Ida, a 5-year-old female French Angora rabbit, was recently surrendered to the Animal Rescue League of Boston’s (ARL) Boston Animal Care and Adoption Center, and while stunning in appearance and a wonderful temperament, Ida also presented with rear-limb lameness.

Ida, a 5-year-old female French Angora rabbit.

Ida had difficulty moving, and according to her previous owner, she was kept in a small enclosure and that the condition had worsened over time.

ARL’s shelter medicine provided Ida with a thorough veterinary exam, including x-rays, to determine the underlying cause of her condition.

X-rays did not reveal any spinal fractures, but ARL’s veterinary team could not rule out spondylosis (arthritis of the spine), or intervertebral disc disease, a condition in which one or more of the discs between spinal vertebrae protrude and press on the spinal cord, causing neurologic deficits (including difficulty using back legs).

Because Ida was kept in a small enclosure, ARL’s shelter staff placed her in a large kennel, with ample space for Ida to move around, and allow her time out of her kennel in an even larger space for play time.

Over the course of a couple of weeks, Ida’s ability to move has improved, but it’s likely she will never regain full function of her hind limbs – it is worth noting that her hind-limb lameness does not cause her pain.

Looking for a Home

Ida has a wonderful personality, is very social and is great for handling.

Her new family will be encouraged to take Ida to her veterinarian for regular visits to formulate a course of treatment for her condition.

Read Ida’s full bio.

Caring for Rabbits

It’s important when adopting a rabbit or any small animal, to have a properly-sized enclosure – ARL does require a photo of the enclosure your rabbit will be living in before the adoption process is completed.

A proper enclosure allows the height and width for a litter box, food bowls, sleeping quarters, and open space to play, stand-up, and explore.

In addition to a proper enclosure, rabbits need time out of their enclosures every day.

This time gives the animal more space to play and explore, and allows you time to handle, play, work on training, snuggle – all of which strengthens the bond between you and your rabbit – and of course adds to the fun of having a rabbit as part of your family!

ARL is here to help and want you and your rabbit to thrive together. Our team can help you with all aspects of caring for small animals – from diet, environment, enrichment/training, and more!