does look like HLD he's getting a proper 'old man' look to him now, with his thin back end. I think he looks OK, but he looks his age you know? Claxon looked amazing until the last couple of weeks - but so many of them can go on for months like that without any hinderence to their lifestyle Just try and make sure he can never fall too far from hammocks etc!

xx

I thought so, but was hoping not. I suppose giving him oily fish or joint supplements can't do any harm? I might try that. He mainly stays in bed but there's no distance to fall in that cage. He's looked a bit crap for a few months, I think cos he's silver and has tiny eyes he shows it worse but like you say they seem happy to go on with it so I'll do my best to work around it.

Yeah- there's a few things you can do for him. I would scrap protein in his diet totally pretty much - won't hurt Theo either small amounts of chicken or fish once a week. Low phospherous as well. You could try the Shunamite kidney diet - I've found it works wonders.

xx

OK he's on the straights kidney friendly, but I'll cut out the remaining kibble. Should I get rid of the egg noodles too or are they ok? and I'll add in the phosphate binders, might be worth doing a separate mix I guess.

Not sure about the egg noodles... perhaps you could ask Alison?

xx

Apparently the egg noodles are ok (apparently produce fewer toxins). I'm going to switch him to the shunamite though as it'll be easier to add supplements cos of the greasy dog kibbles, as well as being less necessary. Trouble is I can't find all the ingredients, namely the rabbit food. I've got versele laga cuni nature, I hope it will be ok I'm also trying to source the Hills kidney food, hopefully wont be too hard though.

What rabbit food is required?

xx

Alpha herbal or harrisons banana brunch apparently

hmm. the mr johnsons i use should be ok too.

xx