Ear surgery

[Sky-O]

Has anyone had their bun go through ear surgery for an inner ear issue (specifically the bullae)?

What was it like? How did it go? How did the bunny cope? How was the recovery?

Thanks in advance.

 

[MiniC]

Ours has had two ear cleanings. She was fine after the first, just a little quieter after the vet stay/drugs. Back to herself in a few days.

The second time, they created a little hole to allow the ear to drain itself, and she was a bit traumatised that time, because all she knows is that she woke up with a wound. She took a bit of convincing that she was safe. Recovery was fine, I had to keep her separate for about 6 weeks.

 

[Sky-O]

Thank you. That’s very helpful. How did you know she had an infection in her ears?

 

[MiniC]

Thank you. That’s very helpful. How did you know she had an infection in her ears?

I could feel a lump under her ear, so she went for a CT scan that showed a build up in both. They have to do a CT scan to confirm the extent of the infection, because it can often travel to the inner ear.

 

[Sky-O]

I could feel a lump under her ear, so she went for a CT scan that showed a build up in both. They have to do a CT scan to confirm the extent of the infection, because it can often travel to the inner ear.

Thank you. We had a CT done yesterday but the results are giving us more questions than answers, unfortunately. It’s useful to know yours was definitive on the CT scan and also identifiable from outside.

 

[MiniC]

Thank you. We had a CT done yesterday but the results are giving us more questions than answers, unfortunately. It’s useful to know yours was definitive on the CT scan and also identifiable from outside.

Oh no! That's frustrating! Does it suggest it's travelled inwards?

 

[Sky-O]

It’s not actually clear what ‘it’ is, but she has a significant problem in both her bullae. Which presents a confusing set of options, one of which is surgery.

 

[Bunny Buddy]

I have have had two rabbits have surgery for ear infections but I don't know if it would be classed as inner ear. (ie does "inner" refer to internal or specifically deeper?) Both Lolly and Arthur had ear wall resections for better drainage (loppy ears).

Both did okay afterwards. I never got to know how successful it was for Lolly as I lost her to a liver torsion only a few months later. Despite being a cuddle bun the faffing about with her ear afterwards was not a happy time. Arthur's was only a few months ago and *touch wood* he's coping well. Probably too early to say how successful but I think the vets are happy that it's preventing the infection from getting as bad as it was before.

 

[Sky-O]

Somehow I managed to miss your response. I’m really sorry about that.

Did they have just one ear done, or both? What sort of timeframe was their recovery?

 

[Bunny Buddy]

Somehow I managed to miss your response. I’m really sorry about that.

Did they have just one ear done, or both? What sort of timeframe was their recovery?

I am not really sure how I would quantify timescale for recovery. I don't feel either was badly affected for long.

I can't remember if Lolly was out of sorts or off her food etc but Arthur was pretty normal within days. There was a week or so of giving antibiotics and checking the wound. Arthur was on antibiotics for months prior to surgery, so no real change. Both had cream applied to the scar for a while afterwards too. Both needed just one ear done. I can't remember the circumstances with Lolly but Arthur only had any symptoms from the one ear.

 

[Sky-O]

I am not really sure how I would quantify timescale for recovery. I don't feel either was badly affected for long.

I can't remember if Lolly was out of sorts or off her food etc but Arthur was pretty normal within days. There was a week or so of giving antibiotics and checking the wound. Arthur was on antibiotics for months prior to surgery, so no real change. Both had cream applied to the scar for a while afterwards too. Both needed just one ear done. I can't remember the circumstances with Lolly but Arthur only had any symptoms from the one ear.

Thank you very much for replying and sharing all that.

I have big decisions to make and I don’t know what the best thing to do is.

 

[Bunny Buddy]

Thank you very much for replying and sharing all that.

I have big decisions to make and I don’t know what the best thing to do is.

Anything I can help you with, please ask. Afterall, you helped me feel comfortable with probably the biggest decision of my life!

 

[Sky-O]

Thank you

 

[Ross_Scott]

My bunny benny passed away sadly on Monday. He had surgery on his left ear before christmas and recovered within a week. On all the medication they gave. We took him in for surgery for the other ear after new year. Same surgery, same medication. However 2 days later we woke to give him his next meds and he was shaking, struggling to breath and had to be put down. The vet that did the surgery has thought hard about what could have went wrong but says the post op 24 hours and CT scan showed no underlying health issues. He was Lop eared and was deaf due to condition he had needing the ears cleared out.

It is killing me not knowing, or giving me any closure. And has left me thinking it's been a tragic ending for our beautiful boy as we mourn his loss. I guess im just typing this looking for abit of comfort and if theres been anyone similar who has shared same experience to what it might have been. Was the 2nd surgery just too much.

 

[InspectorMorse]

My bunny benny passed away sadly on Monday. He had surgery on his left ear before christmas and recovered within a week. On all the medication they gave. We took him in for surgery for the other ear after new year. Same surgery, same medication. However 2 days later we woke to give him his next meds and he was shaking, struggling to breath and had to be put down. The vet that did the surgery has thought hard about what could have went wrong but says the post op 24 hours and CT scan showed no underlying health issues. He was Lop eared and was deaf due to condition he had needing the ears cleared out.

It is killing me not knowing, or giving me any closure. And has left me thinking it's been a tragic ending for our beautiful boy as we mourn his loss. I guess im just typing this looking for abit of comfort and if theres been anyone similar who has shared same experience to what it might have been. Was the 2nd surgery just too much.

I am very sorry for your loss. Did your Vet take pre surgery blood tests prior to the second op’? With two major operations so close together it would be necessary to check major organ function prior to proceeding. If renal function is compromised then this would significantly increase the risks.

Infection from the ears could have spread to the respiratory tract via the eustachian tubes causing acute pneumonia. Acute pneumonia can be fatal within a matter of hours

Sadly sometimes no obvious reason can be determined as to why a Rabbit passes. Which does indeed make processing the tragedy much harder

RIP Benny

 

[bunny momma]

My bunny benny passed away sadly on Monday. He had surgery on his left ear before christmas and recovered within a week. On all the medication they gave. We took him in for surgery for the other ear after new year. Same surgery, same medication. However 2 days later we woke to give him his next meds and he was shaking, struggling to breath and had to be put down. The vet that did the surgery has thought hard about what could have went wrong but says the post op 24 hours and CT scan showed no underlying health issues. He was Lop eared and was deaf due to condition he had needing the ears cleared out.

It is killing me not knowing, or giving me any closure. And has left me thinking it's been a tragic ending for our beautiful boy as we mourn his loss. I guess im just typing this looking for abit of comfort and if theres been anyone similar who has shared same experience to what it might have been. Was the 2nd surgery just too much.

I am sorry for your loss. Benny was lucky to have such a caring person.

 

[redmal]

So sorry to hear of your loss. You did all that you could.

 

[Sky-O]

My bunny benny passed away sadly on Monday. He had surgery on his left ear before christmas and recovered within a week. On all the medication they gave. We took him in for surgery for the other ear after new year. Same surgery, same medication. However 2 days later we woke to give him his next meds and he was shaking, struggling to breath and had to be put down. The vet that did the surgery has thought hard about what could have went wrong but says the post op 24 hours and CT scan showed no underlying health issues. He was Lop eared and was deaf due to condition he had needing the ears cleared out.

It is killing me not knowing, or giving me any closure. And has left me thinking it's been a tragic ending for our beautiful boy as we mourn his loss. I guess im just typing this looking for abit of comfort and if theres been anyone similar who has shared same experience to what it might have been. Was the 2nd surgery just too much.

I’m so so sorry that you lost Benny. It’s clear how much you loved him and I can only imagine how devastated you must be feeling right now.

 

[Pets mum]

I'm so sorry that you have lost Benny, he was obviously very much loved, I'm sure that he knew that. You did all that you could for him.