Hutch is back at the vets..Update

So sorry to hear that DJ has had to go in for another op

I really hope they can help him and all goes well tomorrow, sending lots of good luck vibes to him ~*~*~

Good luck.. xxxx

I'm sorry to hear this and I must say, before you lose your bunny, that I don't rate a vet that advises you to return a rabbit to live with a guinea pig, after they've been unbonded (the rabbit will likely attack the guinea pig) and when it's pretty likely that the reason the rabbit's eye was damaged in the first place is because of the guinea pig chewing it! Is there any way you can find a more rabbit savvy vet, because this isn't such a big problem as far as I understand it - I would hate for this poor bunny to die just because of ignorance

For what it's worth, and just my oppinion from someone who is also battling with a bunny with abscess/pus if your bun is still bright and clearly not in any distress, still eating, pooping and peeing, then I'd be asking the vet to wake him up after the op to discuss options. For inspiration on treating a huge raw abscess, check out Mo's sore hock thread. It sounds tome as though the PTS option may be a little hasty.

I've only just caught up with all of this. From what I've read I would be very reluctant to let my rabbit be pts because of the fact he has an infection like this. Was he given aggressive antibiotics to help fight an infection following surgery??? I read that he was going for antibiotic shots but how often??

I know that this is probably all costing you an arm and a leg (Ibet you wish you had insurance) but if you are willing to try and save him I would definitely seek a second opinion. I've had experiences with lots of vets, and yes some will want to pts when it comes to things like this but others who are more rabbit savvy will try and save the bunny. I find too many vets ignorant of rabbit medicine will want to pts at the first sign of abscesses etc... It isn't always a death sentence and I would hate to think a rabbit died because the vet didn't know perhaps as much as they should.

I'm not implying your vet isn't good with rabbits, I just know how differently opinions can vary between vets and if it were me I would want to seek out a second opinion from a vet who specialises in rabbits.

Gosh! this is rather shocking, I would certainly seek a second opinion, I don't like the sound of what your vet is saying, please don't agree to PTS until you have had a second opinion, preferably from a rabbit savvy vet.

I really am at a loss as what to say because it would appear that the vet is advising you without knowing all the facts.

Isn't it annoying that buns hide the fact they are unwell until they can't hide it anymore?

Someone should tell them to let us know when they are sick. We won't eat them when they are down.

Which antibiotic is he on? Just baytril? If so there are other antibiotics that can be tried before giving up, particularly if he still seems well in himself. The vet will presumably clean out the infection and possibly put a drain in.

Tamsin

DJ'sMum said:

Well now i feel even worse than i did last night.

The PTS option is only if there's signs that the infection is coming from behind the eye socket or in the bone around the cavity (which could be why he lost sight in the other eye) The vet did say (TMI warning) that because the pus was milky and runny that it was still looking hopeful, if it'd have been yellowish and lumpy he'd have been more worried. I guess they just prepare you for the worst anyway but he was hopeful that a good flush out and some more antibiotics would work. He's going under GA cos he said he'd get a clearer picture of whats going on inside and a serious flushing of the wound would stress Hutch too much if he was awake.

Elve, we don't know if it's a big problem or not untill they open it again. There's NO indication that the guinea pig caused this, it's a possibility that if there's a recurrent abscess it's in the bone or near his brain as there were no signs of it in the socket when they removed his eye.

Snowy, he doesn't have all the facts, thats why we're letting him investigate today even tho i hate the idea of Hutch having another GA

Charlie, he assured me they will do all they can for him. They've grown really fond of Hutch and the vet was quite upset last night. Yes it's cost me over £300 so far and probably another £100 today but it's not about cost. And yes he had a course of strong antibiotics by injection, 3 before the op and then every 2 days after.

To be honest i was hoping for some reassurance that he'd be ok, not a persecution about how i've housed him and implication that i don't care or don't want to pay any more. That really hurts me cos i love this bunny so much and would never put an animal to sleep unless it was the absolute best thing to do. I was depressed enough already, now i feel lousy

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I don't think any one on here is/was implying that you can't house your bunny properly or are prepared to pay anymore. My comment on insurance and questioning the fact of you paying more was me simply empathising with you because I have been in a very similar situation. I was in no way implying that you wouldn't pay anymore, but i also think that a lot of other people who love their pets just as much sometimes can't afford to pay more and then shouldn't have to feel like they are failures for choosing the pts option.

I also think people on here were trying to give you hope by not recommending putting your rabbit to sleep. Obviously people don't know the exact situation or what it is your vet has said to you, but from what your post said it implied they were wanting to pts at the first sign of trouble. The reason people get so worked up is because a lot of them have experience with these sort of things and a lot of vets do choose pts as the first port of call. Thats the problem with these boards, things get taken in the wrong context like textss. I certainly wouldn't take it that people aren't supportung you as to me it seems like they very much are.

I really hope Hutch does come through this okay. Goodluck!

edit....i'm not sure how the guinea pig/rabbit comment was meant.....

Forget an abscess, on May 13, 2007, Goofball has bone cancer, and you guess it, the vet said PTS. I see PTS as the absolute last course of action, and to make things more interesting, 3 separate vets said Goof only have 3 - 6 mth. left.

Thru proper alternative medicine care (blackberry), Goof is happy and running around the house as we speak, and it's now 10 mth. later.

In the case of an abscess, your ABX Enrofloxuan is a mild ABX, I have some great success of Pen. G given under the skin (it cannot be given by mouth, as it can lead to death), as it bypassed ??? organ, so it's safe and very useful for heavier infection.

I am thinking of you today and hope that Hutch will be ok and the vet will be able to help him.Please let us know when you have some news

Jackie x

Good luck for today, hope everything goes well xx

Im hoping that you will receive some good news today. Might be worth getting a second opinion from a rabbit specialist.

Hoping its good news today and sending vibes to Hutch x

Good luck at the vets today, I hope you have some positive news x

Hope everything goes well today, let us know

Everything crossed for Hutch today. Hope it all goes well.

How's Hutch? I hope he's ok, I agree to pts as the last option - but sometimes it is a realistic option but only you and your vet can decide that. If you doubt your vet at all, seek a second opinion - in our vets one vet is great with bunnies, the other more senior one isn't good at all, so it can vary within the practice.