Jaw abscess prognosis.UD Milly doing well:)

My Milly has just been diagnosed with this problem.Shes had the molar out which was affected.I spoke to a lady who used to run a rabbit rescue yesterday and her thoughts were that prognosis was very poor and pts was on the cards as we would have no chance of destroying the infection and it would keep cropping up.

Milly has already been through a dreadful 12 months with her husbun Harry being very poorly and then being pts.She had to accompany him to the vets weekly and had to stay with him in hospital for 11 weeks when he was very poorly.Her patience never wained.She was a wonderful nurse to him.With hindsight I wouldn't have put him through so much but I was promised a "cure"by a so called exotic specialist vets.

I don't want to make the same mistake again.Im confused and distraught.

Shes suffered so much already and the rescue lady said she will be in dreadful pain and always put rabbits to sleep when these problems first began so they wouldn't suffer.I really don't know what to do for the best.Millys new bond broke down and im certain it was because Milly couldn't groom her new husbun due to the pain in her mouth eventually causing her to stop which upset him.If shes going to have this problem long term she may have to live alone which she really doesn't like.

Please could I have some advice?Has anyone had experience of this?

Milly is on Metacam for her pain and will see a vet again on Tuesday.Shes very quiet though and I know could have already been in pain for some time before this was detected but recent stresses have exasperated the problem.

It's really difficult to say without having medical knowledge and seeing the radiographs etc.

When Erin was diagnosed with a jaw abscess two years ago I was really shocked and distressed to be told that the infection had gone into the bone as I thought this was 'the end' albeit perhaps slow and painful, gradual etc. When I discussed this finding with our vet (Frances Harcourt-Brown) she said that she fully expected the infection to be in the bone and not to be alarmed by the news. Erin also had the offending tooth removed. The only issue Erin had was for the first year the tooth opposing the missing one didn't wear properly and formed a spur which needed attending to. That happened 3 times and has adjusted now. *touches wood* one year on she was said to be clear of all problems associated with this... two years on nothing has reoccurred.

Unless your vet has given a poor prognosis regarding the spread of the infection it *might*not be half as grim as it sounds.

Oh no, poor Milly


Sorry, I do not have time to type out a long reply atm, will pop back later

But this thread may give you some idea of what can occur :

http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/s...p-news-post-372-Nena-s-jaw-tooth-root-abscess

Oh thankyou Bunny Buddy.She was so dismissive about it and was almost saying it would be unkind to keep trying.I was just:shock:Milly is seeing my rabbit savvy vet on Tuesday-we couldnt get there last Thursday so I had to use a local vet instead who are good but not rabbit savvy.They painted a grim picture and because I knew we would see my rabbit savvy vet on Tuesday I tried not to worry too much but after speaking to the rescue lady I thought maybe things really were looking bleak.
Having had to fight a horrible ear infection last year with my bridge bunny Harry I just though OMG not again!

Jack's-Jane said:

Oh no, poor Milly


Sorry, I do not have time to type out a long reply atm, will pop back later

But this thread may give you some idea of what can occur :

http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/s...p-news-post-372-Nena-s-jaw-tooth-root-abscess

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Thankyou very much for this Jane.xx

hoppetylop said:

My Milly has just been diagnosed with this problem.Shes had the molar out which was affected.I spoke to a lady who used to run a rabbit rescue yesterday and her thoughts were that prognosis was very poor and pts was on the cards as we would have no chance of destroying the infection and it would keep cropping up.

Milly has already been through a dreadful 12 months with her husbun Harry being very poorly and then being pts.She had to accompany him to the vets weekly and had to stay with him in hospital for 11 weeks when he was very poorly.Her patience never wained.She was a wonderful nurse to him.With hindsight I wouldn't have put him through so much but I was promised a "cure"by a so called exotic specialist vets.

I don't want to make the same mistake again.Im confused and distraught.

Shes suffered so much already and the rescue lady said she will be in dreadful pain and always put rabbits to sleep when these problems first began so they wouldn't suffer.I really don't know what to do for the best.Millys new bond broke down and im certain it was because Milly couldn't groom her new husbun due to the pain in her mouth eventually causing her to stop which upset him.If shes going to have this problem long term she may have to live alone which she really doesn't like.

Please could I have some advice?Has anyone had experience of this?

Milly is on Metacam for her pain and will see a vet again on Tuesday.Shes very quiet though and I know could have already been in pain for some time before this was detected but recent stresses have exasperated the problem.

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I'm so very very sorry to read this

My first case of a rabbit with osteomyelitis was about 20 years ago. Injectables were only just beginning to be used on rabbits, and there were very few vets knowledgeable enough (in my area anyway) to take on a case.

I persisted with treatment, and also enlisted the help of homeopathy and herbs (I kept a great long diary of everything I used and how well it worked!) and suffice it to say, he was one year old when he was diagnosed and I let him go when he was nearing his tenth birthday, from a completely unrelated cause :thumb:

Rabbit medicine and surgery has advanced apace since then. I would always give a bunny a fighting chance if at all possible

I have had 2 rabbits in the same position. Both had any surgery that was appropriate at FHBs. Then they were on long-term (ie forever) streptacare antibiotic injections (one was daily, the other twice a week) and oral metacam. Other routine dentals to keep the other teeth from overgrowing were carried out at my regular vet as required. Both had a good quality of life up until the last day when the infections just took over very suddenly. They were given normal food in any format that they were able to eat (ie. grated veg, moistened pellets, leaves on branches, syringe fed if needed) and weight was monitored weekly. Weight loss was a good indicator that more routine dental work was needed and they bounced back again. I think each of them got about an extra 18 months with lots of TLC and hands on treatment. They regularly lost bits of jawbone or teeth but carried on regardless. They did need more grooming round the rear end fur as they couldn't do it all themselves.

Although they had partners, it was easier to keep their food intake up and monitor output if they were separate during most of the day (ie in separate runs). The bonds were fine and they did benefit from having a partner, eg for extra grooming and warmth.

Anyone casually looking in on either of them would not have known how serious their condition was. Both had half a lower jaw very badly damaged through abscess / infection. I always knew it was unlikely to be curable, although both were different causes. If you can keep them happy, eating and the infection from spreading too far, it can be worth keeping going if you are able to provide and afford the ongoing treatment. The basic for mine was a bottle of streptacare and dog metacam a month, with syringes and needles.

I would suggest discussing trying some x-rays, basic surgery, appropriate antibiotics (probably penicillin based - not baytril) and decent pain relief (probably more than base level doses) for a couple of weeks and see how it goes. Just adjusting the metacam dose can make a difference. Seeing a specialist who has lots of experience in jaw abscesses can make a big difference and needn't cost more than treatment at your regular vet. If bunny is still losing weight and is obviously not happy, you need to discuss options with your vet.

My first house bunny Angel had this, the vet local to us gave up pretty quickly which was when I discovered Dr Frances Harcourt-Brown who made her wholly better again - she never had another abscess. Good luck with your bun

Thankyou very much everyone,i really appreciate your posts and help.I don't feel so overwhelmed.I already have a recently rescued dental bun{maybe I should bond them?!)before I knew Milly had problems but I will do my absolute best for both of them.Fortunately the other bun,Bruce doesn't have an abscess but his teeth are all over the place.
Its so often a learning curve with bunnies

hoppetylop said:

Thankyou very much everyone,i really appreciate your posts and help.I don't feel so overwhelmed.I already have a recently rescued dental bun{maybe I should bond them?!)before I knew Milly had problems but I will do my absolute best for both of them.Fortunately the other bun,Bruce doesn't have an abscess but his teeth are all over the place.
Its so often a learning curve with bunnies

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It's a steep learning curve for you at the moment Hoppetylop ...... I think you are a brilliant bun slave with all the rabbits you take on and how conscientiously you care for them. You deserve a medal for trying so hard and loving so much

My Rosie had a tooth root absess with the tooth removed. The tooth did grow back. My vet treated her with depocillin injections for around 3 months every other day which we had to be shown how to do also. Nearly a year and a half later Rosie is doing great. Don't give up hope and if u aren't happy with ur vets try and find a better one.

MightyMax said:

It's a steep learning curve for you at the moment Hoppetylop ...... I think you are a brilliant bun slave with all the rabbits you take on and how conscientiously you care for them. You deserve a medal for trying so hard and loving so much

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That's very kind of you MightyMax.I think all us bunslaves have our work cut out at times.They are such lovely animals though which is why we do it xx

nickybunny1 said:

My Rosie had a tooth root absess with the tooth removed. The tooth did grow back. My vet treated her with depocillin injections for around 3 months every other day which we had to be shown how to do also. Nearly a year and a half later Rosie is doing great. Don't give up hope and if u aren't happy with ur vets try and find a better one.

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That's great news nickybunny1.
My rabbit savvy vet is brilliant but hes 45 minutes away and so sometimes I have to use a local vet as backup if I need urgent help.They are ok but have the usual non rabbit savvy limitations!!!

I empathize with your vet dilemma, hoppetylop, dealing with it right now with Fiver. Different issue to you, but the frustration and indecision is there all the same and when you've had past experience of someone telling you something can be fixed and it didn't work out that way, you are doubly cautious. Totally understandable.
I have no experience with abscesses in rabbits, but of course wish you all the best in whatever you decide for Milly. I know you care deeply for your bunnies and they are truly in wonderful hands with you. ((((((((((((((Huge hugs)))))))))))))) xxxx

Thankyou MimzMum.Thats a very kind post.xx

Just a little update on Milly.
Her initial diagnosis and molar extraction was at my local vet as I was concerned about her and went there first.Her rabbit savvy vet is 45 minutes away and I wanted her to be seen quickly and was given an appointment straight away with the intention of going to her rabbit savvy day as soon as she was well enough to travel.I took her 3 days later.He felt that she could be doing better and so she was booked to have the jaw "marsupialsed" the following day.The surgery involved a small hole made from the abscess through her jaw and out underneath her jaw line.This is to drain the pus constantly collecting in the molar extraction site.I have to syringe the hole with saline solution from the hole under he jaw line twice a day and of course keep the hole clean.She is also on Penicillin and injectable Marbocyl instead of the prescribed Baytril from the other vet.Shes on "upper end"doses of Metacam twice a day too.Shes definitely more comfortable and eating quite well.
Im proud of how shes coping.Shes an absolute star.

Wish I had known what the problem was and taken her to my rabbit savvy vet in the first place but it was tricky at the time.

I'm glad to hear that things are looking up for Milly. They can be quite the little troopers, can't they?
((((((((((((((((More healing vibes))))))))))))))) xxxx

I am glad to hear that Milly is coping well with the treatment. I really hope that the infection can be contained or better still that it may be resolved xx

Thankyou both.Shes uncomfortable today.Im probably going to take her to see the local emergency vet to get her "wound"checked.She doesn't like mornings though because that's injection and wound flush time.:roll:We get it all over and done with first thing and then its just wound flush later.The only up side to her is yummy Metacam!
I will see how she goes over the next hour or two.

hoppetylop said:

Thankyou both.Shes uncomfortable today.Im probably going to take her to see the local emergency vet to get her "wound"checked.She doesn't like mornings though because that's injection and wound flush time.:roll:We get it all over and done with first thing and then its just wound flush later.The only up side to her is yummy Metacam!
I will see how she goes over the next hour or two.

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Do you give her the Metacam an hour or so before you do the wound flush ? It can be useful to do that so the anti-inflammatory/analgesic effect has kicked in before you have to mess with the wound.