Black matted patch on dewlap

Hi!

My bun has this strange black patch of fur under her mouth, on her dewlap. It appeared yesterday night and even now she hasn't been successful in cleaning it out. It almost looks like something burst, because some of the fur has been stuck down while some are sticking out. It's clearly bothering her because she keeps licking and trying to get it out. Does anyone know how to get it out/what it is? She was in her cage, so it's not something from outside.

UPDATE:
After research and a closer look, I believe it is an abcess. The vet won't be open until Monday, is there anything I can do until then? It has already burst and there is white puss still in the fur as well. She won't let me clean it as it is right under her mouth.

The fact that it has burst personally id be taking her to the emergency vets :wave:

She really needs antibiotics, although it's burst, bunny abscess tend to be quite gunky as the puss can be quick thick. Is there a different vet practice open over the weekend near you? Some will open part of saturday/sunday. If you call your normal vets number there is usually a message telling you what you can do out of hours. Even a non bunny-savvy one should be able to prescribe you some baytril and a painkiller if it's bothering her, they might also be able to shave that area so you can clean it for her more easily.

Thanks for the replies!
She was taken to the vet today, and it is in fact an abscess. The vet gave us baytril to give her orally and told us to wash the abscess with warm water twice a day. Is this really a good idea, though? I was doubtful about washing it simply with warm water, but that's what the vet said. Would an oral antibiotic even help with an abscess either?

bonbons12 said:

Thanks for the replies!
She was taken to the vet today, and it is in fact an abscess. The vet gave us baytril to give her orally and told us to wash the abscess with warm water twice a day. Is this really a good idea, though? I was doubtful about washing it simply with warm water, but that's what the vet said. Would an oral antibiotic even help with an abscess either?

Click to expand...

Unfortumately it does not sound as though the Vet you saw is very 'Rabbit Savvy'. Did he/she mention that the abscess may be related to a Dental problem-ie a tooth root infection ? How deep is the abscess ? Did the Vet clean it out/debride it at all ? Just cleaning out the pus is not enough as the necrotic tissue will continue to produce bacteria and the abscess will just keep filling up. Hence all the necrotic tissue needs to be removed (debrided) and this is almost always done under GA.

Whilst Baytril is a good broad spectrum abx for treating some infections it is seldom very useful for the treatment of abscesses as the Baytril does not have sufficient tissue penetration. Other antibiotics or a combination of antibiotics are generally far more effective. Best practice would be to get a culture from a swab from the abscess wall (not just the pus). From the culture the specific bacteria involved can be identified and this enables the Vet to choose the antibiotic(s) to which the specific bacteria are sensitive. Whilst awaiting the swab result Baytril can be given as a general covering abx until a possibly better option is identified.

If the abscess is to be irrigated it is generally done with either a sterile saline solution or a specific wound cleaning solution diluted in cooled boiled water-eg F1O antiseptic solution

http://www.viovet.co.uk/F10_Biocare...zS-jlYuNCTqXRbk6e0EToVLmtNKeCWmHHIaAli78P8HAQ

Did the Vet prescribe an anti-inflammatory analgesic such as Metacam ? Pain and inflammation needs to be treated too.

There is some more detailed information about the treatment of abscesses in Rabbits on the following links

Some graphic images included

http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Skin_diseases/Bacterial/Abscess/skin_abscess.htm

http://wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/S/00dis/Bacterial/Abscessation_rabbits.htm


If you think your Vet may not be too clued up on Rabbits then you could ask for Vet recommendations in your area by starting a thread in 'Rabbit Chat' on here. If you are on the mainland UK more people are likely to be able to offer recommendations than if you are elsewhere on planet earth

Good luck, Rabbit abscesses do need aggressive treatment from the outset xx

Hello, thank you for all the information! The vet told me some pus on the wall of the abscess and said that he couldn't get it off because it would damage her muscle (the abscess is right under her mouth). When we took her last week there were brown clumps that he cut off. A week later, there is another big clump formed under the opening. Does anyone know what it is? It honestly looks like one of her pellets, but it doesn't soften with water and it won't come off! I don't know what rabbit scabs look like, but I'm assuming they aren't totally opaque and light brown.

bonbons12 said:

Hello, thank you for all the information! The vet told me some pus on the wall of the abscess and said that he couldn't get it off because it would damage her muscle (the abscess is right under her mouth). When we took her last week there were brown clumps that he cut off. A week later, there is another big clump formed under the opening. Does anyone know what it is? It honestly looks like one of her pellets, but it doesn't soften with water and it won't come off! I don't know what rabbit scabs look like, but I'm assuming they aren't totally opaque and light brown.

Click to expand...

You really do need to take your Rabbit back to a Vet for re-examination. If the abscess has closed over on top of all the remaining necrotic tissue it will simply form another abscess. This may actually track inwards and start to penetrate bone aswell as soft tissue.

Is your Vet 'Rabbit Savvy' ?

I would like to echo what has been said previously. Abscesses in the jaw area need more treatment - possibly surgery to clean it out or preferably remove the capsule, as well as the appropriate antibiotics (often an injectable penicillin based one - you can be shown how to do it at home), pain relief (eg metacam) and cleaning out (I use diluted hibiscrub). Manuka honey is useful to pack out the cleaned wound and helps it to heal. Use a high factor UMF honey (20+ if you can get it) and a 1ml syringe to fill the hole after it has been cleaned out. Mine were done twice a day. Don't worry if it drips out and gets eaten - it will still coat the surfaces inside. Clipping the fur round the area might make it all easier to see and keep clean.

I have had 2 rabbits with major jaw abscesses which have gone into the bone and received very prolonged treatment for the rest of their lives. I would recommend aggressive early treatment (probably for at least several weeks) so that the infection does not get that far. A rabbit specialist will have seen this before and will know how to treat it. Referal to a specialist may cost no more than your usual vet after the initial consultation and it is worth asking your vet about it - they will pass the medical notes on. Or you could ask on here for someone in your area and just book in as a new patient.