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Rabbit abscess in nasal passage conflicting vet opinions - please help

Chloex20

New Kit
Hi this is my first post, I am hoping to find someone who has gone through this who can advise me. Radley is my 4 year old mini lop. He's always been very healthy. About 2 months ago my little man had a milky eye and nose we bathed it and tried to keep it clean but decided to take him into the vets when this didn't help and we walked out with eye drops - these did nothing so we went back and he had his tear duct flushed. within a couple of days he was even worse, thick white gunk all around his eye and nose. So I took him back again and we were given loxicom and baytril to give him orally for a week. It was during this week that an abscess was noticable on the side of his face, between his nose and his eye but closer to his nose. He finished his medicine and I took him back to the vets today - she took one look at his abscess and said she could operate but it was risky and very unfair on him given its position being close to nerves etc. she said it would probably come back anyway and the best option was to euthanasie him. We then went to a different vets, and she didn't even mention the idea of putting him down, she suggested another week of baytril (higher dose) and if it doesn't go then to operate. My dilemma is that I have been given two completely different opinions and I want what is best for Radley, I don't want to embark him on a stressful journey full of operation after operation etc but equally he's eating fine he's happy he's running around... Has anyone expirenced this?
 
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Hello

I am very sorry to hear of Radley's problems. I think the first Vet may have been a bit hasty in suggesting PTS, especially given that nothing has been done to ascertain the exact extent of the abscess- ie taking skull radiographs to assess the sinuses, the tooth roots and if there is evidence of infection in the bone (osteomyelitis). Treatment options cannot be fully known until the precise nature of the abscess is looked into.

Abscesses in Rabbits can be a big challenge to treat, BUT they are not always an immediate death sentence. If I were you I would want a very Rabbit savvy Vet on board from the outset. Sadly not all Vets have much more than the very basic knowledge about Rabbits and it can be very frustrating. If you can give a rough idea of the area you are in we could probably make some suggestions of good 'Rabbit Vets' to consult. Having a really good Vet from the start is a real benefit when dealing with Rabbit abscesses.
 
Hello

I am very sorry to hear of Radley's problems. I think the first Vet may have been a bit hasty in suggesting PTS, especially given that nothing has been done to ascertain the exact extent of the abscess- ie taking skull radiographs to assess the sinuses, the tooth roots and if there is evidence of infection in the bone (osteomyelitis). Treatment options cannot be fully known until the precise nature of the abscess is looked into.

Abscesses in Rabbits can be a big challenge to treat, BUT they are not always an immediate death sentence. If I were you I would want a very Rabbit savvy Vet on board from the outset. Sadly not all Vets have much more than the very basic knowledge about Rabbits and it can be very frustrating. If you can give a rough idea of the area you are in we could probably make some suggestions of good 'Rabbit Vets' to consult. Having a really good Vet from the start is a real benefit when dealing with Rabbit abscesses.

Hi jack's Jane thank you for replying quickly. My area is Oxfordshire, if you or anyone know of rabbit savvy vets around here or Berkshire (willing to travel) that would be amazing. I'm not particularly happy with either vet because obviously one wanted to put radley down there and then, and the other dismissed us with baytril quite quickly.
 
Hi jack's Jane thank you for replying quickly. My area is Oxfordshire, if you or anyone know of rabbit savvy vets around here or Berkshire (willing to travel) that would be amazing. I'm not particularly happy with either vet because obviously one wanted to put radley down there and then, and the other dismissed us with baytril quite quickly.

There's Great Western Exotics in Swindon, that's about 1 and a half hours by car though

http://www.gwexotics.com/

Chipping Norton Veterinary Hospital-I have no first hand experience of this one, but it may be worth checking out

http://www.chippingnortonvets.co.uk/about/different

I'll post a thread in 'Rabbit Chat' asking for Rabbit Savvy Vet recommendations in/near Oxfordshire

ETA- This is the thread, if you keep a check on it hopefully some RU members in your locality will be able to help

http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/s...-in-or-Near-OXFORDSHIRE&p=6580495#post6580495
 
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Hi this is my first post, I am hoping to find someone who has gone through this who can advise me. Radley is my 4 year old mini lop. He's always been very healthy. About 2 months ago my little man had a milky eye and nose we bathed it and tried to keep it clean but decided to take him into the vets when this didn't help and we walked out with eye drops - these did nothing so we went back and he had his tear duct flushed. within a couple of days he was even worse, thick white gunk all around his eye and nose. So I took him back again and we were given loxicom and baytril to give him orally for a week. It was during this week that an abscess was noticable on the side of his face, between his nose and his eye but closer to his nose. He finished his medicine and I took him back to the vets today - she took one look at his abscess and said she could operate but it was risky and very unfair on him given its position being close to nerves etc. she said it would probably come back anyway and the best option was to euthanasie him. We then went to a different vets, and she didn't even mention the idea of putting him down, she suggested another week of baytril (higher dose) and if it doesn't go then to operate. My dilemma is that I have been given two completely different opinions and I want what is best for Radley, I don't want to embark him on a stressful journey full of operation after operation etc but equally he's eating fine he's happy he's running around... Has anyone expirenced this?

Hi there :wave:

Welcome to the Forum and I'm sorry your first post is a sad one about your little man Radley.

From what you have told me, the first vet seems a bit premature to immediately suggest PTS. However, this is very common amongst vets who've not experienced abscesses, and I've come across it quite a lot over the years.

Your second vet suggested Baytril for an abscess, and of course I'm not a vet, but in my experience (and on the advice of my own vet) it is unlikely to do anything much. Abscesses wall themselves off and need specific antibiotics to penetrate ... Baytril unfortunately doesn't do this.

If this were my little man I would firstly find a vet who has dealt with abscesses before. Ring around local vets, post on here in Rabbit Chat with the title ..... Rabbit Savvy vet needed asap in Oxfordshire (or what's closest to you).

Then I would research rabbit abscesses online for yourself, and think seriously about having some X-rays of your rabbit's skull. See what the reaction is of the vets you contact and make a decision. There's no need to jump for the first option the vet suggests - but you already know this!

Lots of good luck xxx
 
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I'm glad you've come here :) I hope that you can find a decent vet who can help.

It's very different, but I had a rabbit with a lower jaw swelling, and it was massive... two and a half years on his jaw is back to normal, and whilst he will remain on antibiotics for the rest of his life, he's happy and ok (and he will likely lose his life due to cancer, as opposed to abscess). We did this with Crystapen (Penicillin), as well as Metacam and Tramadol, and after about 8 months, when it was flat and the infection had gone, we switched to Metronidazole and Baytril to maintain the status quo. So, whilst it's different from your poor chap, there is hope, in general, for abscesses (even without surgery- he never once had surgery on his abscess).

Good luck. :) Please do keep us updated.
 
Defiantly recommend Neil Forbes at great western referrals in Swindon! Absolutely brilliant vet and team! They are all exoctic specialists!

Really hope someone can help your little man! Xx
 
I'm glad you've come here :) I hope that you can find a decent vet who can help.

It's very different, but I had a rabbit with a lower jaw swelling, and it was massive... two and a half years on his jaw is back to normal, and whilst he will remain on antibiotics for the rest of his life, he's happy and ok (and he will likely lose his life due to cancer, as opposed to abscess). We did this with Crystapen (Penicillin), as well as Metacam and Tramadol, and after about 8 months, when it was flat and the infection had gone, we switched to Metronidazole and Baytril to maintain the status quo. So, whilst it's different from your poor chap, there is hope, in general, for abscesses (even without surgery- he never once had surgery on his abscess).

Good luck. :) Please do keep us updated.

Yes I will second this .... :thumb:
 
Not sure which part of Oxfordshire you are in but I go to Ark House vets in Leighton buzzard; http://www.arkhousevets.co.uk They were recommended to me by someone on this forum and are recommended by the RWAF. They have been fantastic so far. I really hope you find a good vet to help you and your bun.
 
Thank you all so much for the support and help. I'll be calling up a couple of these tomorrow and keep you posted!
 
Update Radley had an operation to remove the abscess yesterday afternoon. I found a vets near by who had a surgeon on their team who had a good deal of experience with rabbit patients! We've got to inject his wound with menuka honey each day and give him penicillin injections too. He was very dopey when we collected him but today he's back to normal - scooting about, purring and eating everything!! I couldn't be happier with his progress. The vets did say that his abscess could come back if was originally caused by root rot - but that the pencillin could fix this if that was the problem. She said she did check his teeth and they seemed okay though. He's got a follow up appt today and another Monday as the first 48hrs are critical. I will follow up with some pictures when I can! Thank you all so much, really glad I stumbled upon this forum!
 
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Update Radley had an operation to remove the abscess yesterday afternoon. I found a vets near by who had a surgeon on their team who had a good deal of experience with rabbit patients! We've got to inject his wound with menuka honey each day and give him penicillin injections too. He was very dopey when we collected him but today he's back to normal - scooting about, purring and eating everything!! I couldn't be happier with his progress. The vets did say that his abscess could come back if was originally caused by root rot - but that the pencillin could fix this if that was the problem. She said she did check his teeth and they seemed okay though. He's got a follow up appt today and another Monday as the first 48hrs are critical. I will follow up with some pictures when I can! Thank you all so much, really glad I stumbled upon this forum!

It's all sounding very good so far !! I am glad to hear how quickly Radley has bounced back from his op xx
 
Update Radley had an operation to remove the abscess yesterday afternoon. I found a vets near by who had a surgeon on their team who had a good deal of experience with rabbit patients! We've got to inject his wound with menuka honey each day and give him penicillin injections too. He was very dopey when we collected him but today he's back to normal - scooting about, purring and eating everything!! I couldn't be happier with his progress. The vets did say that his abscess could come back if was originally caused by root rot - but that the pencillin could fix this if that was the problem. She said she did check his teeth and they seemed okay though. He's got a follow up appt today and another Monday as the first 48hrs are critical. I will follow up with some pictures when I can! Thank you all so much, really glad I stumbled upon this forum!

Wow this is a magnificent update :wave: I'm so glad you found someone who knew what they were doing and could also advise on good follow up too.

Many Many Vibes for Radley's continuing progress and good fortune :thumb:
 
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