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Teeth abscess - update 17/08/15

Kim_perkins

Kim_perkins

Mama Doe
So lovely RU, my beautiful candy has a massive lump under her chin, in about to get her to the vets, she's a notorious dental bun (Spurs on molars) but hasn't had treatment for almost a year so now I'm thinking she's been hiding her pain and its lead to this?

She's 3 years old now, she's other wise fine her weight has dropped a little as well, I've always carefully watch her eat and she's still been interested. What's people's experience on them? It's quite big I'm worried it's something more sinister now :'(


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Poor Candy! & you. I've had dental abscesses with 2 bunnies in the past. They can get massive really quickly. Both my bunnies ate through them, one was 2 decades ago & the details are very sketchy. Angel was repeatedly back with a reoccurring abscess to her regular vet who then refused to treat any more - thats when I found a rabbit specialist who addressed it all & it didn't return. Noodle (who was poorly throughout her life) developed one at 7 years. It was at Christmas & I took her to another local vet who made a right mess of it & I then had to take her to a bunny specialist to sort it out. What I'm trying to say is that, in my experience, this is one of those times when a rabbit savvy vet or specialist is really important.

The vet I took Noodle to initially left antibiotic beads in her abscess that was left open (& not very well cleaned) which was a super risky move as the beads are really dangerous if ingested :(

I hope the appointment goes well
 
Oh god! My bunny is so strong she had a massive bladder stone removed over a year ago and surprised everyone by pulling through and has had about 10 dentals! Our vet specialises in exotics - rabbits included so I really hope it can be sorted!
 
Kim_perkins said:
Oh god! My bunny is so strong she had a massive bladder stone removed over a year ago and surprised everyone by pulling through and has had about 10 dentals! Our vet specialises in exotics - rabbits included so I really hope it can be sorted!
Click to expand...


So do I. Don't despair though. They are undoubtedly tricky but both my bunnies recovered completely. Home care can be a little gory & a lot smelly but you get used to it.
She has already shown her fighting spirit & strength - that will serve her well
 
Kim_perkins said:
So lovely RU, my beautiful candy has a massive lump under her chin, in about to get her to the vets, she's a notorious dental bun (Spurs on molars) but hasn't had treatment for almost a year so now I'm thinking she's been hiding her pain and its lead to this?

She's 3 years old now, she's other wise fine her weight has dropped a little as well, I've always carefully watch her eat and she's still been interested. What's people's experience on them? It's quite big I'm worried it's something more sinister now :'(
Click to expand...

Hi Kim

You have a good vet and that's more than half the battle!

I've treated many rabbits with abscesses - your vet may have their way of doing things, depending on the rabbit's health and how much you can afford.

Abscesses can be excised and the bone debrided, or lanced and drained and packed with Manuka Honey. (Twice daily cleaning by you).

Penicillin injections are often given (every day, or every other day) for quite a while. Rabbits now have a good prognosis, in my experience :D
 
In my experience, see a vet who specialises in this type of thing in rabbits. Get x-rays done. Assuming it is an abscess, operate to remove as much of the abscess as possible. There may be an open hole to clean out / pack with manuka honey once or twice a day. Other treatment would be a penicillin type antibiotic by SC injection (varied from daily to twice a week), and daily oral NSAID type pain relief / anti-inflammatory for as long as needed (weeks or months).

I had 2 rabbits with really bad jaw abscesses. They lost teeth and bits of jaw bone (it fell out) but carried on as normal for over a year each on this regime. As long as they could eat, they were fine. I just adjusted the food to things they could manage, eg different shape pellets, soaked pellets, grated veg, cut up grass, hung leaves in bunches so they could get to them more easily, etc. Mine were worst case scenarios under FHB. Most jaw abscesses are much more manageable or curable, although the general procedures start out the same.
 
So candy has recovered well from the surgery her teeth weren't too bad - which I'm pleased about because it means the diet I've had her on the last year has worked as well as I'd hoped.

The abscess went right into the bone :(
The vet has stressed its very nasty; she's left with an open wound which was mentioned by others on here (I'll find out more when I go to the vets later) but she has to go in every other day for antibiroic injections, that's all I know at the moment.

I'm thinking the worst and feel like this is soon to be it :(
 
Kim_perkins said:
So candy has recovered well from the surgery her teeth weren't too bad - which I'm pleased about because it means the diet I've had her on the last year has worked as well as I'd hoped.

The abscess went right into the bone :(
The vet has stressed its very nasty; she's left with an open wound which was mentioned by others on here (I'll find out more when I go to the vets later) but she has to go in every other day for antibiroic injections, that's all I know at the moment.

I'm thinking the worst and feel like this is soon to be it :(
Click to expand...

I'm never despondent about rabbits abscesses, and I've seen some absolutely nasty ones :shock:

Would you be able to do the injections at home, every other day?

Penicillin penetrates the bone and can eradicate abscesses. What reason to fear the worst?
 
If have no problems injecting her but I don't know if they will let me? I inject my daughter daily I'm sure I could master a bunny ;)

I just worry, my vet is very black and white she has said candy is one of the most robust rabbits she's treated given all she's been through, but any thing tooth related with them I just think that's a one way ticket to death! ... I'm so morbid!

Worried it won't respond and will be a reoccurring problem.
 
I'm glad she is through her op. Angels abscess was huge & ate in to her jaw bone - she was completely cured. It will look nasty but not forever. I'm hopeful for her. Best wishes to you both
 
I gave Ginger penecillin injections for the space of about 3 weeks, your vet should be able to show you how - they can let you do a test with some sterile water, its how i was taught. No reason not to.
 
Kim_perkins said:
If have no problems injecting her but I don't know if they will let me? I inject my daughter daily I'm sure I could master a bunny ;)

I just worry, my vet is very black and white she has said candy is one of the most robust rabbits she's treated given all she's been through, but any thing tooth related with them I just think that's a one way ticket to death! ... I'm so morbid!

Worried it won't respond and will be a reoccurring problem.
Click to expand...

Then you will have no problems injecting :D

I have had rabbits on daily injections for the first few weeks, and then a couple of months on every other day. You need to bash it hard in the early stages.

Nooooo ... don't listen to a negative vet! You've fought bigger battles than this, and are still winning :wave:
 
Hope Candy is ok. We are going through the same with Blossom at the moment. It is very stressful isn't it?

I am injecting him every other day and it is fairly manageable. He wont let us anywhere near his wound though. We wrap him up, put him on various surfaces, leave him unwrapped, on the floor, in his favourite cupboard - nothing works. He bucks and fights us every which way If ever I had to any more than just dab it with a cotton pad to make sure he is clean then there is no way we could.

I hope Candy is a little more helpful to you in the maintaining!! ;) :?

Take care. xx
 
I've got her home now and I must say I wasn't quite prepared for the state she would be in?!

She looks like she's been butchered :(
 
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