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Advice and Help RE: Jaw Abcess U/D Post 20

Cari

Cari

Warren Veteran
This is a copy of a post in my old thread but I've had only one reply and I need some help and support.

Ellie's abcess has gotten much larger despite a further course of Baytril for 10 days (course not quite finished) and my trying to drain it as frequently as possible. I've had to pop it repeatedly in order to drain it as she gets so stressed and upset that I've not wanted to do it every day.

I've been getting less pus out every time I've tried to drain it and it's been more and more stressful for her and me. She will hardly let me near her anymore, she squeaks and squeals when I try to pick her up or touch her face and she used to love noserubs and time with me. It's now a large lump around the right side of her jaw and underneath it too. I've continued to try flushing it but it seems to be so full that hardly any of it is going in and it's obviously not making a difference.

Our vet didn't want to try Depocillin until we'd tried another course of Baytril but it hasn't made any difference and it is much much worse than before she first had it drained.

I don't know what to do for my poor girl, I just don't know how to help. How can I make her better? I'm getting so frustrated and upset as I know soon it will start to affect her every day. She's still the same bouncy, adventurous little girl who we know and love but I can't just sit and watch her deteriorate. I need to do something.

Please help me.
 
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Can you remind me as to what skull radiographs revealed, if any have been taken

Also, you mentioned something about her 'having all her teeth removed'. What was the Vet's thinking behind this rather drastic suggestion ?

Tooth root abscesses may never fully resolve without removal of the offending tooth/root. But personally I doubt I'd ever agree to a Rabbit having all teeth removed. Not sure many Vets would consider it to be ethical to do anyway :?

Baytril is a good broad spectrum abx, but with TRAs it often has insufficient tissue penetration to have much of an impact.

Depocillin, possibly in combination with Metronidazole, may give better results. Not necessarily a 'cure' but a more efficient containment of the infection.

Packing the abscess cavity with either an abx impregnated bead or intrasite gel with an abx mixed in, or Manuka Honey may also be an option alongside systemic abx
 
Sending vibes to you and your bun

My wee fella has what we think is an abcess behnd his eye
He is on baytril twice daily and ultrapen injection every two days
his problem is hes 11 and had snuffles badly so due to his breathing a GA cud b fatal

I think you should speak to your vet about gettin stronger abx maybe something alongside baytril

Hope ur bun gets bettet
 
How did this begin? I must have missed the thread about this. How long has it been going on and do you know what caused it?
 
I don't know what xrays showed as she had them done before I took her on, but the basic gist of it was that her jaw is deformed and as such her teeth are misaligned and causing all the problems. I think they want to remove all but her front teeth as she will need constant dentals for her entire life (although we lasted 8 months before this catastrophe) and that her jaw and teeth are diseased and as such the abcess will keep returning until her teeth are removed. I do have a friend who's rabbit has had all his teeth removed and she says he copes very well.

I took her on knowing she had bad teeth and would need dentals and they suggested having her teeth removed and then the lump that was under her jaw that I was told 'wasn't' an abcess, was an abcess, and when her teeth eventually got bad a few weeks ago, and they popped it and drained it but told me it would just keep coming back until her teeth were removed.

Our usual vet suggested taking her to a specialist and having her teeth removed but the vet who performed the procedure clearly thought we were being cruel keeping her alive.
 
I would take her to see a vet specialising in rabbits for further advice. Must be very miserable for her.

ETA
I'm confused as to whether or not you took her to specialist vet after your usual vet suggested it.
 
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Cari said:
I don't know what xrays showed as she had them done before I took her on, but the basic gist of it was that her jaw is deformed and as such her teeth are misaligned and causing all the problems. I think they want to remove all but her front teeth as she will need constant dentals for her entire life (although we lasted 8 months before this catastrophe) and that her jaw and teeth are diseased and as such the abcess will keep returning until her teeth are removed. I do have a friend who's rabbit has had all his teeth removed and she says he copes very well.

I took her on knowing she had bad teeth and would need dentals and they suggested having her teeth removed and then the lump that was under her jaw that I was told 'wasn't' an abcess, was an abcess, and when her teeth eventually got bad a few weeks ago, and they popped it and drained it but told me it would just keep coming back until her teeth were removed.

Our usual vet suggested taking her to a specialist and having her teeth removed but the vet who performed the procedure clearly thought we were being cruel keeping her alive.
Click to expand...

So you took her to a Specialist Vet ? If so what exactly did he/she say ?
 
No sorry Jane, we went to our usual veterinary practice but saw a different vet to normal.
 
A couple of weeks ago I discovered a lump on our little Aprils lower left jaw. Since we were about to go away on holiday for a week, I opted for her to have a daily dose of baytril to hopefully keep it at bay until we returned. Now we are back, we have started giving her a dose of depocillin every three days with the view of getting it x rayed and drained when our vet gets back from his holiday, and then do the flushes with manuka honey.

Abscesses are notoriously difficult to deal with and can be quite stressful for both bun & owner, I know as I've been through this before with another bun a few years ago where the eventual outcome was sadly not good :(

If I was in your shoes I believe I would go back to the Vet and request a stronger Abx, it may or may not help her, but at least you would feel that you have done your best for her.

Good luck!
 
I am yes but Leicester to Edgbaston is quite a way I think. I know I need to travel to take her to a specialist though. Is Marie good?
 
How is she in herself? Did she have a dental done?

I would definitely be taking her to that specialist. She must be in pain, bless her :(
 
She had her dental done over two weeks ago and had the abcess drained, she seems fine in herself, bouncy and adventurous still, but she now hates me.

IMG_20130623_182628_zpsda432b0e.jpg


Here she is half flopped. She isn't showing signs of pain yet and she's eating everything in sight etc but it can't be comfortable for her.
 
She will forgive you when she feels better and you can stop fiddling about with her. Xena was the same when she needed septrin every day. :roll: She HATED it and refused to speak to me for a few weeks after lol.
 
My first thought when you said the vet put her on Baytril was that if it were me, I would have her looked at and evaluated by a very rabbit savvy vet. Also, having known several bunnies who have not survived very long having had most/all of their teeth removed, I personally would not go down that route either.

Depocillin and manuka honey are what I have found to be most effective against jaw abscesses. I don't believe *all* rabbits are in pain with their abscesses, but they sure hate being fiddled with to get the wound cleaned!

I wish you all the very best with your bunny :)
 
I feel you should most definitely go to a specialist now - I suspect it may need incising out before any abx and flushing have any chance of working.
 
Can i just add that manor vets have a try us for free offer so you could go along for an opinion without it costing the earth. Have a look at the website xx
 
alio71 said:
Can i just add that manor vets have a try us for free offer so you could go along for an opinion without it costing the earth. Have a look at the website xx
Click to expand...

Wow that's a great opportunity for a second opinion! Wish there was one in London :roll:
 
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