Drooling Rabbit

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Brook

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Anyone used antibiotics on a rabbit tooth abscess before?

My FG buck is drooling. Otherwise seems perfectly healthy...eating, pooping, drinking normal. He is my favorite bun!!!

Vet checked him today (no charge) and his front teeth are good, no visible spurs on the molars, but the vet was able to see a 'slight' dark area on a molar and suspects an abscess. There were no lesions, and the tissue was only slightly inflamed looking. She prescribed me: Sulfa/Trimethoprim suspension and said I could try it, but it's just a best guess at a solution.

Thoughts?
 
Did you put a rabbit sandwich in front of him? I know I drool when one is put in front of me.
 
Abscesses in rabbits often don't respond to antibiotics. They make a thick pus or encapsulated abscesses which don't readily absorb meds or disperse easily. You can try a double antibiotic hit. That's what we did with Amako when we found the huge abscess on her hindquarters. The vet gave an injection of I believe ceftriaxone and then the oral sulfa antibiotic like you have. Most vets not experienced with small exotics though won't combine antibiotics like that. I think they underestimate the complexity of abscesses in such animals compared to the risks of multiple antibiotic use. I had a boyfriend with basically unlimited money, his relatives gave him checks of $25,00 for graduation or christmas, who covered the cost of removing abscesses surgically in several small animals. It's really the only way to treat some of them.
 
I think most vets do not know how to treat rabbits so that is why antibiotics don't seem to work. I just looked up a bookmark that I saved by "Randy" "ra7751" a moderator on another forum. From what I understand he works in a wildlife rescue with a specialist vetrinarian and they treat lots of rabbits and squirrels with infections- so he knows a lot about antibiotics. Here's what he posted on this forum thread in reply to someone about treating an abscess (I would print it out and take it to your vet)

-----Quote from "ra7751"-------http://www.rabbitsonline.net/f27/abcesses-41860/
I have had perfect success in treating major abscessesusing a combination of Pen G (commonly called Bicillin and available under a variety ofbrand names in the US....not available in all countries with theUK being one of them). This drug contains a combination Procaine and Benzathine. In those countries this combo isn't available, the Procaine aspect usually is available and that results in a different dosing protocol as this is a short lived drug and is purged from the body quickly. I use it in conjunction withZithromax (again at one time a couple of years ago Zithromax was not available for vet use in the UK but I know it is being used now). This combo of drugs is capable of penetrating the encapsulation around the core....and the core is where the drugs need to be. And this drug combo is effective against nearly all the bacteria that can be found in the core of the abscess. I do not open an abscess.....not saying it is never appropriate since that would be determined by the location of the infecton and the involvement of surrounding tissues/bones.

The keys to treating an abscess are not much different than any other infection. Early detection, know what you are treating and what is effective against it and have a total support protocol in place. Radiographs are always useful to detect any collateral involvement of other tisses or bones (especially with jaw abscesses). And remember that these abscesses are very painful so aggressive pain management should be in place. And as you already know, have a plan in place and stick with it.

Randy
 
If it is a tooth it believe it will just get re-infected and needs to be removed so food cannot get stuck in there and fester again.

An x-ray would help show the extent of the infection. If its moved into the jaw bone the prognosis is not good.
 
Well, I believe I caught the problem early, since he is still acting normal in all other respects.... I picked up the prescription today, it cost $14, so not bad. We will see how he does, I will let you all know.

Although I do like my rabbit a great deal, his purpose is not really for a 'pet', but for meat production. The only reason I even bother trying to treat him is because he is my only useful buck at the moment (and I like him so much). If the problem persists x-rays and tooth pulling are not in my budget and he will have to be retired.<br /><br />__________ Wed Jan 15, 2014 6:20 pm __________<br /><br />I am very happy to report, my rabbit's drooling ceased on the 2nd day of antibiotics, and his fur is all soft and clean again by day 3.

He had some skin irritation under his chin from the drool that is no longer inflamed and looks to be on the mend. His disposition has even improved, and he is back to his uber-snuggly self.

He never lost condition, and never stopped eating. I think the key is early detection and treatment. My vet put it on file that if it flare up, they can just give me a script for more meds and not worry about the check-up etc.
 
It's possible it was an infection that hadn't truly abscessed yet. It's great that the antibiotic is working! How long will you continue it?

My favourite doe (who gained breeding pet status) once had a nipple abscess that we treated with SC Pen G (I think it was G, might have been V, I could check). I also opened and irrigated the abscess with a peroxide solution each day. She bounced back well from it once the capsule had been kept flushed out for a couple of days. Peroxide helps to dissolve the pus very well.

Of all the rabbits we've had, that's the only one I still miss as an individual. :( Alice was a wonderful doe. We eventually lost her to other natural causes.
 
I'm glad he's doing better so quickly! Hopefully, it's just some freak thing that'll never recur.

mystang89":171cufr5 said:
Did you put a rabbit sandwich in front of him? I know I drool when one is put in front of me.
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