good thoughts needed for dahlia- very worried.

i was shocked and saddened today to find that dahlia my 3 year old frrench lop has a large abcess/tumour under her jaw in her dewlap.
i cant believe i didnt notice it yesterday but the vet says they can come up really fast. i had hoped that they would lance it and send me home with baytril but sadly no. the growth is almost touching her trachea (sp?) and the vet said it would be very tricky and the prognosis is not good. she was actually tanking round the garden being a pain in the bum today and her appetite is fine- she is otherwise totally healthy. i dont get it. :x i have left her with them in case it grows overnight and they will operate tomorrow. i have asked them to ring me during the op and if she doesnt look like she will make a good recovery they should euthanise her???? is that fair? i cant believe it i had no idea about this this morning and im broke ,too. i can hardly afford the weekly shopping and this will obviously be fairly pricey.......the aftercare could be complex too- i helped to cure a serious abcess in my dutch boy smudge and it took 4 months but that was on his abdomen. apparently this is much more difficult any opinions please???

awwww! I'm sorry to hear this I'm sorry I can't help, but I wish her all the luck in the world. I hope the vet can do something. If she isn't in pain then it's worth trying every option the vet gives you. I'm sure someone will be along to give you some good advice soon. thinking of you and dahlia xx

I'm no expert but:
Did the vet think it was connected to the jawline? This can be a re-curring problem if it is to do with the teeth.
My vet told me that an abcess does not necessarily form where the infection begins and again can be re-curring. I believe it is best to take out the whole abcess rather than drain - if your vet can get it out in one go that is.
You need to think long and hard about the options. I had some very good advice from a lady on here, I will find the pm and let you know her contact info.

Louisa

heres my girl.........im really missing her tonight.
i only took this today.


good luck sweetheart x x

Oh Dear poor bunny
Has your Vet established if it is an ABSCESS or a TUMOUR of some sort. As it came up so fast it seems more likely that it would be an abscess.
If so then, I AM NOT A VET, but would have thought that even if surgery to remove the abscess is not an option then maybe treatment to control the situation is something that might be possible :? :?
Obviously opening the abscess if possible :?
Then long term antibiotics to try to prevent the infection entering her bloodstream :? Also an anti-inflammatory to try to reduce swelling and, from what you describe,reduce pressure on her trachea :?
EVERYTHING I SAY HERE IS BASED ON MY UNQUALIFIED THOUGHTS!!

Is there a chance that the primary site of infection is a tooth root? The pull of gravity may be assisting the purulent pus to track downwards into the dewlap?

How Rabbit Savvy is your Vet? It might be worth asking for a specialist referal? The Rabbit Clinic at Bristol Zoo? Your Vet could even phone them for some telephone advice. I believe Frances Harcourt-Brown who has a Veterinary Practice in Harrogate accepts telephone enquiries from other Vets re complex Bunny Cases.

Dont give up hope. Your Bun certainly does not appear to be suffering and even if a full cure is not possible it might be possible to contain things.

Please keep us posted.
Janex

im sorry to hear about your poor bun . hope everything goes well . will be thinking of you .
Angie

Bless her ...
Thinking of you and her beccy.
Sending vibes

thanks. x she ok this morning and they will operate this lunchtime at the end of the session so that they can spend the neccessary amount of time on her. it does seem to be attatched to the jawline so could be a tooth thing. im convinced its an abcess cos its come up so quickly but its rock solid so theyre unsure untill they get in there. they dont want to lance it with her conscious cos its large and close to her throat. there arre many potential complications but i do trust my vets. its a multi vet practice and they are rabbit savvy. i have has several neutered there and another bun successfully treated for an agressive abcess. they used conventional meds and manuka honey and they are great. really clued up. they are very good with our cats too. one has fiv and lots of complications and thay have cared for him well.(when others may have euthanised)
dahlia is in good hands, i just have to wait. i think they wanted me to know that potentially it could be messy and life threatening......
but i can trust them to do their best.
hopefully i'll know by about 2 o'clock.
by the way, the fact that the nurse says she's perky this a.m. probably means shes attacking them lol! she can be a bit nervous/aggressive. pooor love.

Sending lots of positive vibes! Let us know how it goes.

i cant stand this. ive just rung and shes not gone in yet. shes next.

aawww i hope you get some good news soon.. I'll keep my fingers crossed for her

DAHLIA IS OK!!!!
it was an abcess and although there were two pockets and they had to get it out bit by bit they have done it! and her teeth were fine. apparently there was an ulcer in her mouth which may have been the cause. they cant guaruntee than it wont return but are optimistic. they cannot stitch it up so it will look ghastly. it will have to be bathed several times a day for weeks or months and with abs, and topical abs, and the application of manuka honey. im so thrilled! now to find a big enough crate for her.......... :roll:
she has come around ok but will have to stay in tonight btw. i'll be taking her some fresh veggies later. hopefully she can come home tomorrow or sunday.
im gonna have to get a shopping list together.....

Very happy to hear she has got through the op.
Good luck with her aftercare, you sound as though you will do a perfect job.

Louisa

Yey!!! go her she pulled through...
Hope everything goes ok with all the meds you have to give herr