Dumplin UD p27 26/9/14

have I made the right decision

Sorry RU I deleted this post but have now put it back

Been to the vets with Dumplin he is still on Anti-biotic and pain relief for his abscess but he has developed another lump which is hard on his lower jaw

The next step would be dental X-ray to see what's going on (money is not an issue)

Dumplin is not a very good patient and is getting very stressed as time goes on having his meds and he is now on 3 times a day 1 anti biotic and 2 pain relief also he has been in the house on his own while I have been giving these meds as he won't come to me anymore so he has been separated from Casserole and Stu for over 6 weeks now I do let them out together free range but he is not happy being taken back inside again

This is the hardest decision I have ever had to make for the welfare of a pet as he is not 'ill' as to say

I have spoken to our vet who has seen him all the way thru and she agrees that as he is so stressed now every time I have to give his meds he is getting quite bitey to try and get away:evil:

I have with the support of my vet decided not to continue with the treatment just to try and keep him comfortable with pain relief and leave him with his Brother and Uncle until the time comes

I think I'm doing right by Dumplin so he can spend however long he has with stu and casserole and eat all the grass and treats he wants

I just feel like I have given up on him

I'm so sorry you're in this situation, and Dumplin is such a young lad

Oh how sad. He is so young. Thank goodness that he can be with his brother and uncle and that they will have each other when his time comes.

MightyMax said:

I'm so sorry you're in this situation, and Dumplin is such a young lad

Click to expand...

tulsi said:

Oh how sad. He is so young. Thank goodness that he can be with his brother and uncle and that they will have each other when his time comes.

Click to expand...

Thanks both I really don't know if I'm doing the best for him he is so young but I know that he will be plagued by problems all his life Nd that's not fair

It's so hard when you give them meds that make them hate you

I have to do so daily to my Lucky and Thomas and now they thump when I'm around. Im just glad that they can have some fun between meds and that I can watch them from a distance whilst they play at being norty bunnehs.

Sending vibes for Dumplin and a big hug for you xxxxx

has he had an xray and operation for the initial abscess yet?

parsnipbun said:

has he had an xray and operation for the initial abscess yet?

Click to expand...

No he didn't have X-ray that's why I'm not sure if I'm doing right by him

They did the dental and lanced and washed out the abscess, after a week we went back and had it washed and another lanced that then we have been every week for check ups and we thought we were winning until this new lump has appeared

I feel like I'm giving in too easy but then I'm thinking of Dumplin and the stress he has already been though and am really unsure of what to do now for the best for him

Mrsmcarey said:

No he didn't have X-ray that's why I'm not sure if I'm doing right by him

They did the dental and lanced and washed out the abscess, after a week we went back and had it washed and another lanced that then we have been every week for check ups and we thought we were winning until this new lump has appeared

I feel like I'm giving in too easy but then I'm thinking of Dumplin and the stress he has already been though and am really unsure of what to do now for the best for him

Click to expand...

Are you cleaning the abscess twice daily yourself after the lancing, and is he on antibiotics?

I have managed to eradicate abscesses this way, without the need for surgery or X-rays. I prefer to keep intervention to a minimum unless really necessary, as buns can be so fragile x

MightyMax said:

Are you cleaning the abscess twice daily yourself after the lancing, and is he on antibiotics?

I have managed to eradicate abscesses this way, without the need for surgery or X-rays. I prefer to keep intervention to a minimum unless really necessary, as buns can be so fragile x

Click to expand...

Yes I'm trying to but he is not happy with being restrained whilst I do I'm cleaning it with warm salt water when I can get hold of him and also Casserole is cleaning it as well :roll: he has had 2 weeks Septrin and 3/4 weeks Baytril and Loxicom together, I am still giving these also.

He had one come up which seemed to split into two which have gone down and now he has one in the middle of his chin that is mobile sort if and now a hard lump on the side of his lower jaw which could be another :evil:

I have just been googling Pype Hays vets who seem to have a rabbit specialist and am going to give them a call tomorrow to see what that say about X-ray :? Bit again Dumplin doesn't do sedation well either

Mrsmcarey said:

Yes I'm trying to but he is not happy with being restrained whilst I do I'm cleaning it with warm salt water when I can get hold of him and also Casserole is cleaning it as well :roll: he has had 2 weeks Septrin and 3/4 weeks Baytril and Loxicom together, I am still giving these also.

He had one come up which seemed to split into two which have gone down and now he has one in the middle of his chin that is mobile sort if and now a hard lump on the side of his lower jaw which could be another :evil:

I have just been googling Pype Hays vets who seem to have a rabbit specialist and am going to give them a call tomorrow to see what that say about X-ray :? Bit again Dumplin doesn't do sedation well either

Click to expand...

I tend to go for daily and then every other day penicillin injections. Baytril is not good at penetrating the abscess and I have never found Septrin useful. Rabbits have always had more of a fighting chance since vets began using injectable penicillin I've found.

What do you hope to find from an X-ray that will help you with subsequent treatment?

MightyMax said:

I tend to go for daily and then every other day penicillin injections. Baytril is not good at penetrating the abscess and I have never found Septrin useful. Rabbits have always had more of a fighting chance since vets began using injectable penicillin I've found.

What do you hope to find from an X-ray that will help you with subsequent treatment?

Click to expand...

A reason where the abscess came from maybe :?

I might ring my vets and ask about penicillin injections then at least I'm not the baddy :roll:

I wish that they could teach me now to do it tho :roll:

I'm just trying to do what's best with the least stress for Dumplin

Mrsmcarey said:

Yes I'm trying to but he is not happy with being restrained whilst I do I'm cleaning it with warm salt water when I can get hold of him and also Casserole is cleaning it as well :roll: he has had 2 weeks Septrin and 3/4 weeks Baytril and Loxicom together, I am still giving these also.

He had one come up which seemed to split into two which have gone down and now he has one in the middle of his chin that is mobile sort if and now a hard lump on the side of his lower jaw which could be another :evil:

I have just been googling Pype Hays vets who seem to have a rabbit specialist and am going to give them a call tomorrow to see what that say about X-ray :? Bit again Dumplin doesn't do sedation well either

Click to expand...

Personally I would get a Specialist to take a look at Dumpling. It may be that a Specialist Vet can achieve an idea of the precise nature of the infection and if in Dumplings specific case it would be fair to subject him to a lot of invasive treatment. A specialist is likely to be more skilled with Rabbit anaesthesia too, so Dumpling may do better with any procedure needing sedation of some kind. At least if Xrays are taken you can find out the extent of infection and then make an informed decision about what is the best course of action for Dumpling. Some Rabbits just do not cope with endless 'hands on care' and so there can be no one size fits all regarding what to do for a Rabbit with dental abscesses.

Sending lots of vibes for him xx

Sending lots of vibes for him xx

Thanks for all the support and advice

I have been back to the bets and have another week of Baytril for Dumplin he isn't at all happy with me :roll:

Since he had been outside he seems to have perked up and doesn't look as miserable and as Casserole and Stu are making a fuss over him he is more than happy with that :lol: and is merrily binkying round the run :lol:

Just need to catch the devil now to continue with meds :evil: don't want to bring him in I think that made him worse :? Feeling all alone in the house

I feel I was a bit hasty so am going to stick with it for another few months and see where that leads

hmmm - was the pus cultured before they put him on abx? or did they just do a 'shot in the dark'?Do you know if they have considered whether there is infection actually in the jaw now resulting in the new lump?

parsnipbun said:

hmmm - was the pus cultured before they put him on abx? or did they just do a 'shot in the dark'?Do you know if they have considered whether there is infection actually in the jaw now resulting in the new lump?

Click to expand...

No nothing cultured :? Shot in the dark I suppose the Septrin didn't touch it but the Baytril did seem to work for a while but with the new lump coming up which seems sore when I touch it he flinches

I have wrestled his Baytril and Loxicom down him tonight and checked his chin and the lump is bigger I am now having to wear a thick quilted fleece coat to do his meds and I can feel hhis teeth thru it still :shock: because he couldn't bite me he started biting his own leg too :shock:

Mrsmcarey said:

No nothing cultured :? Shot in the dark I suppose the Septrin didn't touch it but the Baytril did seem to work for a while but with the new lump coming up which seems sore when I touch it he flinches

I have wrestled his Baytril and Loxicom down him tonight and checked his chin and the lump is bigger I am now having to wear a thick quilted fleece coat to do his meds and I can feel hhis teeth thru it still :shock: because he couldn't bite me he started biting his own leg too :shock:

Click to expand...

Poor Dumpling I honestly think that seeing a Specialist now would be a good idea. Otherwise I fear that you are both going to endure another week of endless stress with medication that is unlikely to be of benefit if the infection is tracking and is in his jaw bone. Sadly from what you describe this does sound to be a real possibility. Obviously it is entirely your decision, I am not in any way implying that you are not doing enough for Dumpling. But if it were me I would want to establish exactly what I was dealing with and if I had concerns that my Vet may not be experienced enough with Rabbit Dental Disease issues I would ask for a referral.

Sending lots more vibes for him xx

Can he have his meds mixed in with Ellas kitchen organic baby food? (The pure fruit ones). Mottle always loves them like that. He has only had baytril but it worked well.

tulsi said:

Can he have his meds mixed in with Ellas kitchen organic baby food? (The pure fruit ones). Mottle always loves them like that. He has only had baytril but it worked well.

Click to expand...

He won't eat any if that stuff I tried apple purée, banana, apple and strawberry, apple juice no joy:roll:

Now Casserole and Stu who don't need to eat it love the stuff :lol: it's just not fair :?

Sending vibes for Dumplin. Hope you can get his problem resolved, and have you tried something else to give his meds on, a bit of Weetabix or toast. It is very difficult to get meds into some bunnies.