• Forum/Server Upgrade If you are reading this you have made it to the upgraded forum. Posts made on the old forum after 26th October 2023 have not been transfered. Everything else should be here. If you find any issues please let us know.
  • Please Note - Medical Advice

    Please keep in mind that posts on this forum are from members of the public sharing personal opinions. It is not a replacement for qualified medical advice from a veterinarian. Many illnesses share similar symptoms but require different treatments. A medical exam is necessary for an accurate diagnosis, without which appropriate treatment cannot be given.

    You should always consult your vet before following any suggestions for medication or treatment you have read about. The wrong treatment could make your rabbit worse or mean your vet is unable to give the correct treatment because of drug interactions. Even non prescription drugs can do harm if given inappropriately.

    We are very grateful to members who take time to answer other members questions, but please do be clear in your replies that you are sharing personal experience and not giving instructions on what must be done.

    Urgent Medical Advice: If you need, or think you might need, urgent medical advice you should contact a vet. If it is out of working hours phone your vet's normal number and there should be an answer phone message with instructions on what to do.

Abscess advice needed please :(

Bobbybobtail

Warren Scout
My lovely Rex went to a rabbit charity to be bonded to another equally lovely bunny. When I collected them 2 weeks later I took them straight home and noticed a large swelling under my rexes chin. I took him to my vet who put a needle in and confirmed it was an abscess.
That same day he underwent a general anaesthetic and removal of the abscess which had grown fingers. She was not one hundred percent sure whether all of the fingers had been removed. The wound was stitched inside and glued on the outside.
We are now day 4 post op. He is on baytril antibiotics twice a day, an antibiotic injection every 2 days and meloxidyl painkillers once a day.
He is eating and pooing fine and is probably at 80 percent of his normal activity level. On monday I am taking him to a rabbit specialist to discuss having an xray as my vet was worried the abscess had spread into his jaw. I am convinced the abscess is due to trauma as the vet said he had scratches on his neck and the rabbit charity said there had been a scuffle a week into bonding.
Can anyone advise me what to look out for if it is possibly dental?
Would he be ok to have another general anaesthetic a week after the first one just to have an x ray?
The wound tissue has thickened- how will I know if it has pus behind it?
If it has spread to the jaw, what is the prognosis?
The vet also told me to let him eat freely and not restrict his pellets while he's healing- he seems to be consuming more than usual but still eating lots of hay and vegetables. Is this ok?

I'm just totally gutted that 2 weeks ago he appeared absolutely healthy. Then i left him in the care of the rabbit charity for two weeks and picked him up with this abscess which they had not noticed. So far I have already spent alot on vets fees and I will continue to do so, but I wish to spend the money wisely in order to help him the best I can.

If anyone has been in a similar situation or can offer advice I would be so grateful.
Sorry for the long post but I'm struggling and just want the best for my bunny xxx
 
Sorry I can't help but bumping it up for you so someone else can sorry to hear your bunny isn't well :roll:
 
It may be that the abscess is not related to a tooth root infection but the result of a bite given the other wounds around his neck. If so that would actually be good news in that a tooth root abscess can be very problematic, especially if it has also infected bone (osteomyelitis)

Xrays would be needed to determine this and the results should enable the Vet to give you some sort of prognosis. Treatment will depend on the precise situation you are dealing with, but certainly at this stage there is no reason not to remain hopeful that there will be a good outcome.

Do you know if the Vet took a swab from the abscess wall to test for the exact bacteria involved ? Whilst Baytril is a good broad spectrum antibiotic sometimes alternative/additional antibiotics are needed too.

I would probably get the Vet to take a look at the wound today as it may be necessary to open up a drainage hole if there is now more pus forming. This will enable the wound to be flushed out twice a day and it can be very useful to then pack the cavity with Manuka Honey (umf 25+)

The Rabbit Specialist will be certain to take relevant precautions if another GA is required next week. The sooner you find out exactly what is going on the better then appropriate and hopefully curative treatment can be given

Good luck x
 
Thanks so much for your advice. Saw the on call vet who thinks its just thickening of the wound. Really cannot wait to see the specialist on monday.
It appears that no culture was taken from the abscess but he is on baytril and another antibiotic injection which I gave him this morning. In himself he seems perky so I guess I need to be patient.
thanks again
 
As usual Jane has given excellent advice.:thumb:

I'll just add that I hope your bunny can be helped and on the way to recovery asap. xxx
 
Thanks so much for your advice. Saw the on call vet who thinks its just thickening of the wound. Really cannot wait to see the specialist on monday.
It appears that no culture was taken from the abscess but he is on baytril and another antibiotic injection which I gave him this morning. In himself he seems perky so I guess I need to be patient.
thanks again

Sounds like he is receiving all the appropriate treatment at this stage. Here's hoping that the infection just involved soft tissue and that the surgery and the abx will bring about a full recovery.

Please let us know how he gets on on Monday.
 
Yes, I was about to say he seems to be receiving everything he needs. Do you know what the antibiotic injection is? And how long is the course of antibiotics going to be?

I have had loads of success with abscesses being removed and then having penicillin injections afterwards. The courses I have given have been eight weeks long with injections every three days. These were for tooth root abscesses which are possibly the worse, so I really hope his isn't teeth related.

Lots of luck for Monday!
 
I can't remember what the injectable antibiotics are- the vet put some in a syringe and it's not due again til Monday when he sees the specialist.
thank goodness he's a compliant bunny.
Thanks for the information- I will definately enquire about this. Hes 2.5 years old and never had a dental problem before so I am hoping and praying it's not dental and not in his jaw.
Thanks once again
 
Well the wound has opened up and I can feel a larger lump behind it which to me feels like the abcess has returned. He's ok in himself. Roll on tomorrow when we see the specialist.
Trying to work out how to post a photo.
 
Just an update.
Saw rabbit vet again. Shes going to x ray and reopen the wound tomorrow. Yikes. She thinks it is the abscess again.
Hes to continue on oral baytril and oral meloyidil and penicillin injections every 2 days.
She will leave the wound open and pack it with manuka honey for me to continue to do so at home.
I'm hoping and praying it has not spread to his jaw. She looked at his teeth which appeared fine.
 
It's good news in a way. The x rays showed his jaw and teeth to be fine:D
The abscess was reopened and cleaned up and left open. He is to continue with painkillers, baytrill and penicillin injections as well as me washing the wound twice a day and packing it with honey.
I'm so glad to have him home. he looks old and tired but that's understandable. I managed to clean the wound with aerosol saline, then dry it and then put the honey in- it's already seeping out and the other bunny tries to lick it!
Back on friday for follow up.
Thanks everyone and hope those other poorly buns perk up soon.
 
How is your rabbit now?
I've got one with the same problem, discovered it on Wednesday.
He's on antibiotics , painkillers and flushing out then applying Manuka honey but the abcess looks open hard and horrible today.
 
Back
Top