Talk

Flip

Mumsnet does not check the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you're worried about the health of your pet, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Small pets

Rabbit help please!

9 replies

crunchyfrog · 17/07/2014 12:50

Novice rabbit owner!

Rabbit is approx 6 months old.

She was spayed 10 days ago, and the vet said she was fine to go back in normal hutch/ run and not to bring her back unless she was off her food etc.

So took him at his word, she was her normal chirpy violent self. Two days ago checked the wound, and where it had been well healed, there was a gaping hole! She's actually dug at it herself and had opened all the external stitches but not the internal ones. Vet says there's an abscess, cleaned, stapled and gave me antibiotics to give her.

She's FINE apart from the wound, which she is poking at constantly. I've got her in an indoor cage, have banned all non-essential handling and am torturing her with the syringe of anti-biotics once a day (she's not keen).

She's on sawdust with hay, eating like a horse, pooing and weeing and leaping about as usual. Vet gave her a 50/50 chance of surviving this.

Any similar experiences? Anything I should be doing that I'm not? She doesn't appear to be in pain, are there any tell-tale signs I ought to watch for?

Thanks in advance for any replies!

OP posts:

Report

FernieB · 17/07/2014 18:24

If she's eating and pooping as normal that's a good sign. It sounds like you're doing everything right.

Is she still trying to get at her stitches? Quite often for humans when something is healing it itches so I imagine its the same for animals only they don't understand they have to leave it alone.

When my previous bun had an injury she kept trying to chew I utilised my entirely hopeless sewing skills and adapted a cheap baby's bib for her to wear round her neck - she was so annoyed by the bib that she chewed that and not herself.

Report

crunchyfrog · 18/07/2014 00:11

Thanks for reply! After struggling for ages toniht to get anti-bs in, I've put it in the water because I was afraid she might hurt herself struggling.

Still seems completely fine, keeping fingers crossed.

OP posts:

Report

PricillaQueenOfTheDessert · 18/07/2014 00:54

I just wrote a lengthy reply then knocked a drink over my netbook and killed it. Am on my phone now so will be brief! You have to try and keep up with injections, abscesses can come back and antibiotics are toxic if given orally so please don't put it in water. Take out sawdust and put down towels. Sawdust can give nasal problems. Good that she is eating and pooping but keep a close eye on. She may need a collar if keeps going for the wound as not giving it a chance to heal, not recommended for rabbits tho as can make them stressed. My bun had similar, tore at stitches and died a week later and I would hate for you/your bun to go through same. I don't know if you can pm on mn but please do if you can, have now 5 buns and volunteer for a rabbit rescue. Will check in again tomorrow if netbook death not terminal x

Report

Midori1999 · 18/07/2014 10:00

Is your vet a rabbit savvy one? It doesn't really sound like it I'm afraid. You need to be very careful of flies if she's outside and has a wound. Also, the vet should really give you a collar for her to wear and metacam, (a pain killer and anti inflammatory) as reducing her pain may help stop her trying to get to her wound so much. It will also help her heal and reduce stress.

It's vital to give her the antibiotics. Which ones are they? Are they oral or injectable? Some taste better than others, so if they're given orally you might be able to try a different one and your vet should show you how to wrap her in a towel to administer them easily. Otherwise the vet may be able to give an injectable antibiotic every few days or admit your bunny as an in patient. Personally, I'd want to see a different vet thought, sending you on your way with antibiotics and a '50/50 chance' isn't great.

Report

FernieB · 18/07/2014 14:57

You need to get the antibiotics into her. Putting them in water probably won't do it. Wrap her up so she can't struggle and do it quick with lots of her favourite foods to follow.

Report

crunchyfrog · 18/07/2014 17:48

I was given an oral syringe with 5 days worth in it, will wrap and try again tonight. She's still active and wound looks better, although of vourse the infection could well be inside now.

If she goes downhill I think I will probably have to PTS as the vet was pessimistic about getting the abcess healed. I'm going to get more anti-bs tomorrow, so will ask the other vet about the painkiller then.

Thanks for replying!

OP posts:

Report

Floralnomad · 18/07/2014 17:51

Not quite the same but we had a guinea pig that had an abcess and she had massive problems post OP and ended up having to go back to the vets daily for 10 days to have it washed out and packed and then we packed it with manuka honey for weeks at home and she lived for another 4-5 years .

Report

PricillaQueenOfTheDessert · 19/07/2014 00:19

Please don't get her PTS! Abscesses can be treated, your vet is clearly not rabbit-savvy - a lot of them aren't which means they don't understand rabbit welfare. Please find one that is, the RWAF can help. Our bun had an abscess which came back when we stopped treatment, it's not the easiest or the nicest to treat but it can be successful if you are prepared to try.
Please join the Rabbits United forum, and read some of the threads on there regarding abscesses, this is not something that a rabbit should ever die of forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/forum.php?s=0582170d778851da03ec31dcf81da3ae

Report

crunchyfrog · 19/07/2014 19:00

Update: She is still full of energy, eating and drinkng etc. Managed to get more of the medicine in today.

I changed to recycled paper bedding.

Thanks for all help and advice