Need advice/info - Lumpy Jaw/Tooth issues

Hi I'm new here and new to owning rabbits. I bought my rabbit from a pet store (please dont judge he looked so sad and i thought i was doing the right thing bringing him home) When i got him home i notice a weeping sore on the side of his face, near his eye/base of his ear. The pet shop said it was an absess and he'd had medicine to fix it and it was getting better but if it got worse to let them know and they'd pay for his treatment.
A few days later it swelled up and started oozing puss (like toothpaste) Went to my vet she said it might be a tooth root absess and that his teeth were a little overgrown but not too bad. The pet shop referred me to one of their vets, who tonight, told me it could be lumpy jaw - which is a bacteria called corynebacterium, and if it is indeed that, there is nothing they can do about it and its also very contagious to other rabbits (i have a younger rabbit)
I've been trying to do some research on corynebacterium but I have been told it is not the same thing as lumpy jaw? To be honest i've come away from this vet feeling really scared for my bunny and confused by the info i have found online.
He has had several courses of antibiotics and it clears up the puss, but the tiny weeping hole remains on the side of his head. The vets took a swab tonight to find out for sure, and he is going back on Monday to be sedated and examined further, and possible surgery to remove the absess/fix his teeth.
Anyone who has had experience with this kind of thing, I would really appreciate some input. Is it normal for lump jaw to be so far up his face? is it usually on the bottom jaw? I have so many questions.

NibblesMuma said:

Hi I'm new here and new to owning rabbits. I bought my rabbit from a pet store (please dont judge he looked so sad and i thought i was doing the right thing bringing him home) When i got him home i notice a weeping sore on the side of his face, near his eye/base of his ear. The pet shop said it was an absess and he'd had medicine to fix it and it was getting better but if it got worse to let them know and they'd pay for his treatment.
A few days later it swelled up and started oozing puss (like toothpaste) Went to my vet she said it might be a tooth root absess and that his teeth were a little overgrown but not too bad. The pet shop referred me to one of their vets, who tonight, told me it could be lumpy jaw - which is a bacteria called corynebacterium, and if it is indeed that, there is nothing they can do about it and its also very contagious to other rabbits (i have a younger rabbit)
I've been trying to do some research on corynebacterium but I have been told it is not the same thing as lumpy jaw? To be honest i've come away from this vet feeling really scared for my bunny and confused by the info i have found online.
He has had several courses of antibiotics and it clears up the puss, but the tiny weeping hole remains on the side of his head. The vets took a swab tonight to find out for sure, and he is going back on Monday to be sedated and examined further, and possible surgery to remove the absess/fix his teeth.
Anyone who has had experience with this kind of thing, I would really appreciate some input. Is it normal for lump jaw to be so far up his face? is it usually on the bottom jaw? I have so many questions.

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Hello

Poor Bunny, it sounds as though he has a lot to cope with at the moment. But at least he has you advocating for him now.

Am I right in thinking that you are not in the UK ? I only ask as if you were/are we could maybe recommend a 'Rabbit Savvy' Vet in your area. Unfortunately not all Vets are very clued up about Rabbits.

With regards to the abscess, it could be tooth root related, possibly an infection in an elongated root of an upper molar. But it could be an abscess that developed as a result of external trauma such as a bite from fighting with another Rabbit. Ear base abscesses are another common problem, especially in lop eared Rabbits. Without being able to see the exact location of your Rabbit's abscess it is only possible to speculate what may be going on.

Did the Vet take skull radiographs to look at the tooth roots and for evidence of abscesses ? I have no idea why the Vet may think that the bacteria involved is Cornybacterium, it is certainly not a common finding in pet Rabbits

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

The only way to accurately identify the strain of bacteria involved is for swabs to be taken for culture and sensitivity testing. So hopefully the swab taken today will shed a bit more light on things.

Rabbit abscesses can be a real challenge to treat, especially those related to tooth root problems. However, there are a lot of treatment options to try. Surgical removal of the entire abscess capsule and also removal of the offending tooth/tooth root may be what your Vet is intending to do. Hopefully preceded by skull radiographs if they have not already been done. Aggressive antibiotic therapy would then be needed, often for several weeks/months. The choice of antibiotic being based on the findings from C+S testing. The abscess cavity may be left partly open to allow daily irrigation of the wound and packing it with either medical grade manuka honey or intrasite gel mixed with an appropriate antibiotic. Good analgesic cover is also essential.

I hope that the Vet can help your Rabbit and although it may take some time that he will eventually make a good recovery.

Hi. Thank you so much fro your reply. I am not in UK, I am in Perth, Western Australia.
My vet suggested exactly what you have. swabs, x-rays, removal of abscess pocket and tooth and possibly filing down of other overgrown teeth.
However, I am dealing with the pet shop owner who has agreed to pay for his treatment and she sent me to the cheapest vet around. I'm sure she had no idea his little abscess was going to be such a big deal when she agreed to pay for anything just so she could sell him to me.
He also has milky yellow urine which leave a white powdery residue. No doubt from poor diet in the pet shop. He was fed chaff with nuts and grains which was labelled guinea pig/rabbit mix. I have since changed his diet once i got him home to grass hay and fresh vegetables (the ones that are not high in calcium).
He only got a carrot and a broccolli every couple of days in the pet shop and the only hay he had, was in his litter box. He was my first rabbit so i didn't know when i bought him how poor his conditions were. I am going to be advising the pet shop owner that the vet she sent me to was not a rabbit specialist like my vet suggested and request he been seen by a proper rabbit vet for the best fighting chance. You have put my mind at ease somewhat, as i was very concerned for him and my other rabbit after seeing her vet tonight. Thank you again!

EDIT: i can also include a pic of the abscess once i figure out how to. It's kind of in between his eye and the base of his ear. Ill find a pic.

Hi :wave: I just wanted to wish you & your bunny all the best with your vet app. A good vet makes all the difference. He is lucky to have found you. Keep us posted. And welcome to RU

joey&boo said:

Hi :wave: I just wanted to wish you & your bunny all the best with your vet app. A good vet makes all the difference. He is lucky to have found you. Keep us posted. And welcome to RU

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thanks so much ^^

Details of how to post photos here:

http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/showthread.php?136183-Tutorial-How-to-Post-Photos

NibblesMuma said:

Hi I'm new here and new to owning rabbits. I bought my rabbit from a pet store (please dont judge he looked so sad and i thought i was doing the right thing bringing him home) When i got him home i notice a weeping sore on the side of his face, near his eye/base of his ear. The pet shop said it was an absess and he'd had medicine to fix it and it was getting better but if it got worse to let them know and they'd pay for his treatment.
A few days later it swelled up and started oozing puss (like toothpaste) Went to my vet she said it might be a tooth root absess and that his teeth were a little overgrown but not too bad. The pet shop referred me to one of their vets, who tonight, told me it could be lumpy jaw - which is a bacteria called corynebacterium, and if it is indeed that, there is nothing they can do about it and its also very contagious to other rabbits (i have a younger rabbit)
I've been trying to do some research on corynebacterium but I have been told it is not the same thing as lumpy jaw? To be honest i've come away from this vet feeling really scared for my bunny and confused by the info i have found online.
He has had several courses of antibiotics and it clears up the puss, but the tiny weeping hole remains on the side of his head. The vets took a swab tonight to find out for sure, and he is going back on Monday to be sedated and examined further, and possible surgery to remove the absess/fix his teeth.
Anyone who has had experience with this kind of thing, I would really appreciate some input. Is it normal for lump jaw to be so far up his face? is it usually on the bottom jaw? I have so many questions.

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Welcome to the Forum :wave: and I'm sorry you have had to come along with a problem with your little one!

You have obviously informed yourself on bunny abscesses. I also understand that if the pet shop is paying for his treatment, they will do it the cheapest way. Here in the UK we often use injectable penicillins for abscesses, as it has a good penetration. You may or may not get a culture from the abscess wound, but that shouldn't stop the vet from forging ahead with treatment.

What I would say, is you really need (as Joey&Boo said) a *really* good vet. Now if the pet shop isn't willing to pay for that, can you strike a deal whereby they pay the 'cheap vet' price and you subsidise the other bit to see a specialist? I have treated rabbit abscesses with nothing more than exceptional nursing care and penicillin (always injected, never by mouth) - it isn't always necessary or advisable to have the bunny undergo an operation to remove the abscess capsule.

I don't know whether that's at all a viable proposition for you, but whatever you decide, I am so glad you got this little bunny out of the Pet Shop! Bless you