MightyMax
Banned
Sorry to hear this and good luck x Let us know how you get on xx
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Vibes for Athena please?-UD post 53: all clear?! Here's hoping!
- Thread starter tlcwrites
- Start date
Sorry to hear this and good luck x Let us know how you get on xx
tlcwrites
Mama Doe
The abscess was cleaned out there and she was given some more baytril and is back on the metacam. She is having to wear a cone of shame though. 
The night vet said it breaks her heart to see abscesses and even more so in rabbits since they are notoriously difficult to get rid of. She said she *could* do the surgery to remove it. However, she has only done it 5 times and on each occasion, the abscess has returned. She also immediately started talking about her being PTS too.
Needless to say, it was me who requested the cleanup to take her home again. She has the followup appointment with Charlotte (who is admittedly not specifically trained in rabbits but seems a heck of a lot more confident with her than the emergency vet did) on Monday, so obviously she will be going there to see what Charlotte has to say.
However, Athena's abscesses are *huge* and the treatment for them is long and hard and there's no guarantees. She's so depressed being confined to her crate and with the cone of shame on.
Obviously, I want to try the surgery. BUT I want to have it done by a more rabbit-savvy vet who has more success. She's so young, but she needs to have a quality of life rather than being confined to a crate with a cone on for half her life.
This is awful and I feel like I've let her down. She should have a long, happy and healthy life ahead of her. I shouldn't be even thinking about her possibly being PTS at 7 months old.
The night vet said it breaks her heart to see abscesses and even more so in rabbits since they are notoriously difficult to get rid of. She said she *could* do the surgery to remove it. However, she has only done it 5 times and on each occasion, the abscess has returned. She also immediately started talking about her being PTS too.
Needless to say, it was me who requested the cleanup to take her home again. She has the followup appointment with Charlotte (who is admittedly not specifically trained in rabbits but seems a heck of a lot more confident with her than the emergency vet did) on Monday, so obviously she will be going there to see what Charlotte has to say.
However, Athena's abscesses are *huge* and the treatment for them is long and hard and there's no guarantees. She's so depressed being confined to her crate and with the cone of shame on.
Obviously, I want to try the surgery. BUT I want to have it done by a more rabbit-savvy vet who has more success. She's so young, but she needs to have a quality of life rather than being confined to a crate with a cone on for half her life.
This is awful and I feel like I've let her down. She should have a long, happy and healthy life ahead of her. I shouldn't be even thinking about her possibly being PTS at 7 months old.
keletkezes
Wise Old Thumper
You poor things Of couse you FEEL like you've let her down, it shows you care, but you've done so well, really! I don't have any ladybun experience, nor any abcess advice, but best wishes for you all
Of couse you FEEL like you've let her down, it shows you care, but you've done so well, really! I don't have any ladybun experience, nor any abcess advice, but best wishes for you all 
joey&boo
Wise Old Thumper
How stressful for you Frances Harcourt-Brown has worked wonders on my rabbits with abscesses (including picking up the pieces of poor treatment by other vets) - it is her specific area of specialism. I know she is retired from general practice but I'm of the understanding she was (hopefully still is) doing consultancy work. I don't know if that's a possibility. Regardless I hope you get a vet you are confident with & treatment goes well
Frances Harcourt-Brown has worked wonders on my rabbits with abscesses (including picking up the pieces of poor treatment by other vets) - it is her specific area of specialism. I know she is retired from general practice but I'm of the understanding she was (hopefully still is) doing consultancy work. I don't know if that's a possibility. Regardless I hope you get a vet you are confident with & treatment goes well
MightyMax
Banned
The abscess was cleaned out there and she was given some more baytril and is back on the metacam. She is having to wear a cone of shame though.
The night vet said it breaks her heart to see abscesses and even more so in rabbits since they are notoriously difficult to get rid of. She said she *could* do the surgery to remove it. However, she has only done it 5 times and on each occasion, the abscess has returned. She also immediately started talking about her being PTS too.
Needless to say, it was me who requested the cleanup to take her home again. She has the followup appointment with Charlotte (who is admittedly not specifically trained in rabbits but seems a heck of a lot more confident with her than the emergency vet did) on Monday, so obviously she will be going there to see what Charlotte has to say.
However, Athena's abscesses are *huge* and the treatment for them is long and hard and there's no guarantees. She's so depressed being confined to her crate and with the cone of shame on.
Obviously, I want to try the surgery. BUT I want to have it done by a more rabbit-savvy vet who has more success. She's so young, but she needs to have a quality of life rather than being confined to a crate with a cone on for half her life.
This is awful and I feel like I've let her down. She should have a long, happy and healthy life ahead of her. I shouldn't be even thinking about her possibly being PTS at 7 months old.
I'm so very sorry you've had this experience. And to think you were being counselled to PTS at 7 months old ... incredibly sad
I would put your efforts into getting a really savvy vet on side and get a thorough low down on the situation. Someone who sees rabbits regularly and has dealt with abscesses of all varieties. Also, make sure you ask for antibiotics and metacam following the abscess surgery. Injectable penicillin is very good at eradicating the bacteria present in most rabbit abscesses.
Apologies if you already know all this. ...
Tinsel
Wise Old Thumper
So sorry to hear this. Strongly advise manuka honey, factor 25. Toadstool was riddled with abscesses and written off by two vets, who couldn't believe their eyes when they saw how it helped him, even overnight. He became totally abscess free. Really hope she can recover. Youth is on her side.
ETA It may be possible to pack the abscess with honey rather than operate. It's gross, but you need to keep an entry route to the abscess open so you can syringe the gunk out and then use a sterilized syringe to inject the honey into the abscess cavity until it starts pouring out. Vet's blessing needed, but definitely worth asking/researching. Only take no as an answer from a vet who is familiar with it! :wave:
ETA It may be possible to pack the abscess with honey rather than operate. It's gross, but you need to keep an entry route to the abscess open so you can syringe the gunk out and then use a sterilized syringe to inject the honey into the abscess cavity until it starts pouring out. Vet's blessing needed, but definitely worth asking/researching. Only take no as an answer from a vet who is familiar with it! :wave:
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tlcwrites
Mama Doe
Thank you so much for all of the advice! I'm going to take my tablet to her appointment tomorrow, to show Charlotte the advice that has been given before we proceed with anything. The emergency vet did actually recommend a practice just north of Norwich called "All Creatures Great and Small" as they have vets who actually specialise in exotics. (I will never get over the fact that rabbits are the third most common pet in the UK and are classified as "exotics". I know it means not really being taught on the syallabus at vet school, but anyway...) Has anyone heard anything about that surgery?
Athena is in good spirits, all things considered. She hates the cone of shame, of course. She hates having me poke around at her abscess but it's a necessary evil. Today, I was on the receiving end of some very mean bunny kicks and now have a cut across my left palm and the back of my right hand. Can't blame her for that. :lol: I would too.
Athena is in good spirits, all things considered. She hates the cone of shame, of course. She hates having me poke around at her abscess but it's a necessary evil. Today, I was on the receiving end of some very mean bunny kicks and now have a cut across my left palm and the back of my right hand. Can't blame her for that. :lol: I would too.
tlcwrites
Mama Doe
Athena is having surgery to remove the abscess tomorrow. I've been told that I have been doing a good job keeping it clean though, which is reassuring. As is the fact that it was understandable missing them in the first place as a. It wasn't properly noticeable until they shaved her and b. She has been acting so healthy, so happy due in part to rabbit nature and that she loves/trust me.
Please keep her in your thoughts.
Please keep her in your thoughts.
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Best of luck for your girl tomorrow. Hopefully she will have a long and happy life now and I agree surgery is worth it rather than pts in her situation.
Jack's-Jane
Wise Old Thumper
Poor Athena Sending lots of vibes for her xx
Sending lots of vibes for her xx
Scrappy's Little Helper
Mama Doe
Sending loads of vibes for Athena. Hope her surgery goes well and that they can remove that abscess xx
keletkezes
Wise Old Thumper
Good luck!
tlcwrites
Mama Doe
Athena is through the surgery and in recovery.
She had a little wobble during it because of the anaesthetic. However, she is now doing fantastically well - she's eating like a trooper and hopping around. One of the nurses was even dancing because of just how well she is post-surgery. They've stitched and glued her up after removing the abscesses. Of course, I am fully aware that it could still come back. But, she has had the surgery and fingers crossed this will be the end of her problems. I'll be keeping an eye on it like a hawk because if it does return, the sooner you catch them the better I think.
Thank you for the vibes - but please still keep her in your thoughts. I so want this to work, so much that it physically hurts. Athena deserves a long, healthy life and she is a joy to live with.
She had a little wobble during it because of the anaesthetic. However, she is now doing fantastically well - she's eating like a trooper and hopping around. One of the nurses was even dancing because of just how well she is post-surgery. They've stitched and glued her up after removing the abscesses. Of course, I am fully aware that it could still come back. But, she has had the surgery and fingers crossed this will be the end of her problems. I'll be keeping an eye on it like a hawk because if it does return, the sooner you catch them the better I think.
Thank you for the vibes - but please still keep her in your thoughts. I so want this to work, so much that it physically hurts. Athena deserves a long, healthy life and she is a joy to live with.
Jack's-Jane
Wise Old Thumper
Bless her, I hope that she will now go on to make a good recovery. I assume that she will be sent home with pain relief and antibiotics ?
MightyMax
Banned
Athena is through the surgery and in recovery.
She had a little wobble during it because of the anaesthetic. However, she is now doing fantastically well - she's eating like a trooper and hopping around. One of the nurses was even dancing because of just how well she is post-surgery. They've stitched and glued her up after removing the abscesses. Of course, I am fully aware that it could still come back. But, she has had the surgery and fingers crossed this will be the end of her problems. I'll be keeping an eye on it like a hawk because if it does return, the sooner you catch them the better I think.
Thank you for the vibes - but please still keep her in your thoughts. I so want this to work, so much that it physically hurts. Athena deserves a long, healthy life and she is a joy to live with.
It was a joy to read your update on Athena! What a lovely rabbit she is. Sorry she wobbled during the op.
Wishing her all the healing vibes for a quick recovery xx
tlcwrites
Mama Doe
Already have the metacam and baytril at home. Been instructed to pop in for more if we run out.
Well done Athena.
