Abscess /further treatment advice please-update

At the beginning of last week i noticed flix's face was swollen on one side, so off to the vets he went. Vet said his bottom teeth had grown sideways into his gum/cheek and had formed an abscess. He was booked in for an op for 4 days later, for a dental and to lance and drain the abscess and i was sent off with loxicom and baytril. The operation went well and he was sent home with instructions to clean the hole where the abscess had been twice a day and to continue with the 0.8ml loxicom and 2ml of baytril a day. Was going well apart from the baytril, he hates it lol.

Roll on a few days and there was still lots of pus having to be cleared, i had a post op check three days after and another vet (not the one seen originally/the one who performed op) said i had to be more vigorous with the cleaning ( I told her that i hadn't cleaned it that morning prior to the appointment so they could see the pus level) Anyway, i said that i had read from various sources (a lot of threads on here ) that baytril possibly wasn't the best antibiotic to use to treat the abscess and requested trimethoprim-sulfa as an alterernative as others had had good results from it. Basically she shot me down in flames saying that it wasn't any good for abscesses and it was a "first line of defence treatment" and that they always used baytril, but said that further down the line they might change if no improvement.

I've been using the baytril for nearly two weeks now and the pus is getting worse, i am cleaning it out at least 4 times a day and everytime i go to clean it the abscess site has resealed and filled with pus so i have to really push at it to re-open the hole and he's teeth grinding and trying to bite ( i wouldn't be happy either) I spoke to the original vet yesterday to see if i was doing the right thing and she said to continue.
I have an appointment to see her at 12 tomorrow and i want to broach the subject with her re: antibiotics and stronger pain meds, any advice about how to proceed (or not as the case may be) as i don't want to be fobbed off again, my boy is suffering
What would you do/say?
Any advice gratefully received

Did the Vet take a swab from the abscess wall to get a culture and sensitivities test done ? Whilst Baytril is a good broad spectrum antibiotic it may be that other antibiotics would be more effective depending on the C+S results. Or sometimes a combination of antibiotics is needed

If there is infection in a tooth root then this is unlikely to resolve without extraction of the offending tooth/root. If there is a lot of diseased bone too (osteomyelitis) then unless the tooth is very lose extraction may not be possible as it could easily cause the jaw to fracture. So it can be that a full 'cure' is not possible but the Rabbit can be bought a bit more time by being on longterm antibiotics to try to control the infection alongside good analgesic cover.

Dental abscesses can be a nightmare and it is important that the Vet treating the Rabbit has the very specific knowledge and experience to treat this challenging condition.

There is some information about Dental abscesses here:

http://www.avianandexoticvets.com/gallery/articles/dental-abscesses-in-rabbits

http://veterinarycalendar.dvm360.co...eedings/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/598991

Excellent advice from Jane as ever.

I would try and find a better, specialist vet if at all possible.

thanks for your reply. No swab was taken to my knowledge, and i've read it's too late once antibiotics have been started as it doesn't show true results, is this right?
Nothing was said about infection in the tooth itself just that a couple of lower side teeth were growing to the side and had pierced the cheek and gum. She told me that she filed (?) the offending teeth down then lanced and flushed the abscess and that there was a small hole left from where the tooth had pierced the cheek. The abscess site was just left open. I'm lost as to what to do, it just doesn't seem right to me that it is still releasing so much pus to the point that it seals and swells within a couple of hours after cleaning, it's upsetting to have to keep poking around in his face

Vita said:

Excellent advice from Jane as ever.

I would try and find a better, specialist vet if at all possible.

Click to expand...

This is the second practise i have joined after the first vet surgery caused my cat to have kidney failure and die after giving wrong meds for abscess in cheek ( a few years ago). Think the first surgery has an exotic specialist but really not comfortable going back to that surgery. I can't go further afield as I can't drive as I'm partially disabled and my partner works away five days out of seven

Could your current vet consult with an exotic specialist? I know my vets consult with other vets and accept referrals within area.

Abscesses are mean, sending you both positive thoughts x

visit went well, didn't clean it prior to vet trip so she could see the extent of the infection. She agreed that there should be a change in antibiotics and i suggested the trimethoprim so she looked it up and said that looked the best option, so decided on septrim as that was on their system but they had none there so she phoned sister practice not far away and they had none either and would have to order it in but she was concerned about the time scale as we have bank holiday weekend. She said that the sister (main surgery) practice would have a phone around the other vets in the area and try to rustle some up and to give them half hour. Had barely been in fifteen minutes before i had a call to say they had got some from another vet. Have to say i'm quite impressed with them So he's now on stronger pain meds and hopefully a more effective antibiotic.
Due back next friday for a follow up unless we take a turn for the worse, but feel much more positive now
sue x