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Damaged ear after cannula?

JackieS

Warren Scout
Axl recently had a nasty bout of stasis which involved a week at the vets (our local vets and specialist). He had a cannula in his left ear and when we came home he had a small scab on the edge of
His ear which we assumed was from where he'd had the cannula. We've come home todayto find a random large scab containing hair on the floor. Having given him a check over we've discovered it's Obviously come from his ear and now there is a big chunk missing! I assume the scab has come off today as we definitely didn't notice the big missing chunk yesterday. The edges are little pink but look clean and healed/healing. He has an appointment on sat for his RVHD2 jab so I can get the vet to look at it then unless it seems like he really needs to be looked at before then?

Is that normal happen after a cannula (if it even was the cannula that did it?). He seems his usual self and not remotely bothered by it

IMG_0638_zpskee4dhy8.jpg
[/URL][/IMG]
 
Axl recently had a nasty bout of stasis which involved a week at the vets (our local vets and specialist). He had a cannula in his left ear and when we came home he had a small scab on the edge of
His ear which we assumed was from where he'd had the cannula. We've come home todayto find a random large scab containing hair on the floor. Having given him a check over we've discovered it's Obviously come from his ear and now there is a big chunk missing! I assume the scab has come off today as we definitely didn't notice the big missing chunk yesterday. The edges are little pink but look clean and healed/healing. He has an appointment on sat for his RVHD2 jab so I can get the vet to look at it then unless it seems like he really needs to be looked at before then?

Is that normal happen after a cannula (if it even was the cannula that did it?). He seems his usual self and not remotely bothered by it

IMG_0638_zpskee4dhy8.jpg
[/URL][/IMG]



I'm sorry about that.

I wouldn't say that it's 'normal', but it can happen. Was Axl catheterised for a fair few days during his stasis episode?

http://wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/S/00...ues/Indiv_TechniquesRabbit/IV_inj_rabbits.htm
 
4-5 days yes. It doesn't seem to bother him - my husband just told him that 'chicks dig scars' hahaha
 
4-5 days yes. It doesn't seem to bother him - my husband just told him that 'chicks dig scars' hahaha

HI JackieS. As a nurse I can honestly say this horrifies me! It may not bother the rabbit as you say, but it would certainly bother me. No pet should be returned with chunks missing? Surely the main vein for taking blood from the ear is the middle vein running up the centre of the ear, which you can clearly see? The outer veins (not sure of proper medical term for each vein) are smaller so why would they take bloods or place a cannula there? To me this is negligent and I'd be demanding answers from the vet.
 
That would probably explain it then!


Rabbit ears are very fragile,. Even when the *old* Myxo vaccination was given (some into the skin in the ear) there would be damage to the ligament or cartilage and the ear wouldn't 'hang' the same.

So long as he's OK and doing well, he's not going to worry about it. :)
 
HI JackieS. As a nurse I can honestly say this horrifies me! It may not bother the rabbit as you say, but it would certainly bother me. No pet should be returned with chunks missing? Surely the main vein for taking blood from the ear is the middle vein running up the centre of the ear, which you can clearly see? The outer veins (not sure of proper medical term for each vein) are smaller so why would they take bloods or place a cannula there? To me this is negligent and I'd be demanding answers from the vet.

The central vessel is the central auricular artery and therefore not suitable for blood sampling when a venous sample is needed or when administering IVs :)

http://wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/S/00...v_TechniquesRabbit/Blood_sampling_rabbits.htm
 
I never saw the actual cannula in his ear to see exactly where it was placed as it was wrapped in a bandage every time I saw him. I know that they did have some issues with cannula placement as he wouldn't leave it alone initially and they had to place it more than once. The scab that was there when he got home was fairly small, I assumed it was from the cannula but have nothing to prove it was/was not there.
 
I never saw the actual cannula in his ear to see exactly where it was placed as it was wrapped in a bandage every time I saw him. I know that they did have some issues with cannula placement as he wouldn't leave it alone initially and they had to place it more than once. The scab that was there when he got home was fairly small, I assumed it was from the cannula but have nothing to prove it was/was not there.


Your vets helped see him through a very tricky episode. So many things can happen when they are trying to save the life of a rabbit.

A scar on the ear is a wonderful battle trophy for the brave soldier :D
 
Your vets helped see him through a very tricky episode. So many things can happen when they are trying to save the life of a rabbit.

A scar on the ear is a wonderful battle trophy for the brave soldier :D
Oh yes, I was just writing another post to say exactly that. Risks are risks and things happen. I do not believe that any of the vets he saw would be unduly negligent. He was a very poorly boy, and if a dodgy looking ear is the worst of the things that could have happened to him then so be it!
 
Oh yes, I was just writing another post to say exactly that. Risks are risks and things happen. I do not believe that any of the vets he saw would be unduly negligent. He was a very poorly boy, and if a dodgy looking ear is the worst of the things that could have happened to him then so be it!


I agree :)

To read here the news that he had pulled through, and how relieved you all were, was sheer music to my ears.

He's such a special fellow. I bet the vets were so happy he came through so well xx
 
I agree :)

To read here the news that he had pulled through, and how relieved you all were, was sheer music to my ears.

He's such a special fellow. I bet the vets were so happy he came through so well xx
i think his usual vets will be most surprised to see him tomorrow - he is off for his RVHD2 vaccine so we can get him a friend after the death of his sister a few months ago :)
 
i think his usual vets will be most surprised to see him tomorrow - he is off for his RVHD2 vaccine so we can get him a friend after the death of his sister a few months ago :)


Good luck with the vaccination :)

Where are you thinking of looking for a friend for him?
 
Axl recently had a nasty bout of stasis which involved a week at the vets (our local vets and specialist). He had a cannula in his left ear and when we came home he had a small scab on the edge of
His ear which we assumed was from where he'd had the cannula. We've come home todayto find a random large scab containing hair on the floor. Having given him a check over we've discovered it's Obviously come from his ear and now there is a big chunk missing! I assume the scab has come off today as we definitely didn't notice the big missing chunk yesterday. The edges are little pink but look clean and healed/healing. He has an appointment on sat for his RVHD2 jab so I can get the vet to look at it then unless it seems like he really needs to be looked at before then?

Is that normal happen after a cannula (if it even was the cannula that did it?). He seems his usual self and not remotely bothered by it

IMG_0638_zpskee4dhy8.jpg
[/URL][/IMG]

The tissue there looking pink and healthy is good! It sounds like it may have been dry gangrene. Dry gangrene is better then wet gangrene!
I hope he goes well with his upcoming vaccination. {{{Axl}}}
 
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