Always Worried About Plumpkin - Update

Beapig said:

Thanks for the vibes everyone!

I called up the vet first thing and had a chat. She said that the abscess seemed to be caused/triggered by a molar that had lots of inflamed tissue around it. The abscess was drained and she was then given pain killers. She told me that she has prescribed just antibiotics and randititine, not metacam on top of that, because it could be too much for her liver? She said if she is eating well (which she is) then to just keep doing what we are doing and to bring her in, in 2 weeks time for a checkup.

She said her only worry is it might be a tumour/worse than just an abscess, so we will keep an eye on it. Seems likely to me that it was triggered by her last dental.

She also said I can wash it in a salt solution if it gets weepy, but right now it is looking dry and okay.

I think I'm going to keep her indoors alone for another day to make sure she is eating lots, but she does seem to be doing well and has taken all of her medication willingly mixed up with mashed banana, her favourite

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Hi there and thanks for this update

As we've spoken privately I won't duplicate on here, but know that I am always around if you need anything xx

I am pleased that Plumpkin seems ok and is eating which is always a good sign. Let us hope the abscess won't return or be a tumour and as she is eating then no need for Metacam.

I thought I'd update you all on Plumpkin.

She has been back outside since early this morning with her friends. It has been very warm here so a good day to transition her back outside again.

Beatrice was a bit iffy with her at first but has now calmed down. Hamilton was very excited to see her and washed her face for ages - he has cleaned her abscess very gently and it looks nice and clean and like it is healing.

Still keeping a very close eye, but she is definitely happier with her friends again in her usual surroundings. Thanks so much everyone for all of the vibes <3

Beapig said:

I thought I'd update you all on Plumpkin.

She has been back outside since early this morning with her friends. It has been very warm here so a good day to transition her back outside again.

Beatrice was a bit iffy with her at first but has now calmed down. Hamilton was very excited to see her and washed her face for ages - he has cleaned her abscess very gently and it looks nice and clean and like it is healing.

Still keeping a very close eye, but she is definitely happier with her friends again in her usual surroundings. Thanks so much everyone for all of the vibes <3

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That is a fab update - her friends should help her keep her wound clean

Beapig said:

I thought I'd update you all on Plumpkin.

She has been back outside since early this morning with her friends. It has been very warm here so a good day to transition her back outside again.

Beatrice was a bit iffy with her at first but has now calmed down. Hamilton was very excited to see her and washed her face for ages - he has cleaned her abscess very gently and it looks nice and clean and like it is healing.

Still keeping a very close eye, but she is definitely happier with her friends again in her usual surroundings. Thanks so much everyone for all of the vibes <3

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Lovely to hear

I'm so glad you've sorted out the in/out dilemma x

Aww what a lovely welcome home she got from Hamilton I'm sure she must feel a lot happier with H and B.

I am pleased Plumpkin seems happy with her friends.

Oh - wow! (sheds a tear of delight). This is the best news I've had today and just so wonderful. And what a simply superb welcome back from Hamilton. Rabbits can be so delicate and caring and people don't give them the understanding they deserve. Hamilton knows - he absolutley knows how Plumkin is and he is responding in such a tender and caring way. I can just picture the beautiful scene. And it must must make Plumpkin feel so much part of that rabbit clan and feel a bond with her fellow bunnies - and that will make a massive difference to Plumpkins emotional and spiritual inner wellbeing and help to speed up her healing process. Oh, this is just a wonderful heart warming thread and update and I am just in awe of everything you are doing. I hope Plumpkin continues to heal and get back to full health and continues to thrive ini the abundance of love and care with you.

Thank you for your kind words everyone!

To be honest, I'm still feeling very stressed about Plumpkin. She is eating, but still doesn't have a great appetite and is just picking at her food really. She doesn't have signs of gut stasis or anything like that, she's just melancholy and perhaps her mouth is still quite sore?

Beatrice gave her a hard time yesterday (they are friends again now) and I think that has put her on edge a bit too.

Honestly guys, it's such a hard one. She didn't seem very happy inside but she still seems depressed outside too.

I'm honestly doing all I can for her - I wish she could speak human for just one minute to tell me what's wrong so I can help.

Also, the vet is Bristol never replied to my email about the specialist Could call them up or look elsewhere (feeling put off by the bad customer service)

Edit:

I just tried offering her the smoothie that she turned her nose up at this morning and she's tucking in. It's cabbage, kale, broccoli, fibafirst sticks and banana with a bit of water. I think this might be progress?

20181019_182904 by Rachel Brown, on Flickr

Oh bless her. You’re doing a fantastic job caring for her. Sending lots of love to you both x

Glingle said:

Oh bless her. You’re doing a fantastic job caring for her. Sending lots of love to you both x

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I agree. As I have previously mentioned, Plumpkin is very lucky to have found her way to you xx

Good girl eating your food. No rabbit has ever eaten my home made mash noms...you must be a good bunny chef

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Great to see her wound is clearing up very nicely and very quickly - always a good sign. And so nice to see her tucking into that smoothie. Every new days is progress forward and you are putting Plumkin in a far better place. Sorry the vets in Bristol didn't get back - but don't give up looking for an opinion from another specialist.

Beapig said:

Thank you for your kind words everyone!

To be honest, I'm still feeling very stressed about Plumpkin. She is eating, but still doesn't have a great appetite and is just picking at her food really. She doesn't have signs of gut stasis or anything like that, she's just melancholy and perhaps her mouth is still quite sore?

Beatrice gave her a hard time yesterday (they are friends again now) and I think that has put her on edge a bit too.

Honestly guys, it's such a hard one. She didn't seem very happy inside but she still seems depressed outside too.

I'm honestly doing all I can for her - I wish she could speak human for just one minute to tell me what's wrong so I can help.

Also, the vet is Bristol never replied to my email about the specialist Could call them up or look elsewhere (feeling put off by the bad customer service)

Edit:

I just tried offering her the smoothie that she turned her nose up at this morning and she's tucking in. It's cabbage, kale, broccoli, fibafirst sticks and banana with a bit of water. I think this might be progress?

20181019_182904 by Rachel Brown, on Flickr

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If you don't feel you can follow up with a phone call, then I would look elsewhere, or else seek recommendations of vets that are within your reach who specialise in rabbits.

Thanks so much for the lovely messages everyone <3 Just a little update on Plumpkin - she has been a bit indifferent to her food, so I've been doing everything I can to perk her appetite up. She now gets a minimum of 10 Fibafirst sticks every day, which I pour boiling water over and let them sit for a minute before draining. I then mix in some mashed banana, a small handful of pellets and a sprinkle of oats.

I think her mouth must still be a bit sore, because she's been avoiding the vegetables, so I'm blending those too into a bunny smoothie. The one veg she is eating at the moment is kale, but it has to be kale from my raised bed! It's softer than the kale I get from the farmer's market and she loves it. So thank you x a billion to Omi for helping me grow those back in June/July

Overall Plumpkin seems better in herself and has a lot more energy (she was running around last night when I came outside to put them away) so I see that as a positive sign that she's improving. I have ditched the diet rule book and am feeding her based on what she likes. I've found that if I give her a sprinkle of pellets, she's more likely to dig into her vegetables afterwards. Yesterday I brought a large cutting of brambles from my walk and she wasn't interested at all (not like her, brambles are her favourite forage) so I gave her a leaf from the kale bed first and that encouraged her to join the other two and eat some.

It is very much a day to day case of mollycoddling and giving her anything/everything to perk up her appetite and encourage her to eat lots. I am personally putting visiting a specialist on hold, because I would like to improve her body condition before I potentially travel across the country with her. I think she needs time to feel settled again and gain weight, and I could really do with time to save money for the trip because she's cost me an arm and a leg this month :lol:

I’m glad she is feeling energetic, she is very lucky that you are such a devoted bunny chef sending lots more vibes and hugs xx

So lovely that she likes your Kale I would have the same thoughts as you regarding giving Plumpkin what she likes rather than trying to keep to a rabbit feeding rule book. Hopefully she will thrive with her modified diet.

Thank you so much guys <3

Just a little update - she is enjoying the smoothie bowls more and more and is literally licking the bowl clean. Here's a picture of her tucking in to brekky this morning:

20181025_085637 by Rachel Brown, on Flickr

I went to the vet earlier today so Bea and Ham could have their Myx and VHD1 vaccinations. Had a long chat with my vet (by luck we saw the vet I believe is the most savvy and that I have the most confidence in) - I brought up going to a specialist and he said he knows Highcroft in Bristol is meant to be amazing for rabbits, but that he isn't sure they'd be able to do more than the surgery here are already doing.

He thought the smoothies were a great idea and he also mentioned in the past he has prescribed penicillin injections every 2 days to rabbits with abscesses if it's a recurring problem, but that you have to be really careful because it's poisonous to them if ingested through the mouth.

I went in with a lot of positivity, because I HAVE to stay positive for Plumpkin's sake and my own sanity, but he very much views her health improving as a lost cause :/

I think all I can do is continue to feed her three times a day and monitor her frequently. We are also making great progress with their winter shed and should have it up in a couple of weeks. I am literally doing everything within my power that I can for her. Hopefully it will be enough!

I am so pleased Plumpkin is enjoying your Smoothies and you are doing everything that is humanly possible for her.

She is so gorgeous & its heartening to see her tuck in to thoose smoothies. I so wish I'd properly digested all the info from FHB's dental lectures. I do know dental bunnies can live long & happy lives though. Its very true what your vet said about penicillin. It can be v effective on rabbit abscesses but it needs to be injected as oral consumption can v easily be effective