Rabbit abscess

RE: Rabbit abscess

Roland Bulkyn-Rackowe — Thu, 15 Oct 2015 16:20:51 GMT

My own approach is:

Analgesia,

Radiograph and perform an oral exam under GA,

Marsupialise the abscess and have the owner flush the open wound, leaving as open as possible to granulate,

+/- antibiotics (EOD amoxLA or daily amox/clav injection, warning owner ref adverse effects),

Re incise if required to continue open drainage and second intention healing.

RE: Rabbit abscess

Mark Rowland — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 20:38:20 GMT

The basic rule of rabbit abscesses is that they persist until you have derided the nidus of infection that causes them, usually a tooth root for mandibular abscesses.

You need to radiograph and if there is tooth root involvement, extraction may be necessary.

Penicillin injections, beads (Vet instrumentation) and honey soaked swabs all help but This abscess has recurred because you have yet to assess and deride the cause.

Post the rads if you like, Have you done a dental exam, sometimes you can squeeze the abscess and see the pus around the affected tooth.

Godluck

RE: Rabbit abscess

nikki — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 19:41:44 GMT

Given up on Baytril for abscesses in rabbits as just doesn't work. I use Duph LA every 3days. Obviously off licence, warn o of potential risks but works well. Have had one recently have sutured open and am packing with manuka honey as well as the Duph LA injections although it is tooth related and although the offending tooth is already missing I think we're unlikely to cure this one. In terms of the GA, we use triple (dom/ket/torb) IM and give o2 nasally during any dental/mouth work.

RE: Rabbit abscess

Martin Atkinson — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 18:52:00 GMT

[quote user="scatty"]how do you make up the impregnated beads Martin? The last GA I did was with a mask and a bit tricky in this area. Do you use an ET tube or a v-gel?[/quote]The beads aren't very scientific I'm afraid. I get some car body filler, mix it with a vial of Augmentin powder, add the hardener, roll into long thin beads then cut into small beads once set. In theory there is special bead making material and you should send them to a lab to see if they work on a culture but all that costs more money. Seems to work though.

I don't have v-gel I wouldn't be happy they would stay in place and the exotic vets I've spoken to think the same. I can see no advantage in any species and I can intubate down to 1kg with a 2-3 mm uncuffed tube passed blind listening for breathing sounds to guide it into the trachea, works 99% of the time, I've never got on with laryngoscopes.

RE: Rabbit abscess

Robin Grimmer — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 17:21:25 GMT

Baytril isn't much cop for rabbit abscesses. I have had good results with injectable penicillin.

RE: Rabbit abscess

scatty — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 17:20:27 GMT

Thanks,

The owner is a bit worried about money and a further GA for the rabbit. I was actually thinking about manuka honey and wondering if I should get the owner to pack the open parts of the sores with that anyway. If I do end up giving another GA, how do you make up the impregnated beads Martin? The last GA I did was with a mask and a bit tricky in this area. Do you use an ET tube or a v-gel?

Anna

RE: Rabbit abscess

Martin Atkinson — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 14:14:11 GMT

+1 but I would debride what is possible then make up some antibiotic impregnated beads pack them in and suture closed. Alternatively you might like to use Maluka honey.

RE: Rabbit abscess

Emily Rainbow — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 14:05:57 GMT

I would X-ray to ensure no tooth involvement and see if any boney changes from the infection.