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Rabbit abscess

purplesponge

purplesponge

Warren Scout
My bun Sophie had to have a massive abscess drained from her neck on Tuesday, and she is recovering well. We suspect it may have been from a bite injury rather than tooth problems, she is only 10 months old. However she had been limping ever since we got her back from her surgery, and at the post op check this morning the vet has said she can feel another at the top of her arm. She has said that she doesn't want to take Sophie under anaesthetic again, because of the risks associated with it. She is on baytril for a further 5 days ( has been on for 4 so far) and see how the abscess is after this conservative treatment. I've had a quick look online and seen that this may not be the best antibiotic for her to be on, and I just wanted to know people's experience with this sort of thing? Should I be looking for a more rabbit specialist or leave the 5 days of baytril and see from there what happens? Thanks and sorry for the long post
 
When you say the abscess was drained, do you mean that the Vet was unable to remove the entire abscess capsule ?

Is the second abscess a separate bite wound or is it that the initial abscess has tracked elsewhere ?

With regards to the Baytril, did the Vet send off a swab for culture and sensitivity testing ? This would identify the exact bacteria involved and the best antibiotic to treat it with.
 
Jack's-Jane said:
When you say the abscess was drained, do you mean that the Vet was unable to remove the entire abscess capsule ?

Is the second abscess a separate bite wound or is it that the initial abscess has tracked elsewhere ?

With regards to the Baytril, did the Vet send off a swab for culture and sensitivity testing ? This would identify the exact bacteria involved and the best antibiotic to treat it with.
Click to expand...


At the time, all they could feel was the one around her neck, she wasnt limping when we took her in, so it was drained completely as far as the vets were aware. Not sure if the second abscess is a seperate bite wound, as we havent ever seen a bite wound at all, the vet seemed to think it had tracked down because of where it was. I havent been told if a swab was sent off, she took a syringe of what was inside it, but i wasnt told if it was sent off, or what the results were if anything was sent off?
 
purplesponge said:
At the time, all they could feel was the one around her neck, she wasnt limping when we took her in, so it was drained completely as far as the vets were aware. Not sure if the second abscess is a seperate bite wound, as we havent ever seen a bite wound at all, the vet seemed to think it had tracked down because of where it was. I havent been told if a swab was sent off, she took a syringe of what was inside it, but i wasnt told if it was sent off, or what the results were if anything was sent off?
Click to expand...

I think you need to clarify exactly what has been done. It sounds as though a much more aggressive treatment approach is needed.

Are both abscesses open now ?
 
Jack's-Jane said:
I think you need to clarify exactly what has been done. It sounds as though a much more aggressive treatment approach is needed.

Are both abscesses open now ?
Click to expand...

The only that was surgically drained has now healed, and the vet said she couldnt feel anything had returned yet. They aren't rabbit specialists, so i was wondering whether i should take her to the veterinary hospital we have in Bath for a second opinion, as 5 days seems a long time to see if the antibiotics will treat it :/
 
Baytril isn't great for abcesses as it can't really tackle anaerobic bacteria. Septrin is generally a better bet as it's well known to help target anearobes and can penetrate abcessed tissue.
5 days isn't very long for a course of antibiotics but I agree with Jane you need to find out what bacteria is causing it.
 
RedFraggle said:
Baytril isn't great for abcesses as it can't really tackle anaerobic bacteria. Septrin is generally a better bet as it's well known to help target anearobes and can penetrate abcessed tissue.
5 days isn't very long for a course of antibiotics but I agree with Jane you need to find out what bacteria is causing it.
Click to expand...

I think i will ring the vets tomorrow and see if they sent a sample off, if not (probably will even if they did) contact the veterinary hospital for a second opinion. thanks for all your advice :)
 
purplesponge said:
The only that was surgically drained has now healed, and the vet said she couldnt feel anything had returned yet. They aren't rabbit specialists, so i was wondering whether i should take her to the veterinary hospital we have in Bath for a second opinion, as 5 days seems a long time to see if the antibiotics will treat it :/
Click to expand...

I would get her seen by a Specialist. Rabbit abscesses are notoriously problematic to treat so a more Rabbit Savvy Vet would definitely be of benefit.
 
UPDATE: 6th August

Today Sophie had her check up after 5 days of antibiotics, the abscess has now tracked down across her belly and into her back leg :/ the vet has also had to stitch leftover skin from her drainage last week. she is now on septin (pediatric dose) and we have to apply medihoney daily to the entire abscess, and she has a tiny collar on :( She has a flush out of abscess booked for Friday. She looks a bit sorry for herself having the collar on, but is eating better than ever! and quite happy to have the luxury of living in our bedroom!
 
purplesponge said:
Today Sophie had her check up after 5 days of antibiotics, the abscess has now tracked down across her belly and into her back leg :/ the vet has also had to stitch leftover skin from her drainage last week. she is now on septin (pediatric dose) and we have to apply medihoney daily to the entire abscess, and she has a tiny collar on :( She has a flush out of abscess booked for Friday. She looks a bit sorry for herself having the collar on, but is eating better than ever! and quite happy to have the luxury of living in our bedroom!
Click to expand...

Oh dear :cry:

Personally I would ask for a referral to a Specialist ASAP as I fear that much more aggressive treatment is needed to offer any chance of a 'good' outcome.
 
Tracking across the belly into the back legs in only a few days seems a little fast for an abscess. It could be worthwhile investigating the possibility of panniculitis as the first infection was suspected being caused by a bite.
 
Jack's-Jane said:
Oh dear :cry:

Personally I would ask for a referral to a Specialist ASAP as I fear that much more aggressive treatment is needed to offer any chance of a 'good' outcome.
Click to expand...

I will ask tomorrow for a referral, I'm also concerned about how much pain she is in, as she only has metacam once a day :/ Will update after her flush tomorrow
 
Oh bless :-( could you get to highcroft referrals in Bristol? Richard Saunders there is one of the best bunny vets there is (and he has a real bee in his bonnet about proper pain relief for bunnies too); you couldn't be in better hands if you can get your vet to do you a referral; your vet can do it online here
http://www.highcroftvetreferrals.co.uk/refer-a-case

persinally If I were you I'd try and get her seen by a specialist tomorrow if possible, as it sounds as if whatever is happening is moving very fast.

Hope you can get the help you need for your little one x x x
 
Update

R.I.P little Sophie :'(

Vets rang to get opinion from Highcroft in Bristol... their opinion was as it had spread so far and hadn't responded to any treatment so far and was just getting worse and worse, would require further surgery (probably more than one as well) and would take 6-8 weeks to even start healing. So we made the difficult decision to PTS. Thanks for everyones advice on here. It's been a difficult decision, but one that we felt was best for her.
 
Oh I'm so very sorry to hear this :( I hope you can take some comfort from the fact that this was definitely the right decision, albeit no doubt an extremely difficult one, if that is what Highcroft also recommended. Rest in peace beautiful Sophie x x
 
I am sorry to hear this, abscesses really are horrible to treat. I have had big battles with bunnies with them in the past :( Binky free Sophie xxx
 
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