Angel has developed and abcess.

When i went to do the bunnies today i discovered that Angel had a lump, the size of a golf ball on the right underside of her stomach! :shock: It`s only come up within the last 48hrs! She was neutered 5 wks ago and i immediately thought she had developed a hernia. I`ve taken her to the vets, they`ve done an ultrasound and can`t see any sign of her herniating so have decided it`s an abcess caused by a reaction to the internal stitches. She`s had an anti-inflammastory and antibiotic injection and i`ve got to continue with the antibiotics for the next 5 days, then take her back on monday.
Obviously i`m worried and suppose am really just after some reassuring advice. The antibiotics she`s on is called `Marbooil or Marbooic`, sorry can`t read the vets handwriting! It`s not one i`ve come across before so am just wondering if it`s a `good` one or one that can upset their tummies? Just want to be careful and know for any possible problems that i should be looking out for?
Angel in herself is fine, eating and drinking normally and passing poos normally but obviously she`s one of my babies and i am known for being abit of a worrier!

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
Su.x

Hi Su. The antibiotic is MARBOCYL. Are you giving it orally or by injection?? If orally then you do need to look out for GI probs. Are you giving probiotics aswell?? It is difficult to know what is actually going on as your Vet has seen your Bun and I haven't.....and I am NOT a vet!! I have had one doe whose spay herniated. The lump appeared along the external suture line. Hopefully your bun is just having a local reaction to the internal sutures as your vet has said.. Do you know what suture material was used.. Vycril or Cat-Gut?? The latter is not generally recommended for bunnies cos of the problem with reactions/adhesions. It may well be that the swelling is just fluid...the result of a reaction to the sutures. If you are at all concerned re Angel, if she goes off her food or develops diarhhoea then you need to take her back to your vets ASAP. Please keep us posted as to how Angel is doing. Jane and Buns xx

Hi Jane,
Thanks for your reply. I am giving the antibiotics by injection and have put her on probioticss aswell. Thanks for correcting the name of the antibiotics, now i recognise the name it`s abit more helpful! She had internal stitches for the neutering which i know the vet who did her always uses cat-gut which going by what you have said explains the reaction. To be honest i`m getting a tad peeved with my vets, they`ve given Angel stitches which are known to cause problems and with Tia they did external which she then pulled out but they then did external again?! Is it me or should i be looking for a more rabbit savy vet?
I`ve used them for years and they`ve always been great with the cats and dogs but i must admit i`m getting a bit concerned as to their knowledge on rabbits..........................

Sorry. rant over!
Su.x

P.S. Jane, they tried taking a sample from the lump but said they couldn`t get anything out as it was too solid?! Surely with an abcess there would be pus??????

rabbit pus is solid like cottage cheese - they should know that too! :roll:

Hope she's OK soon!

Elve,
They did say that they couldn`t get any kind of pus out at all, not even the cheesy like stuff! Which is why i`m wondering as to whether it really is an abcess?

ah well - I wouldn't know then - could you ask them for a referral to a rabbit expert?

Hi Su....Vets and Rabbits.....TELL ME ABOUT IT!! :roll: :roll: Trouble with rabbit pus is that it is VERY purulent so fine needle aspiration is unlikely to be successful. I must say I would be a bit concerned if the swelling is hard. But if the Vet did an U/S I assume they can differentiate between an abscess and a hernia...?? I would take Angel straight back to your Vet if at all concerned or if the swelling starts to cause her pain. Hope the problem soon resolves. Jane and Buns xx

Thanks Jane,
Believe me, i will be keeping a very close eye on Angel and if there are any signs whatsoever of her deteriorating or being in pain she will be straight back down the vets...................
2 vets looked at the ultrasound of Angel, a new one who i don`t really know and the head vet who knows me really well. He is a specialist in small animals but this doesn`t necessarily mean rabbits! They said they couldn`t see any herniation so `think` it`s just an abcess.................... Sorry but to me that`s not too reassuring!!!!! :?
Will see how she goes and if i`m still not happy then will try and get them to investigate further or refer her to a specialist. Don`t want to put her through any unnecessary procedures but don`t want her to suffer unnecessarily either.

Will keep you updated, Su.x

Just to let you all know that Angel is still fine in herself today. Stuffed all her veggies last night and immediately tucked into her brekkie this morning, she`s showing no signs of being in pain and still passing motions normally so hopefully we`re working along the right lines.

Su.x