Honeys Sore Hocks Update

Hi every one i have just got back again from the vets & Honeys leg & hock is still bandaged up & is having antibiotic injections when i asked if it is getting any better the vet said "No there is still alot of pus coming out of the hock, & if i get worried with her tonight to take her back in the morning", which has worried me a bit.
The vet always takes her out of the room to change the bandage so i do not get to look at it to see for myself, the vet said if it is not better on monday then she will change the antibiotic she is having now.
I know she has been though this a number of times but it seems different this time, plus she is licking her other legs not stop which i asked the vet to look at & she said she will give her an injection for mites, but i have been putting honey in her run when it is cooler but there is lots of ants & i wondered if it could be the ants nipping her when i asked the vet this she looked at me gone out :shock: & said "No" . Has any one here come across ants biting the rabbits or am i being over the top.

Oh dear poor Honey
I would say the reason she is licking her other legs is cos her poorly leg hurts and she cant get to it. I do hope your Vet is giving Honey pain relief aswell as antibiotics.
Do you know what part of her leg the pus is coming from? If it is the hock then I would be concerned that the tendon is also effected.
What antibiotic is she on and how long has she been on it?
The dressing should be changed at least once a day, especially in this hot weather. Is your Vet doing this?
Janex

Hi jane no the vet is not giving pain relief she said she does not need it

I'm not sure what antibiotic it is but she started it last Monday.

The dressing is being changed every 2 days & the dressing is very tight on her leg.

The pus is coming from her hock.

I am worried has she is not her self & keeping out of the way of every one, I was going to take her back to the vets in the morning has it is a different vet working in the morning & ask to see the hock myself has the vet always takes her out of the room & it is dressed again when she comes back in , i even thought about taking the dressing off tonight but i don't know if i'm doing the right thing or not.
Thank you jane for your help it really does help

I would take Honey back to the Vets this morning.
Pus from the hock does not bode well I am not trying to worry you but there is no point my only telling half the facts as we want Honey to get the best treatment
I would ask for PAIN RELIEF for her. It is a bloody painful condition, silly-billy vet for saying its not :roll: If she is on Baytril Antibiotic and there is still profuse pus production then I'd also request a swab be taken from the wound to ascertain what bacteria are involved. I would also ask about a wound dressing that was more like a large corn plaster. So the actual open wound is uncovered,allowing pus to drain and air to circulate but direct pressure on the wound from either a dressing or the ground is avoided.
Please keep us updated.
Janex

Awww your poor bunny I hope she gets better soon ... I would think about changing vets if I were you!! :?

Thank you jane once again, i did go back to the vets this morning & i told the vet i want her to have pain relief which she did so stright away, i asked for the dressing to be changed which she was going to do, so i could see if it was getting any better, but when i saw it the swelling has gone down but the pus & blood was still coming out & looks bad it doesn't seem to be clearing at all a little worse then last Monday. This vet thinks the infection has gone in to her bone & thats why it is hard to clear up. I asked about keeping the bandage off to let the air get to it but she said its best to keep it how it is untill the other vets says so has she is looking after Honey.
I asked about the antibiotic & they are using TRIBSISSEN but now Honey is getting no better they are changing it on Monday to DEPOCILLIN, the vet said they only use this has the last result has it is known has the "live or die antibotic" has it will make her better or it will give her diarrhea & in that case it will be fatel for Honey.
Since we have been back she went stright in to her cardboard box which is full with hay & she only goes in there to dig & play but she is just sitting there & has been for the last few hours, i keep checking her & she is ok, but i am so worried about this other antibiotic, the vet said they have used it a lot on rabbits & have a 100% rate but they can not say if Honey will be ok with it but it seems a BIG chance to take if it does not suit her, My head is all over the place at the moment has no to long ago every thing was going great for Honey & now its the worst its ever been for her, i could cry for her.
Jane thank you so much for your help I wish i could take you to the vets with me has you know so much, you would give the vets a run for there money.

loopylop Thank you for kind message i have been looking all over for a good rabbit vet but it so hard to find one, i have joined RWA & on their list of vets is the one i go to !!!!
if any one knows of a good vet i would be willing to travel any where.

Hiya,

Is she taking the antibiotic orally or having injections? Any AB can upset the tummy, but there are somethings you can do to help, feed plenty of hay, don't introduce any new foods and cut out any naughty treats. Also feed a pro-biotic (friendly bacteria). You can get this from from your vet, petshops or online. Anti-biotics attack the good gut bacteria used to digest food as well as the bad bacteria they're meant to get which is why they can upset the tummy. The probiotic helps replace the friendly bacteria and keep the gut healthy.

Best wishes,
Tamsin

holder said:

Thank you jane once again, i did go back to the vets this morning & i told the vet i want her to have pain relief which she did so stright away, i asked for the dressing to be changed which she was going to do, so i could see if it was getting any better, but when i saw it the swelling has gone down but the pus & blood was still coming out & looks bad it doesn't seem to be clearing at all a little worse then last Monday. This vet thinks the infection has gone in to her bone & thats why it is hard to clear up. I asked about keeping the bandage off to let the air get to it but she said its best to keep it how it is untill the other vets says so has she is looking after Honey.
I asked about the antibiotic & they are using TRIBSISSEN but now Honey is getting no better they are changing it on Monday to DEPOCILLIN, the vet said they only use this has the last result has it is known has the "live or die antibotic" has it will make her better or it will give her diarrhea & in that case it will be fatel for Honey.
Since we have been back she went stright in to her cardboard box which is full with hay & she only goes in there to dig & play but she is just sitting there & has been for the last few hours, i keep checking her & she is ok, but i am so worried about this other antibiotic, the vet said they have used it a lot on rabbits & have a 100% rate but they can not say if Honey will be ok with it but it seems a BIG chance to take if it does not suit her, My head is all over the place at the moment has no to long ago every thing was going great for Honey & now its the worst its ever been for her, i could cry for her.
Jane thank you so much for your help I wish i could take you to the vets with me has you know so much, you would give the vets a run for there money.

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Uncle Albert was on Depocillin for 3 weeks after his oral tumour was removed. He had NO DIARRHOEA AT ALL. Infact his poops were better than 'normal' :? :roll: I gave him daily Bio-Lapis probiotic too.
I think I would opt for surgical intervention for your Bun ASAP. Please remember I am NOT professionally qualified and any info' I pass on is based on what I have learned from my own research and from dealing with lots of Rabbits!!
It may well be that the digital flexor tendon is effected aswell as the possibility of osteomyelitis (bone infection) The Bun I nursed with this exact condition had a hind leg amputation as the infection was so advanced. This is one option as sadly once osteomyelitis has formed and the tendon is damaged it cannot be cured.
I think an X-ray of her leg would show any boney involvement but an Ultrasound would give a much more detailed picture. However this may require you taking Honey to a Rabbit Specialist Vet such as the Bristol Rabbit Clinic.
Your Vet can refer you to them. I am afraid it is very expensive.
Thank you for your kind remarks but as I said I am not the Vet here, just a bunny Mummy!!
Janex

Is she taking the antibiotic orally or having injections?

The vet is giving Honey an injection every 2 days with the Tribrissen.
I have stopped the treats & she always has loads of hay which she is always eating.
I will buy some of the pro-biotic has some one else has said it is good for her to have.

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Uncle Albert was on Depocillin for 3 weeks after his oral tumour was removed. He had NO DIARRHOEA AT ALL. Infact his poops were better than 'normal'

I feel a bit better reading about Uncle Albert, just knowing some one else has used this antibiotic has i have never heard of it before.

It may well be that the digital flexor tendon is effected aswell as the possibility of osteomyelitis (bone infection) The Bun I nursed with this exact condition had a hind leg amputation as the infection was so advanced. This is one option as sadly once osteomyelitis has formed and the tendon is damaged it cannot be cured.
I think an X-ray of her leg would show any boney involvement but an Ultrasound would give a much more detailed picture. However this may require you taking Honey to a Rabbit Specialist Vet such as the Bristol Rabbit Clinic.
Your Vet can refer you to them. I am afraid it is very expensive

I will ask the vet tomorrow about this has i want the very best for Honey she has been though so much & looking at her today makes me sad has she is just not bothering with any one at all, she runs away from all of us when we go near her
When you say very expensive have you an idea what it could be please jane
Thank you all again for your help. XX

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Awwww Bless her, poor girl. I doubt the heat is helping either
I dont have any idea as to how much the cost of a referal to Bristol would be for Honey's leg. All I can go on was the cost of the late Beck's Cardiology referal there. I was quoted £800 for a full Cardiology work-up.
That included consultation Fee plus blood tests, ECG, Ultrasound of heart. Any Meds were on top of that plus follow-up care.
I am only going on what you describe about Honeys hock and what I remember from my Bun (Megan) who had the same problem. The only option was amputation as the infection had just about destroyed the tendon and the bone was infected too. No systemic antibiotic treatment would put that right and Megan's leg was useless but painful.
Although the amputation went well and Megan started to recover the skin covering the stump began to break down and more pus was produced. Further surgery was attempted but the infection had gone in to her hip. Sadly Megan had to be PTS. I feel certain if I'd asked for amputation sooner the infection might not have reached her hip. But she was treated with antibiotics and dressings for several weeks before I felt a more drastic approach was needed.
Megan was one of my trio of first ever Bunnies and I wish I knew then what I know now as she was only 3 when she went to The Bridge.
What I am trying to say is if Honey could cope without her leg and your Vet feels amputation is an option then I'd say seriously consider it. At the very least an X-ray to establish if Osteomyelitis has developed needs to be done.
I know this all sounds very bleak, but if the infection is just in the bones of the leg and has not yet tracked higher amputation would be a solution.
The only other thing to consider is the state of Honey's other back leg. If she has any sign of sore hocks on that it is obviously not too good.
I really hope your Vet can help or can refer you to a more Rabbit Savvy one.
Janex

I have had an e-meil from the RWA which they have said to have an x-ray done to see if it has gone in the bone has well & to let the air get to the sore, also the antibiotic Tribrissin may be well tolerated by rabbits and also on paper may apparently work but in the presence of large amounts of pus may not be so effective after all, which in Honeys case is true, plus they have updated me on the use of Depocillin which is Penicillin & it is safer to given by injection then by mouth.

I had to take Honey early to the vets has her toes was all red & swellon & very painful when i got up this morning & i saw yet an other vet who listened to me & agreed about the x-ray & to leave off the bandage for a while, the vet said she would fit a coller to stop Honey biting it has it would be itching her, also give me antibiotic to bring home plus Honey to have an injection every 2 days plus pain relief.
Honey has gone off her food now but still eating a little hay & i brought the pro-biotic for her to start, i just hope i have not left it to late with the pro-biotic.

Thank you & thank you all again for your help , & Jane you have told me the same thing has the RWA has you all have help me alot.

I really hope that Honey will feel better now she has daily pain relief. If she is going off her food you need to keep an eye on her poop production. As she has been in pain this can cause a physiological response which slows down gut motility. If you notice she is passing smaller/fewer poos you need to ask your Vet about Honey having Metoclopromide injectons to stimulate her gurt motility. The last think poor Honey needs now is GI stasis.
I would also try to tempt her to eat Veggies and maybe get some Critical Care as a supplementary syringe feed.
Janex

I have just returned back home with Honey from the vets & GREAT NEWS the x-rays shows her bones are ok so now the vet has put her on Baytril every day, she has cleaned her foot up & left her bandage off to let the air get to it, i have also got some gel to put on 3 times a day so i am going to bath it with salt water then apply the gel, the x-ray showed where the hole is on Honeys hock is where the bone is at the very end of her hock, the vet said she still is not out of the woods & has a long way to go but at least her bone is ok thank god, i got food to mix with water has she is not really eating i have tried to feed spring cabbage which she loves to bits & carrot but she is having non of it, she is eating a bit of hay.
Honey has had to have a coller on & she is running into the walls & doors she was trying to get in to her cardboard box & was banging the coller on the doorway to try & fit in but could'nt understand why she could'nt get in so i'm going to make it bigger for her then she can hid untill she feels a bit better.

Well its good news that there is no boney involvement
You do need to ensure she has regular syringe feeds to keep her guts working. Is the Vet still thinking of moving on to Depocillin?
If she is to wear the Elizabethan Collar (not too sure on that personally but GO WITH WHAT YOUR VET SAYS) then you may need to help her get to her caecotrophs (soft poos that she would normally eat straight from her anus) Or maybe you could remove the collar when you are able to supervise her.
Please keep us posted.
Janex

Hi jane i have not been on here has the p.c broke down :evil:
Honey had an op yesterday to clear out all the pus & dead skin, the vet also packed it with antibiotics & left the dressing on, but she nearly got the dressing off though the night but she was back at the vets again the today to have it took off (Friday) but has soon has it was off it started to bleed so she has had an other bandage on, it looked a bit better has the swelling had gone down but did look a bit of a mess, the vet needed to talk to me has the baytril is not working, the vet said that they thought about removing the leg but now her other hock is getting very red so there is no way they will do this now has it will start the other hock to go the same way, so she has had to go on the Depocillin today has there is nothing more they can do.
I did not want her to go on this but i know if she does not try it she will get a lot worse, since she has been home she has just been laying down has the hock is stiff & she is not walking on it propery & when she is laying down her knee is up in the air, i am praying harder then normal that this is the answer to her problem & the Depocillin will heal Honey.

I had to take Honey to the vets again today has since her 2nd injection yesterday she had to have it bandage again but early hours around 3am she was bitting it off & made her toes swell up & bleed, i managed to bandage it up again then she started at the top of the bandage & made the top of the leg swell so i took the dressing off & left it, i put on sudacrem which worked well, but she is really down today i've got to take her back for an other injection on saturday but when we was at the vets her hock has started to swell again but the vet said we will see how it is saturday.
I though the Depocillin would do the trick but now it is starting to swell again, do you think it is because she has been having a go at the bandage & thats why it has started to swell up again
When she first had the Depocillin the swelling went down & she was great in herself & the vet very really hopeful.