Ear wax? Infection? Abscess?

[Jolysium]

I’m at the vet with Heidi who has two soft but firm lumps under her ears, similar size each side, not tender, completely well in herself. Vet says might be build up of wax that has gone into soft tissue??? Sounds weird to me. He also said he’s got to ‘look up a treatment’

Anyone got any experience to share?

Thanks.

 

[InspectorMorse]

I’m at the vet with Heidi who has two soft but firm lumps under her ears, similar size each side, not tender, completely well in herself. Vet says might be build up of wax that has gone into soft tissue??? Sounds weird to me. He also said he’s got to ‘look up a treatment’ ��

Anyone got any experience to share?



Thanks.

Sounds like ear base abscesses Also sounds like you need to seek an opinion from a more Rabbit Savvy Vet

https://www.rvc.ac.uk/clinical-connections/rabbit-ear-base-abscesses

 

[Jolysium]

Thank you. I wish we could go to a better vet. We go to the local vet because she gets so ridiculously stressed in the box and hyperventilates - I’m not sure she’d survive a trip to the nearest rabbit-savvy vet, over an hour away. Also she’s 10 years old so I don’t know about putting her through any surgery given she seems perfectly happy and well in herself - I know they hide pain but she’s binkying about and scoffing her food and seems completely fine… aargh, bunnies are so difficult to know the right thing for!

 

[InspectorMorse]

Thank you. I wish we could go to a better vet. We go to the local vet because she gets so ridiculously stressed in the box and hyperventilates - I’m not sure she’d survive a trip to the nearest rabbit-savvy vet, over an hour away. Also she’s 10 years old so I don’t know about putting her through any surgery given she seems perfectly happy and well in herself - I know they hide pain but she’s binkying about and scoffing her food and seems completely fine… aargh, bunnies are so difficult to know the right thing for!

Perhaps the Vet you are seeing could consult with a Specialist ? Not with the intention of any invasive surgery, but for a conservative treatment plan.

 

[Jolysium]

Great idea, thank you

 

[Zoobec]

Sending lots of vibes. Idk where in Sheffield you are from but there is or was bunny savvy vets at abbey vets at hoyland in Barnsley.

 

[Jolysium]

Thanks Zoobec, I’m over the other side of Sheffield, about equidistant from the one in Barnsley and the one in Worksop!

The vet has given me an ear flush which I’m supposed to put in her ears and then massage the lumps, he said it’s to break up any waxy build up.

Has anyone tried this?

 

[InspectorMorse]

Thanks Zoobec, I’m over the other side of Sheffield, about equidistant from the one in Barnsley and the one in Worksop!

The vet has given me an ear flush which I’m supposed to put in her ears and then massage the lumps, he said it’s to break up any waxy build up.

Has anyone tried this?

Before any liquid is put in the ears the Vet needs to be as sure as possible that the tympanic membranes are intact. If they are not then any liquid going into the ear canals could make things a lot worse. The swellings at the ear bases that you can feel are very unlikely to be a wax build up, but pus. Has the Vet you are consulting sought advice from a Rabbit Savvy/ Exotics Specialist Vet.

My experience with ear problems in Rabbits has taught me that having a Rabbit Savvy Vet involved is essential.

I expect that you have already done some research yourself, but these links contain some useful information. There are GRAPHIC IMAGES on the links

http://vetpracticetoday.com/vpt-en/catalogs/vpt7-1_rabbits/pdf/complete.pdf

https://www.vettimes.co.uk/app/uplo...itis-externa-media-and-interna-in-rabbits.pdf