Newby, 2years 5moths old fighting with abscess

Hi There Bunny Moms and Dads

I have a little 2 years 6 months old mixed breed rabbit. Her name is Ran, not neutered living freely in the room. She is very self confident, has her own will, such a character.

Sadly, she was diagnosed with abscess 6 weeks ago. The first sign was she stopped eating (2 months ago) and we run to the vet immediately (she lost 0.2 kg). But that time our vet was on holiday and the 'replacement' had no clue about rabbits so with a wrong diagnose and 4 different medicines (£60) she sent us home. Ran started to eat a bit, only soft pellet food and banana. So we had to wait. And the bulge appeared. Finally our vet was back and she did the biopsy. Ran had the firs operation right after we got back the result of the example. It was a huge lump on the right side of her face just under the jaw. There was a lot to clean out. After recovery we had to take her back every day to clean it and she got medicines (Metacam, Baytrill, and some Emeprid during recovery). Everyday opening the wound, flushing, squeezing, and pocking with the cotton buds. But after 1 week it was impossible to clean out and poor Ran couldn't take the treatment too. They had to do another operation with an X-ray this time. Unfortunately the X-ray did not show any sign of tooth problem and the abscess reached the bone. (X-ray for cats and dogs is not good enough for rabbits). Because the 1st operation was only 1 week before the 2nd, we agreed that the vet did not make her to sleep so deep. She was on drugs but half awake while she had a deep cleaning. We got her back in terrible condition (lost another 0.3 kg). The right side of her face was swollen, huge and she had terrible pain. She refused to eat. We tried everything to force feed her with the recovery food. Before that (1st operation) she ate at least a piece of banana. But that time she gave up. Me and my girlfriend crashed and were sobbing in front of Ran. It took her a bit to realize and get herself together. She looked at us and went to eat hay. HAY, she did not eat hay for 2-3 weeks. So bit by bit she got stronger and tried to eat a lot. First only hay, some bananas. I put water on her pellet food make it soak and soft. She ate them all. She gained back her weight slowly. Till we had our morning visits by our vet who did everything to save her, clean her wound. Ran got used to the treatment more or less though it's still painful for her (God bless Metacam). My girlfriend had her reiki course years ago, but she tried. She tried to give energy and heal Ran. On the other hand we got more energy from a friend faraway. There was no option for another operation as the last one almost killed her. Last week we turned to an animal healer as extra help. Ran got some herbs to eat and more energy.
Our vet talked to specialists and also negotiated to get Ran a free special 3D X-ray. For half price they gonna do it (because she is the first rabbit going under 3d X-ray), but that means another anesthesia . Now she is away until Thursday and we have to keep Ran in a good condition and ofc clean the abscess. On Thursday she is back and can make the operation for Ran, first the 3d X-ray and IF the tooth is the causer remove it. If not that, then simply continue with her treatment.

I hope I can get some advice what else I can do for poor Ran.
We flush her wound (antiseptic) everyday but it seems the pus is less liquid more paste and just impossible to get it out. With the cotton buds we try too, but hard to get out the stuff as it's like a pocket with small open hole. How do you fish out paste with that round tool?
Is there anything we can make the flushing more effective? herb tea maybe?
I heard about the manuka honey not long ago, so I ordered if that helps.
we have 4 days to survive...

Sorry you and Ran are going through this, I'm a week into treatment with my 3 year old Dutch x lion head. I'm not sure if be able to wait till Thursday they are pretty nasty and can take hold very quick. Manuka honey is brilliant stuff, my vet prescribed that and to clean the wound twice a day, the pack out with honey, I also take her back every other day for injections and a deeper clean. The injections Are much more powerful and help eradicate infection in the jaw bone ( candy's had gone through to the bone.
She stopped eating and went into stasis so had to get the vets to give her a gut stimulant and I was having to syringe feed every 3 hours or so until finally yesterday after almost a week she has started to take small steps to eat herself.

I don't have much advice to offer I'm afraid, what your bun has gone through sounds terrible of the vet who is not your usual. But as I say I'd be tempted to find another rabbit savvy vet before Thursday I couldn't let my rabbit suffer and through fear it would be too late. Good luck with it, fingers crossed. And I know others will have some great advice for you.

Poor Bunny, jaw abscesses can be very nasty It is unlikely that Baytril (the antibiotic) will be of much use for treating a jaw abscess, usually an injectable antibiotic such as Depocillin is essential. It is best to base the choice of antibiotic on the results of culture and sensitivity testing from a swab taken from the abscess wall. This can identify the exact type(s) of bacteria involved and the antibiotic(s) said bacteria are sensitive to.

Additional analgesia may also be needed, if osteomyelitis (bone infection) is involved then Metacam alone will not be sufficient for good pain control. Tramadol would help with that and can be given alongside Metacam.

Medical grade Manuka Honey can be very beneficial and it can also thin out the pus making cleaning it out a little easier

Treatment of jaw abscesses can be an uphill slog but it is not always an inevitable death sentence. These links may be useful to take a look at

http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Dental_diseases/Treatment/Facial/abs_dental.htm

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

http://www.ivis.org/proceedings/navc/2006/SAE/615.pdf?LA=1

http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/s...scess-is-back-(-Nena-s-jaw-tooth-root-abscess

Thanks for the comments.

After biophys Baytrill was chosen, cause it does not destroy her immune system like the other option (I don't know the name, a strong antibiotic kills all bacteria)

blackheat said:

Thanks for the comments.

After biophys Baytrill was chosen, cause it does not destroy her immune system like the other option (I don't know the name, a strong antibiotic kills all bacteria)

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Baytril does not penetrate the abscess capsule or the bone like injectable penicillin. Penicillin injected (NEVER BY MOUTH) is safe and well tolerated. And effective for 96% of bacteria.

does penicillin have any side effects?

If injected and NOT GIVEN BY MOUTH it does not -

may I ask whether the vets you are currently with are up to date with the wide range of techniques used by rabbit specialists now for abscess treatments and diagnosis?

I just ask as there are certainly a much wider range of antibiotics available than baytril and MRI and CT scans (which i kind of think you may mean by 3D Xrays) are quite often used for rabbits. The xray comment is a bit odd as well. I am just wondering if you are grabbling with a vet who is more used to dogs and cats?. . Are you in London (as the 'location' says on your ID) or elsewhere?

blackheat said:

does penicillin have any side effects?

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Not usually - in very rare instances there can be digestive disturbances.

Of course, as I said in my last post - never by mouth! A vet gave me amoxicillin for my rabbit to take orally and he had c.diff which almost killed him.

parsnipbun said:

If injected and NOT GIVEN BY MOUTH it does not -

may I ask whether the vets you are currently with are up to date with the wide range of techniques used by rabbit specialists now for abscess treatments and diagnosis?

I just ask as there are certainly a much wider range of antibiotics available than baytril and MRI and CT scans (which i kind of think you may mean by 3D Xrays) are quite often used for rabbits. The xray comment is a bit odd as well. I am just wondering if you are grabbling with a vet who is more used to dogs and cats?. . Are you in London (as the 'location' says on your ID) or elsewhere?

Click to expand...

My vet is not a rabbit expert, even she told us that she had few rabbit patients so far with abscess (non of them survived). But she consulted with rabbit specialists and does everything for Ran. Sadly, She is the 6th vet i Ran's life and the best so far. We are in north London and I can tell you how difficult is to find a vet who gives appointment to see a rabbit.
Today we were just turned down by another vet who heard 'rabbit' and 'abscess'. Eventually we ended on the hospital and Ran in the hands of an expert (our vet was already talking to). It took him only like 5 minutes to open up more the hole and clean the pas properly. We mentioned about the penicillin and he order for us to the local branch right away.

I was shocked when he said rabbits do not feel pain when you push the cotton bud into the wound. I can'y believe it! DDDDD:

There are some excellent rabbit vets in London - and it will revolutionise your life and that of Ran if you transfer her to one. I would start a NEW THREAD in Rabbit Chat asking URGENTLY for a recommended rabbit vet in North London (If you can make it to Twickenham you would have a suggestion immediately but you may not have a car and it may be too far). There is also the Royal Veterinary College in North London whose specialist vet Jo might see you on referrral.

It is vital with something complex like this to have a rabbit specialist vet - and most of the time they cost no more (in fact its a saving in the long run as they actually solve the problem).

Can't stress enough the words of everyone else, going through treatment at the moment it is VITAL you see an expert to ensure the correct treatment and not to prolong Rans suffering with these awful abscesses.

Most important we need to find the case (which is most likely a tooth). MRI or CT would show that. The Xray she did was not enough.

anyway I do that thread, thanks

Just posted on your other thread. I hope you find someone who can fight your corner and help your rabbit.

You and your rabbit deserve better than you've been getting x Good luck x