Please, i really need help - ear abscesses

Some of you may have read that Flynn has been fighting an awful ear infection. Despite out best efforts to keep his ear clean, it has turned into an inner ear abcsess and the outcome is not good .

After a long time at the vet (25 mins) we have came to a few short term solutions, there wont be a long term .

Option 1 - continue anti biotics and pain relief, knowing that this will progress.

Option 2 - massive surgery removing bits of bone from his ear. My vet has never done this, he has offered referal or to try it. However, we have been told there is a high chance of neurological damage, which will leave us with no other options. The high risk comes both with my vet doing it, and referal, we read the text book my vet has on it. Its not a nice proceedure, will be painful and a low success rate. While this option would give Flynn the best change IF it worked, my vet has reminded us, Flynn is a poorly bunny with many other issues and his age is against him.

Option 3 - my vet opening the ear and flushing the puss out. He said he can put antibiotic beads in the ear to try and control the infection. This would take a lot of after care which we are obviously prepared for. Flynn is a tolerant wee boy.

My vet has performed Option 3 with mixed success, but the best success was 6 months, before the bunny developed other problems and had to be pts in the end.

We have been sent home to discuss where to go from here, and i just dont know. If Flynn was younger and healthy, we would go for option 2 at a referal without a second thought. However, his other health factors are making me seriously worried. Option 1 is what we have been doing and it has not stopped the abcsess happening, so it will be extremely short term. I am leaning towards option 2 at the moment, but its still major surgery.

Has anyone put a bunny through any of these procedures? What have the outcomes been?

I have read manuka honey is good for abscesses, but how would i use this for an inner ear infection?

I'm so sorry, I have no advice.

Sending lots of vibes . Thinking of you. x

Is the op called a lateral ear re-section (or something similar)?

I have to go collect Fred from his Dental now but I'll be back on here this evening. I'll post more then
Ear infections and all their complications have become rather a feature here of late...............

Back soo and vibes for brave Flynn

xx

Thank you Jaysmonkey

BB i cant honestly remember what he called it

Thank you Jane, hope wee Fred is ok.

I know that a few of our sanctuary bunnies who had awful ear abscesses had a a lateral ear re-section done (I think that was what it was called), where basically there is a horizontal cut from the ear opening for about 1.5 - 2" that is kept open - they have been a great success, and Louise keeps meaning to write a piece about its success on here.

I really hope you can get a happy outcome for Flynn.

BB Mommy said:

I know that a few of our sanctuary bunnies who had awful ear abscesses had a a lateral ear re-section done (I think that was what it was called), where basically there is a horizontal cut from the ear opening for about 1.5 - 2" that is kept open - they have been a great success, and Louise keeps meaning to write a piece about its success on here.

I really hope you can get a happy outcome for Flynn.

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That sounds like something the vet mentioned, that was the one he would be confident to do himself. I think thats what i am leaning towards now i have calmed down a bit and thought. Thank you, i really appreciate it.

Here are details of both the lateral ear canal resection and ablation.

http://www.ivis.org/proceedings/navc/2006/SAE/617.pdf?LA=1

The ablation being the more complicated op. My Vet says she'd do the resection but I'd need to be refered to a specialist should the ablation be required.

At this stage I have opted for a non surgical approach, although neither Bun (Morse and Sir Victor) have abscesses (yet :?) but a very stubborn Otitis.

My concern about the resection surgery is that it may close up meaning a full ear canal ablation would be the only option. Personally I dont think I could put a Rabbit through such a huge, invasive surgical proceedure which risks damaging facial innervation and Dental occlusion :? But that is just my personal feelings for my Rabbits situation.

I guess much would depend on the exact location of the abscess and how widespread it is :? I assume your Vet has done/will do skull radiographs ?

As much as I trust my Vet I think should I have to go ahead with a resection, if either Bun developed an actual abscess, I would request a specialist referal. If I was going to take such a huge risk then I'd want to insure that the Vet had successfully carried out the proceedure on Rabbits before.

Would it be possible for the abscess to be opened to drain outwards ?
What abx has Flynn had so far ?

Crikey, sorry for the long post

Thank you Jane, as always your reply is very helpful

Now, the thing is, the only antibiotics Flynn has had is baytril. I asked my vet about septrin and culture sensitivity tests, which is he would be happy to do for me, but he said that there is a massive chance it would come back saying baytril is best. Having read posts about different antibiotics, i did wonder about this. However, my vet has vast knowledge and i trust his judgement. While i realise some may not agree with this course of treatment, my vet is aware i look for information outwith the practice and i fully believe if he felt there was another type of abx, he would let me try them.

As yet we have not had head xrays done. The infection is sitting in the middle ear, and when the lump on Flynn's ear is pressed, puss comes up.

My vet has done resections on rabbits before, and is happy to carry out this procedure. He also said he could put antibiotic beads in the ear to try and fight the infection that way.

How old is Flynn?

I think Sue Hunnybunny2007's Chester has abscesses in both ears. He's a very old and doddery rabbit so I don't think surgery has been a possibility.


Something I've wondered about is if there's a generalized Pasteurella infection, the infection will presumably keep returning...so can the ear re-section be kept open permanently?

abbymarysmokey said:

How old is Flynn?

I think Sue Hunnybunny2007's Chester has abscesses in both ears. He's a very old and doddery rabbit so I don't think surgery has been a possibility.


Something I've wondered about is if there's a generalized Pasteurella infection, the infection will presumably keep returning...so can the ear re-section be kept open permanently?

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Flynn is 6, so not very old on the grand scheme of things. But he has had a string of health issues which have left him weaker every time he gets poorly.

Good point about the pasteurella infection. Im not entirely sure how long the wound can be kept open for. Lynda (Bunnyhugger) was telling me she has a bun like this, who had the resection op earlier in the year. She has not let the wound heal and picks the scab off when it forms and squeezes the wound.

ShazzaBunny said:

That sounds like something the vet mentioned, that was the one he would be confident to do himself. I think thats what i am leaning towards now i have calmed down a bit and thought. Thank you, i really appreciate it.

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If you choose to go down this path, or want to discuss the op then try calling Lou (after 7pm is best) as she has praised this procedure for the buns that have had it done.

I'll pm you her number