Ear abscess major surgery *update*

Hi, Sylvia has an abscess in her ear, she has had it before and it went away with Baytril. Unfortunately this time the abscess has formed a lump at the base of her ear, which you can feel from the outside. I think it probably needs draining.

I took her to the vet on Tuesday, I asked if he could drain it and give me some more Baytril but he's being overly cautious and says it is very complicated etc, wants to take another swab (even though we did this last time) She is still eating, being normal etc, I don't think she is in pain though it might be uncomfortable because she is a bit grumpier than normal. However I just want to get it sorted! I am still waiting for my vet to get back to me, he wants to speak to a specialist clinic in Bristol and get their advice. But if she had it before and Baytril worked, then surely it should work again?

Has anyone else had this happen? Can anyone advise? Thanks, b-m

When Maa had an head abscess it had to be cleaned out and a week's course of metronidazole cleared it up whereas baytril didn't touch it. And the swab from the lab came back as negative for bacteria!

Hi elve, how did your vet know to use metronidazole? And has it ever come back? Thanks, helen

The first swab she had suggested metronidazole as treatment on the lab results, so we used it and it worked, but the abscess returned 4 months later, because it was due to a piece of hay working its way through her head and out through her eye (ouch ) - so there was a long tract going from her mouth up to her eye, and bits of food got lodged in it when she ate.

The second swab came back as negative for bacteria :shock: Can't imagine how as there was an abscess there! My vet agreed that as metronidazole had beaten it last time, she'd use it again, in spite of the lab result, so that's what we did and it's never come back since, in over a year now.

I have two rabbits with this type of abcess (lucky me... NOT). They actually break through to the ear canal and if lanced, some of the puss will come out of the year... yuk...

Unfortunately, we have not had much luck with treatment. I think it is because the abscess capsule is open into the ear and therefore cannot ever be cleaned properly. Lancing and daily cleaning as well as penicillin injections didn't work. We have had three courses of it, and they keep coming back.

My vet is now trying something new, where the abscesses will be lanced, then as much of the abscess wall removed as possible (tricky because of where they are) and an antibiotic injection straight into the abscess wall. I hope this is going to work as we are running out of options. Unfortunately this means that my bunnies need to have a GA for the procedure and as they are all quite old (7 and 8 years old), this is a worry.

Vera

Ear abscess surgery, update

Hello, well Sylvia has had major (and I mean major) surgery on her ear. They took x-rays and found that it went into her middle ear, however the vet has managed to remove a large part of the abscess and what remains is a rather large hole in Sylvia's head. I want to take a picture but only just got her home and she's not herself so will hopefully take one over the next few days...

I have to give her two types of anti-biotic daily, plus clean the wound with saline solution and an anti-biotic ear cleaner, plus give her Metacam for the pain. Hopefully the hole will gradually close up. She's not eating very much at the moment but is pooing and had some hay and bran flakes(!), I really hope she improves. She has been in the vets over night under observation and they've been looking after her really well. I have to say the vet (Charlie) has done a superb job, I really do hope she starts to recover, it would be very sad at this stage if she went downhill. Helen

Awww sending vibes for sylvia for a full recovery,

Nicola

I too hope she makes good progress. What a massive op' for a Bunny :shock:

Janex

helloo

I do hope she get better soon so sending lots of vibes! I seem to repeat this story a lot but back in march my bunny had exactly the same abscess in the same position and had major surgery to get it out. Bless him he had a huuuuuuuge hole in his head! He didnt eat much for the first few days and didn't move very much as he was really disorientated. It took about a week for him to start eating normally. If you can, try keep the hole open as much as you can, you may have to pick the scab off (gross..!) but its just incase there is any more pus that needs to come out. Luckily they managed to remove the whole abscess capsule so I didn't actually see any pus. He was given baytril although I wasn't really sure about it seeing as there is evidence that its useless to treat head abscesses but my vet told me that baytril is always the first port of call. Should the abscess come back I will of course have it sent off so we know exactly what anti biotics to use.

Mollys hole now is completely gone and there is no evidence of anything below his ear all of his fur has grown back although he has got a lump of tissue just under his ear which the vet thinks is cartilage as they chopped up his ear a bit..nice! we did have it cultured as we were worried it was the abscess again but the results came back as normal scar tissue.

I wish I had taken a before and after picture but at the time I was sooo upset I couldn't bear to take any photos!

If you have any questions feel free to pm me. Sending lots of get well soon vibes xx

See my thread here: http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/showthread.php?t=97766. My bunnies had their surgery today! It all went very well and so far, we are very happy with the outcome.

In my bunnies, it turned out to be an abscess in the middle ear that had an "overflow" at the base of the ear like in your case.

My vet took the abscess capsule out, together with the ear drum, some bones and cartlidge of the ear. My bunnies too have a hole at the base of each affected ear now... However, it is basically the reconstructed ear canal and is supposed to remain open.

My two are on two different antibiotics flushing the wound as well as injected penicillin again for two weeks. They are also on a very strong pain killer and metacam.

I hope your bunny is recovering soon! One of mine seems to have gone back to normal immediately, the other one seems to take a little longer, but I have seen her eating a little.

Vera

LurcherGirl said:

My vet took the abscess capsule out, together with the ear drum, some bones and cartlidge of the ear. My bunnies too have a hole at the base of each affected ear now... However, it is basically the reconstructed ear canal and is supposed to remain open.
Vera

Click to expand...

Hi Vera, that's amazing, I'm not sure if my vet removed the ear drum as well, but he said she would be deaf in that ear (she definitely doesn't hear as well that's for sure). Here's a pic of Sylvia's ear (looks worse in real life!) and her just after her op:









There still seems to be some puss draining out of the wound, it doesn't seem to be clearing with the sterile saline. Sylvia does however seem to be back to her normal self, she was out in the garden straight after her op eating plants, which I suppose is a good sign! I just hope it doesn't come back again.

Helen

bless her little cottons x