Info Sheets

Elbow luxation, which may be known as elbow dislocation, is when the elbow in either of the front (fore) legs dislocates. A subluxation describes a partial, but not full dislocation of the joint. The condition is more common in rabbits than dogs and cats and is one of the most common types of luxations seen in pet rabbits.

Radiograph of an elbow luxation ©David Perpiñán

The most common reason for elbow luxation is due to some form of traumatic event, which places a sudden, excessive force on the elbow joint. This is most likely to happen when rabbits fall or jump from an excessive height and can happen if they are dropped during handling.

The condition seems to occur more frequently in young, small breeds of rabbits, such as the Netherland Dwarf, Dwarf Lops, Mini Lops and other small breeds. Often young rabbits are more active than older rabbits and can be more difficult to handle, making them more likely to fall or be accidentally dropped.

As the condition is generally acute (happens suddenly), it is often the case that the rabbit will suddenly appear lame/limping on one of their front legs. You may be unaware of any injury your rabbit has suffered, as you may not have witnessed the injury occurring. The rabbit may hold the leg up when sitting and will struggle to groom themselves or place any weight upon the leg.

As prey animals, rabbits will hide signs of pain and discomfort. They don’t vocalize when in pain like cats and dogs will, but this does not mean they are not in pain. The rabbit may still be eating and drinking normally and if so, they are also likely to be passing urine and droppings normally, but this also does not mean they are not in pain. If your rabbit is limping and unable to use one of their legs properly, this is an indication that there is pain and discomfort.

As soon as you have noticed your rabbit limping or holding a leg off the floor, you need to take your rabbit to your rabbit savvy veterinarian. They will examine your rabbit and discuss options for diagnostics in order to be able to reach a diagnosis and decide upon the best treatment option.

In order to determine if your rabbit has elbow luxation, your veterinarian will need to perform a series of x-rays. Your rabbit will need to remain completely still for these, and the joint will need to be manipulated into certain positions, which will be uncomfortable for the rabbit. For these reasons, either sedation or general anesthetic will be needed. If your rabbit is showing other signs, including abnormal breathing, limping on more than one leg or hind leg weakness, or other signs, your veterinarian may also want to rule out any other injuries, such as fractures or injuries to the chest cavity, which can also occur during traumatic events, so they may advise taking x-rays of the chest and/or spine or performing an ultrasound.

It may be possible to attempt to manually reduce the luxation under general anesthesia, which involves manipulating the joint back into its normal place (closed reduction). The placement of a supportive splint and bandage on the rabbit’s leg is likely to be needed to help keep the joint in place, to allow time to heal, which may be several weeks. However, once the joint has laxity in it, it is unlikely to stay in the right place again, even with a supportive bandage. Rabbits find bulky, heavy bandages stressful, and they prevent them being able to move about and groom themselves. Bandages can also cause further problems, such as pressure sores. Often the best treatment is to surgically repair the luxation. This will be performed under general anesthetic and your rabbit may need to be hospitalized for a few days. There are always some risks involved with surgical procedures and anesthesia, so you need to discuss what is best for your rabbit with your veterinarian.

Advanced surgical procedures and the aftercare required are expensive and something you will need to discuss with your veterinarian. Your rabbit may need to be referred for surgery to an orthopedic veterinarian, who will have more experience in performing the surgery. If you have pet insurance the cost of surgery or some of it may be covered, so always speak to your insurance company.

Surgery carries the best chance of a full recovery, but the less invasive option of a closed reduction may be successful. Whatever is opted for, your rabbit will require some period of confinement, in a small area, on a level surface with no access to ramps, stairs or items to jump on and off of. They will require continued pain relief and may need assisted feeding and medications to keep their gastrointestinal tract moving. Before you allow your rabbit more freedom, your veterinarian is likely to recommend further x-rays at 6-8 weeks post-surgery/closed reduction to see if the injury has healed.

Rabbits will always run around, binky (when they leap in the air with happiness), jump on and off steps, boxes and ramps and not allowing them to demonstrate these behaviors is depriving them of enjoyable activities, so you should not restrict your rabbit in this way. You must make sure that the items they jump on and off of are not overly tall, and they have sides on them, so they cannot easily fall. When handling your rabbit, do so sitting on the floor. This ensures they are never going to fall or be accidentally dropped from a significant height.