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Jaw abscess and penicillan

N

NickieM

Warren Veteran
I took Wolfie to the vet tonight as I noticed he had a lump on the side of his face. It is an abscess on the caudal mandible. Tomorrow he is going in to have a further exploration under GA and to have X-rays taken. I had said to the vet that if they thought that there was little chance of success, to consider PTS while he was under.

I came home and went onto the net and came across people in the US using an old form of penicillan called Bicillan to tackle jaw abscesses with a lot of success. Unfortunately, Bicillan isn't licensed in this country and it is illegal for a vet to use it.

Does anyone have experience of treating a rabbit with a penicillan variant for a bony abscess and if so, what did you use. I want to ask my vet tomorrow to try this. I am happy to inject as I have been doing this for another rabbit. I need to have information tonight if possible.
 
Depocillin by injection is the standard treatment for abscesses. I have one rabbit with a jaw abscess who was on twice weekly injection, plus daily oral metacam for pain relief and anti-inflammatory. He is down to once a week depocillin (plus daily metacam) at the moment to see if he remains stable. He is eating well, weight is stable. Dentals (molar and incisor burring) are done as necessary.

The abscess is fairly static and open (draining into the mouth) - neither getting better or worse in 4 months of treatment. The rabbit currently has a much better quality of life than before treatment as he was looking miserable and losing weight slowly. His behavior is now back to normal - very lively and eating well. Treatment will continue as long as his condition does not deteriorate.

The next step is antibiotic beads to be put in the cavity - a specialist job requiring a referral to a rabbit specialist, or PTS if this is not possible.
 
100% success with depocillin.

I was advised the same thing, to put Grimlock to sleep while he was under GA, but I refused. My vet didn't know about penicillin treatments but after I asked she researched it and spoke to other vets. He had an injection every three days for eight weeks and recovered fully. He had two abscesses in his jaws, where his incisors were removed. They are completely gone now and have not, so far, returned. It's been almost two years. They showed me how to do the injections and I did them at home. It's a little stressful but for me not Grim.
 
Many thanks for your replies. I am happy to inject him because I have had to do that for the last couple of weeks with his partner so am quite confident.

Am going to ask the vet to contact John Chitty who has helped a friend of mine's rabbit with a jaw abscess.

It was really upsetting to know that there was a drug available that helped but that it wasn't available in the UK. Depocillan sounds like the nearest equivalent. I feel I owe him this at least.
 
get another opinion from another vet to be sure if you arent having to consider PTS - yes as above - anything penicillin based to where you need to be for an abscess and i have read about the beads, google this and you should find some info.
 
This is the article I found while doing my research.
http://www.rabbit.org/journal/4-4/pandora.html

On the day Dr. Schwartz returned, Pandora took a turn for the worse. She became lethargic and stopped eating, and I feared she would not survive much longer. I called Dr. Schwartz, and we discussed a relatively new procedure in which beads which are impregnated with an antibiotic are implanted at the sight of the abscess. Dr. Schwartz informed me that the procedure has been used in human medicine since the early 1970's, but has only been attempted on rabbits within the last few years. The veterinarian combines a bone cement with an antibiotic, fashioning the mixture into beads. The beads are implanted at the site of the abscess and remain inside the rabbit as the antibiotic is slowly released over a period of months or perhaps even years. Dr. Schwartz also explained that in Pandora's case he used an antibiotic called amikacin, and that although this particular antibiotic can cause kidney problems in rabbits if administered via injection, the slow release of the antibiotic from beads does not result in kidney damage.
Click to expand...

My vet considered this but as Grim's abscesses were in his tooth roots she felt that they would not be able to apply the beads without leaving any gaps inside as the roots are curved. If gaps were left the infection could grow and it wouldn't be successful. OS I think the beads are more suited to abscesses that can be accessed externally. I phoned loads of vet practices all over the UK to find someone who could do this and there are a few who can and have done it before. I can't remember exactly now as it's been almost two years.
 
He's out of surgery and home now looking very sad. I have penicillin to give him subcutaneously along with metacam and probiotic. The abscess has been lanced and flushed out so we just need to wait and see how it all goes.

Thanks for taking the time to let me know about your experiences. It really made a difference.
 
Good luck!
I'm sure he's very sore so if you're worried he's not eating you can try to soak his pellets (if he has pellets) in water to make them soft. And porridge made with water went down well with Grim too. :wave:
 
I never knew that Bicillan was illegal in the UK. :shock: I have no experience with it, but a good friend of mine used it for one of his buns awhile ago and it worked wonders on him.

I do hope your vet can help Wolfie. xxxxx
 
Bebopy said:
I never knew that Bicillan was illegal in the UK. :shock: I have no experience with it, but a good friend of mine used it for one of his buns awhile ago and it worked wonders on him.

I do hope your vet can help Wolfie. xxxxx
Click to expand...

It isn't illegal but not licensed for that use in rabbits in the UK. If your vets wants to use it they have to apply for a special licence and present a case for using it. The link below explains.

http://www.rabbitwelfare.co.uk/resources/content/info-sheets/penicillin.htm
 
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