Rabbit SEVERE dental abscess U/D post #35 - Vet results - now possible EC

On one of my buns nearly 2 yrs ago, the offending tooth was immediately removed, as my vet was adamant without doing that it would just be an ongoing problem. The tooth was removed first which then gave better access to the abscess, whereby the whole capsule was removed, and it then closed with sutures.

Bun had 5 days of daily depocillan injections, marbocyl and metacam daily, never been a problem or reoccured since.

My vet is very much a specialist and his wife is as well, and they both agree with very aggressive immediate treatment, so that it doesn't have a chance to take a hold. I no a lot of people and vets are worried about such drastic immediate treatment, but I trust my vet completely and would much rather the problem was sorted in this manner and completely irradicated, as oppose to a softer gentler approach, that may stop the infection getting any worse, but often isn't enough to clear completely.

Dipsy had a GA and was syringe fed recovery diet for 2 days and was then comfortable enough to eat the recovery diet by himself from a bowl with some grated carrot and kale mixed in for 3 days, then he had soaked pellets and soft veg for 5 days, and was nibbling at soft meadow hay purchased as a bale from local farm, and then within 2 weeks was eating normally.

...

It was just the one tooth, and he has had the opposite tooth burred just the once in nearly 2 yrs, and that is just a 2 minute job that he does during the consultation. I really have found that the hay my buns eat the best, is buying a bale of the field and the farmer drops it over for £2.

To be honest I had never had a bun with an abscess or tooth problem, so I was totally guided by my vet, but he really is brilliant, and his wife. The both of them run a rabbit clinic in northampton. It's good to be able to pass on info about personal experience though.

He had a GA because as it was in his jaw he said it was most likely to be caused by something to do with the tooth. He x-rayed his jaw and found an elongated tooth root which was the probable cause, and said that obviously if the tooth isn't removed that it will just be an ongoing problem, and with regards the abscess there are 2 options. He recommended as he was having a GA anyway and was going to be an insurance claim, to remove the whole capsule, or it could be lanced and drained, but he had a 99% chance of it keep reoccuring, and they can seem to take forever to clear up then, and sometimes never will. Dipsy is a 'special needs' bunny with neurological issues so it was never an option to treat half heartedly and hope for the best, because he was to high risk for the GA's.

It worked out a bargain actually because Dipsy was booked in the following week for his neuter, and Simon suggested doing the neuter at the same time, because the actual GA and drugs would go on the insurance claim, and instead of paying £75 for his neuter, he charged me just £30 for the neuter which couldn't go on the claim. Bargain or what ay

Actually, I didn't mean your vet treated your bun half-heartedly, but I've got 5 'special needs' house bunnies, and with a very high risk bun like Dipsy for a GA, it isn't really an option to keep risking GA's.

Hi, I have a dental bun. February last year I noticed Boris had a jaw lump. He had a X ray and they said his jaw was so infected it had deformed. He had the abscess lanced and anti biotic beads put in. 2 Week later it came back and as the first vet wanted to put him to sleep we moved him to another vets. After getting his x ray though they noticed he had tooth root infection. All his details were sent off to a rabbit savvy vet who said if we pull the tooth his jaw would shatter. They decided to try control it with depocillin. He started on every 2 days and now he's on every 4 days which I do myself. He has had his molars burred since and his infected tooth checked. They are hoping it will come lose enough to pull eventually. A year and half later he's still here and happy

....

It would still be worth getting your bun insured. Scooter and Olly are both tripod bunnies, and no their missing legs obviously aren't insured, but then I guess not likely to get a problem with nothing lol.

So much else can go wrong though and so costly if happens during out of hours times. I have found Petplan very fair, because the buns I have adopted with their varying disabilities, although the condition has been excluded initially, if after 6 or 12 months, there has been no relevant claim made, they have then removed it when Simon has confirmed by email or fax there have been no problems.

Was a godsend to me that the exclusion on Dipsy's neurological issues had just been removed, because over the christmas holiday last year, him and Pippa had a massive binky in the lounge, and Dipsy crashed into the wall, knocked himself out and split his head open!!

Had to be rushed to emergency vets to be assessed. Had loads of meds, his head shaved , ga and skull x-rays to see what damage had been done. Fortunately just bruising but was admitted for a couple of days, IV fluids, pain relief, antibiotics etc and £827 bill that I just couldn't have afforded.

Most vets deal direct with Petplan, which means you only ever have to pay the usual £50 excess, and they then settle the claim direct with your vet.

I've heard people say they don't cover dental treatment, but they have paid for in total 3 dental procedures on my buns over the past 2 years, and the only requirement to cover dental work has been, that the bun has been seen in the previous 12 months by a vet and had teeth checked.

The premiums for all my buns are less then £10 each per month, and they are also disabled buns.

...

...

...

Rabbit SEVERE dental abscess U/D post #31 - more symptoms

...

It sounds as though he may be displaying neurological symptoms now. This might involve an additional problem-EC (Encephalitozoon Cuniculi) EC is a protozoal parasite which over 50% of Pet Rabbits will have been exposed to at some time. Whilst the actual parasite is excreted spores can remain dormant in the blood stream and they only become 'active' when the Rabbit's immune system comes under a lot of stress-eg from a concurrent illness. Should this scenario occur then various symptoms can present including neurological symptoms and urinary tract symptoms.

So in view of this I would contact the Vet again today and see if he/she thinks that your Rabbit needs to be examined again and if additional treatment is necessary. I would not delay in making contact with the Vet as the sooner any new problem is addressed the better the prognosis

Good luck

Jack's-Jane said:

It sounds as though he may be displaying neurological symptoms now. This might involve an additional problem-EC (Encephalitozoon Cuniculi) EC is a protozoal parasite which over 50% of Pet Rabbits will have been exposed to at some time. Whilst the actual parasite is excreted spores can remain dormant in the blood stream and they only become 'active' when the Rabbit's immune system comes under a lot of stress-eg from a concurrent illness. Should this scenario occur then various symptoms can present including neurological symptoms and urinary tract symptoms.


So in view of this I would contact the Vet again today and see if he/she thinks that your Rabbit needs to be examined again and if additional treatment is necessary. I would not delay in making contact with the Vet as the sooner any new problem is addressed the better the prognosis



Good luck

Click to expand...

Definately the above from Jack's Jane, as seems highly likely with the stress he has been under recently with the abscess and teeth, plus I would be worried that the circling may just be one step away from the actual rolling, and that is just horrific to witness in a rabbit.

The poor wee soul... To come through all of this and end up with EC would be so cruel...

Love and vibes being sent

Fee xxx

...

I think the trouble is when the immune system is busy dealing with one thing, it can mean it's a bit more prone to problems else where. Did the vet mention treating for EC with pancur?

...

alzalfie said:

Hi Tamsin,

No she didn’t, I was also told to stop pain relief as he had been on Loxicom for just over a week and his tummy is a little upset. Would Pancur be any good or is it too late?

I asked about Penicillin injections but she said it’s too dangerous and they only ever prescribe that for one illness in rabbits and mine doesn’t have that.

His abscess is in the bone, she thinks there may be a new growth in the brain but again this is just an assumption due to his other symptoms.

Click to expand...

I would ask your vet for Pancur and Metcam, which both address the cause and symptoms of E.C. Metacam will help reduce any inflammation which may be caused by the parasite. Panacur is very helpful and no, it's not too late.

I have given penicillin injections to literally dozens of rabbits (fosters and rescues) and I've found they can work terrifically well where other antibiotics fail. My vet was like yours, she said she wasn't in favour of penicillin injections as she thought they were dangerous for a rabbit. I found another rabbit vet with more experience of abscesses and got some penicillin right away. Two years on, my little one is still totally abscess free.

....