Ongoing abscess

[Bunnybops23]

Good evening,
I have some on going issues with my rabbit and Abscesses! She turned 4 in July and she started suffering with her abscess just before she turned 4, she started with one large one just underneath her eye, her vet successfully removed it without surgery as it had popped, and it didn’t return for a few months, she then recently had a couple of small ones on her face and one large one underneath her jaw that he cleaned out today, her vet said that they are seeding in her face he looked in her mouth and said she’s also lost a tooth due to her abscess! does anyone have any recommendations for me that I can do, I have heard echinacea is very good for the immune system but do I buy drops or a sort of hay mix? I have also heard manuka honey is meant to be good but her vet said it doesn’t do anything to help? Any suggestions will be great thank you!!

 

[Shimmer]

The rabbits I've had (quite a few years ago now) with abscesses had them surgically removed, including the capsules. The incision sites were left open and the wounds flushed (twice?) daily and then filled with medical grade manuka honey. They healed slowly from the inside, so the incisions had to be kept open for a while (ie soften & remove scabs to allow for flushing out with a 1ml syringe).

They were also on a penicillin-based antibiotic which was by injection (usually daily) at home, and various pain meds (usually metacam). The antibiotics were a long term thing (at least months - mine were on it for the rest of their lives), but it's easy enough to get the hang of it - once you have been shown how to do it and had a couple of practice runs.

Sometimes it isn't possible to clear all the abscesses, but the antibiotics and periodic surgical removal will keep on top of it.

It has to be a penicillin-based antibiotic. The usual cascade ones won't work as they can't get in to the infection site.
Manuka honey works by helping the wound to heal from the inside out, and it is anti-microbial - so it helps to stop the infection increasing.
Abscesses are usually surgically removed in their entirety - they are surrounded by a tough layer forming a capsule which contains the infection.
Rabbit abscesses are different to most animals as they are full of a very thick gunge, often described as cream cheese- which means they don't drain without intervention.

 

[InspectorMorse]

Tooth root abscesses usually require removal of the affected tooth.

*WARNING* graphic images

Medirabbit

Spontaneous abscesses can occur due to chronic pasteurellosis

https://www.rvc.ac.uk/Media/Default/small-animal/documents/Rabbits_pasturella_30.11.16.pdf

Abscesses – Further Reading

Explore in-depth insights on abscesses in rabbits: causes, treatment, and prevention tips. Trustworthy resources from Rabbit Welfare.

rabbitwelfare.co.uk

 

[Bunnybops23]

The rabbits I've had (quite a few years ago now) with abscesses had them surgically removed, including the capsules. The incision sites were left open and the wounds flushed (twice?) daily and then filled with medical grade manuka honey. They healed slowly from the inside, so the incisions had to be kept open for a while (ie soften & remove scabs to allow for flushing out with a 1ml syringe).

They were also on a penicillin-based antibiotic which was by injection (usually daily) at home, and various pain meds (usually metacam). The antibiotics were a long term thing (at least months - mine were on it for the rest of their lives), but it's easy enough to get the hang of it - once you have been shown how to do it and had a couple of practice runs.

Sometimes it isn't possible to clear all the abscesses, but the antibiotics and periodic surgical removal will keep on top of it.

It has to be a penicillin-based antibiotic. The usual cascade ones won't work as they can't get in to the infection site.
Manuka honey works by helping the wound to heal from the inside out, and it is anti-microbial - so it helps to stop the infection increasing.
Abscesses are usually surgically removed in their entirety - they are surrounded by a tough layer forming a capsule which contains the infection.
Rabbit abscesses are different to most animals as they are full of a very thick gunge, often described as cream cheese- which means they don't drain without intervention.

Hi thank you for your reply her vet told me surgery may not be affective and the abscess most likely will come back, he does seem a good vet I’ve used him for a couple of years now and the vets is a silver rabbit friendly status, abscesses are so stressful I feel so bad for her, they keep bursting on their own and I’m cleaning them out as well as I can. I’m going to try echinacea drops for her as she’s been on a month course of antibiotics and only just come of them yesterday, I’ve found a no alcohol one Could I just drop them on her tounge?