• 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.

Lump under jaw U/D: New lump 2 weeks after surgery

Azucena

Alpha Buck
Came home after being at uni, and Humphrey has a lump under his jaw. :cry:
He's eating well etc. (although has been pooing in his run a bit), and active. He is 6 1/2.
He's at the vets tomorrow, but I want to feel prepared for what it might be. Any thoughts? :cry: Thanks.

______________

U/D: He had surgery to remove 2 abscesses under his jaw nearly 2 weeks ago; yesterday I felt a pea-sized lump just along from his surgery scabs.
He will be booked into see the vet again.. but what are your thoughts. :(
 
Last edited:
X-rays would be my first thought. That would show any jaw or dental issues (or show that there are none), and possibly any soft tissue involvement.

It could be an abscess. These usually needs surgical removal, long term penicillin injections and pain relief, plus wound cleaning and and packing with manuka honey if it is an open wound.

It's good that he is eating well and that you have spotted it early.
 
Came home after being at uni, and Humphrey has a lump under his jaw. :cry:
He's eating well etc. (although has been pooing in his run a bit), and active. He is 6 1/2.
He's at the vets tomorrow, but I want to feel prepared for what it might be. Any thoughts? :cry: Thanks.

Lumps along the jawline are often abscesses. The abscess is frequently directly related to an infected tooth root and/or other Dental problems. These links may be useful to read:

*WARNING SOME GRAPHIC IMAGES*

http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Dental_diseases/Treatment/Facial/abs_dental.htm

http://www.ivis.org/proceedings/navc/2006/SAE/615.pdf?LA=1

http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Dental_diseases/Differential/Rabbit_dentistry.pdf

Good luck at the Vets x
 
X-rays would be my first thought. That would show any jaw or dental issues (or show that there are none), and possibly any soft tissue involvement.

It could be an abscess. These usually needs surgical removal, long term penicillin injections and pain relief, plus wound cleaning and and packing with manuka honey if it is an open wound.

It's good that he is eating well and that you have spotted it early.


I agree with Shimmer.

There are several ways to deal with an abscess, if that's what it turns out to be. I have found that surgically excising the wound and packing and dealing with Manuka Honey works well in conjunction with penicillin injections.

Sometimes the vet will lance and drain the abscess and follow the above protocol.

Some reading - *may contain graphic images*

http://www.all-creatures.com/blog-Abscesses+in+Rabbits.html

http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Dental_diseases/Treatment/Facial/abs_dental.htm

http://www.rabbitwelfare.co.uk/resources/content/info-sheets/abscesses.htm

http://rabbit.org/abcesses-in-rabbits/
 
U/D: He had surgery to remove 2 abscesses under his jaw nearly 2 weeks ago; yesterday I felt a pea-sized lump just along from his surgery scabs.
He will be booked into see the vet again.. but what are your thoughts. :(
 
What treatment has he had since the surgery?

An injectable Penicillin is usually given for abscesses for several weeks or months. This can be done at home - a vet nurse would show you how to do it. Frequency varies from daily to a couple of times a week, depending on what your vet recommends.

An anti-inflammatory may also be recommended (eg metacam).

If the lump is at the same site as a previous one, it could just be inflammation (although after 2 weeks I would expect it to be reducing), or it could be infection, new abscess, or recurrence of the abscess if the entire capsule was not removed. Often the wound is left open in order for it to heal from the inside. Daily cleaning (wipe out with a cotton bud or flush with eg saline or hibiscrub using a 1ml syringe) and packing with a high UMF factor manuka honey (medical grade) is fairly standard treatment in my experience. The scabs may be removed by soaking them to soften them, or the site may need surgically reopening and draining.
 
U/D: He had surgery to remove 2 abscesses under his jaw nearly 2 weeks ago; yesterday I felt a pea-sized lump just along from his surgery scabs.
He will be booked into see the vet again.. but what are your thoughts. :(



Sorry to hear this Azucena :(

What antibiotic treatment is he on currently? I usually give Penicillin injections daily when dealing with an abscess, and continue that protocol for a couple of weeks before switching to every other day injections.

Are the abscesses in completely separate locations, or side by said along the jawline?
 
U/D: He had surgery to remove 2 abscesses under his jaw nearly 2 weeks ago; yesterday I felt a pea-sized lump just along from his surgery scabs.
He will be booked into see the vet again.. but what are your thoughts. :(

When he had the surgery did the Vet take any Xrays to ascertain if there is any infection in the actual jaw bone and/or if tooth root elongation is involved ? Did the Vet take swabs from the abscess wall (not just pus) to establish what bacteria are involved and the most suitable antibiotic to prescribe ? I assume that Humphrey has been on an antibiotic after his surgery ?

Perhaps have a look at the links I posted previously :

*WARNING SOME GRAPHIC IMAGES*

http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Dental_diseases/Treatment/Facial/abs_dental.htm

http://www.ivis.org/proceedings/navc/2006/SAE/615.pdf?LA=1

http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Dental_diseases/Differential/Rabbit_dentistry.pdf
 
When he had the surgery did the Vet take any Xrays to ascertain if there is any infection in the actual jaw bone and/or if tooth root elongation is involved ? Did the Vet take swabs from the abscess wall (not just pus) to establish what bacteria are involved and the most suitable antibiotic to prescribe ? I assume that Humphrey has been on an antibiotic after his surgery ?

Perhaps have a look at the links I posted previously :

*WARNING SOME GRAPHIC IMAGES*

http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Dental_diseases/Treatment/Facial/abs_dental.htm

http://www.ivis.org/proceedings/navc/2006/SAE/615.pdf?LA=1

http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Dental_diseases/Differential/Rabbit_dentistry.pdf

He did have X-rays and the cause appears to be tooth root elongation. He's been on Baytril. Unfortunately I was at uni so couldn't attend his follow up appointment with him last week so wasn't able to ask questions.
 
@MightyMax (tagging your post didn't seem to work)

He was on Baytril but the course ended.

The new lump is just a cm or two along his jaw from one of the scabs.. further 'up' to jaw towards his face if that makes sense.
He didn't get Penicillin injections. :(
 
Last edited:
He did have X-rays and the cause appears to be tooth root elongation. He's been on Baytril. Unfortunately I was at uni so couldn't attend his follow up appointment with him last week so wasn't able to ask questions.

Perhaps it'd be a good idea to discuss treating him with a more 'heavy duty' abx. As Shimmer suggested an injectable Penicillin can be useful. Is your Vet very 'Rabbit Savvy' ? The treatment of Dental abscesses are challenging and not all Vets are fully up to speed on the best way to approach the problem. If you have confidence in your Vet and they are 'Rabbit Savvy' great, but if not would a referral to a Specialist be an option ?
 
@Shimmer (again, tagging from other message did not work)

He had a week of Baytril syringed.
The lump is close to the old one and very pea-like. You can see if.. as if there is a small pea under his skin.
We weren't advised to leave his wound open, although the surgery wounds do look to be healing quite well.
 
Last edited:
Perhaps it'd be a good idea to discuss treating him with a more 'heavy duty' abx. As Shimmer suggested an injectable Penicillin can be useful. Is your Vet very 'Rabbit Savvy' ? The treatment of Dental abscesses are challenging and not all Vets are fully up to speed on the best way to approach the problem. If you have confidence in your Vet and they are 'Rabbit Savvy' great, but if not would a referral to a Specialist be an option ?

Here's a bit more info'

http://veterinarycalendar.dvm360.co...es-rabbits-proceedings?id=&pageID=1&sk=&date=
 
Perhaps it'd be a good idea to discuss treating him with a more 'heavy duty' abx. As Shimmer suggested an injectable Penicillin can be useful. Is your Vet very 'Rabbit Savvy' ? The treatment of Dental abscesses are challenging and not all Vets are fully up to speed on the best way to approach the problem. If you have confidence in your Vet and they are 'Rabbit Savvy' great, but if not would a referral to a Specialist be an option ?

He's very competent with surgery regarding rabbits, guinea pigs, etc. but I'm not sure of his experience with dental abscesses exactly.
Would referral be something I bring up at the next appointment? Do I suggest someone, or should the vet know who would be best?
 
Sorry to hear your little bunny is having trouble. I just rang my specialist direct to get an appointment, it just speeds everything up. You can then ask for your surgery to send the notes over to the other surgery so the specialist is up to speed on what treatment has been given. Good luck.
 
Thank you - that was very useful.. I think a specialist may be needed.. Can I just ring up a specialist directly or would I need to discuss with my current vet first during the next appointment?

If you call a Specialist yourself you will need to give him/her your current Vet's contact details so the Specialist/Second Opinion Vet can request that your Rabbit's notes are emailed to them straight away x
 
Thank you - that was very useful.. I think a specialist may be needed.. Can I just ring up a specialist directly or would I need to discuss with my current vet first during the next appointment?


You can go to any vet or specialist that will see you without a referral. Otherwise you can get your vet to refer you, if the specialist *only* takes referrals.

The new vet will want the history from your vet, to know what treatment has been carried out so far.

I would ring up a rabbit savvy vet asap if I were you.
 
I would ask your vet if they can recommend someone for a referral. If you make first contact, I would give your vet a courtesy call so they know what's happening and to expect a contact from the specialist. You will need them on side for continued treatment any future issues, so they would also need to know what's happening.
 
Back
Top