Finn Has Frostbite (Healing Up Okay?)

[Bad Habit]

I was really worried about this, after he fell ill. I can't really complain if the only thing that's gone wrong is frostbite to the ends of his ears, but I'd still rather find some way to treat it.

He has developed small darkened patches in his ears, almost black, and they've thickened(swelling possibly?) and now there is a large blister in either ear. I've not messed with it much, as I've never had to deal with frostbite and don't know the best course of action.

Should I lance the blisters and drain them? Or just leave them? His ears don't seem to bother him - in fact, it's almost like he doesn't feel them anymore. I've seen him step on them and then become confused when he cannot lift or move his head as he'd like.

His feet and tail are fine, which was another worry I had. When I found him, the bottom two inches of his ears were frozen solid. I wonder if he had gotten his ears wet, which contributed to the freezing.

Should I be prepared to take him to the vet? Has anyone dealt with frostbitten ears before?

I am really at a loss as to what to do. I've been looking at information online, but can't really find much about treating it, other than how to warm up the area(that's already happened, I just brought him inside and left him alone!).

 

[LilacGal]

I think from hearing my husband (he's a medic) talk about human frost bite that once the area turns black like that it's dead tissue and should be removed. That's what peoples fingers or toes look like and they're removed. I would speak to a vet and see what their suggestion is. Perhaps in rabbits they just leave it or maybe they'll want to remove the dead parts.

 

[AmysMacdog]

Awww I'm sorry BH. I've heard it can happen with the lops, especially ELs because the ears are so large. Poor little thing! I wish I knew where I saw it but I saw an article on ELs and the cold with a picture of an EL wearing socks on his ears to keep them warm. Not sure what to do about Finn, did you take him inside?

 

[akane]

I've dealt with it in chickens. We wait until the blackened area is completely dead and starting to separate from the live tissue. Then take sharp scissors and cut about half an inch above the live tissue. The last bit of dead tissue will flake off.

Here's a rooster I did after he stuck his head in the water bucket and then froze his comb.

 

[Bad Habit]

I have to get pictures... it's not at the edge, exactly... I don't know if the tissue is going to die or not. I will have to get a photo of it.

The flesh itself is not exactly dead yet, so I am wondering if there is anything I can do to encourage blood flow and recovery, rather than what to do with the end result.

I will go try to take photos <br /><br />__________ Thu Dec 05, 2013 3:33 am __________<br /><br />

Right ear, inside

Right ear, outside

You can see the swelling in this one, right ear, outside.

Left ear, outside

Left ear, inside.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

That isn't frostbite.

Something bacterial/parasitic/viral is causing the spots.

 

[Bad Habit]

Well, I noticed it 4 days after he was frozen, and the interwebs said in 2-3 days he would get blisters.

What should I do for it then? Clean it with alcohol and put polysporin on it?

 

[AmysMacdog]

Keep it clean and put antibiotic cream on it just like your doing.

 

[Bad Habit]

So, I lanced one of the blisters, because I was terrified it was abscesses, but only clear liquid came out. Then I cleaned them, and put some ointment on. He was not amused.

 

[MaggieJ]

If it is frostbite, he will likely recover from it with just the ointment and keeping it clean. I would not use rubbing alcohol myself... It must sting terribly.

My main concern is that if it is frostbite you will need to make arrangements to keep him in until spring, or else this is going to happen over and over. And that could be a life-threatening situation.

It may not be frostbite. If his ears are so long that he steps on them, the marks could be infected injuries from his claws. Or it could be a combination of frostbite and injuries.

Keep us updated. I hope we can help you sort this out.

 

[Bad Habit]

He will be staying in regardless. After losing Alaska's litter, and then almost losing Finn(I firmly believe if I'd been even an hour later getting home/going out, he would have been dead), I've decided to move the pet rabbits back into the house, and leave the meat rabbits out. Initially the plan was only to bring some of the does inside, but right now I have Finn, one of the vlop does, both LH does and the Polish doe inside... I plan on figuring out where to put the other 2 bucks and last 2 does in. Plus it gives me more room for meat rabbits!!

 

[LilacGal]

It doesn't look like frostbite, so I'd continue what you're doing.

 

[Bad Habit]

It's definitely frostbite. The ends have become hard, and you can't move them. Starting to turn black. Expecting him to lose about an inch of his ears, if not more. Poor boy.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Oh no... poor guy. I guess the only time I have seen/noticed frostbite is when it is already to the advanced blackened stage. :?

Maybe you should put socks on their ears as Amy said. :thinking: Angora wool is so warm- maybe you should get an Angora bun and start spinning and knitting. :mrgreen:

 

[Bad Habit]

Well, all of the Vlops are inside except Bonnet - she has much shorter ears than the others, though, so they don't drag in her water dish. I'm keeping a very close eye on her, and hoping to move her in soon. No one other than Finn had any issues, and I think it is directly related to him dumping his kibbles and getting skinny and dehydrated. Everyone else got ribby, and most have gained back all their weight(Bonnet is still ribby and being very slow about gaining weight back, but is eating and not acting sick, so...). Finn's got most of his weight back now as well, just this ear thing. I will try to post pics later, but my camera's being a stupidhead and I think I need a new SD card.

__________ Wed Dec 11, 2013 6:35 pm __________

One Ear

Other Ear<br /><br />__________ Sun Dec 15, 2013 1:52 am __________<br /><br />(the previous pics were from wednesday)

Does it look like it is healing up okay?

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Judging by the nice red blood flow from the ends of the ears, I would say he is fine... but since I failed epically in the initial diagnosis, I would wait for someone with more experience with frostbite to give you input.

 

[Bad Habit]

Judging by the nice red blood flow from the ends of the ears, I would say he is fine... but since I failed epically in the initial diagnosis, I would wait for someone with more experience with frostbite to give you input.

You weren't the only one who said it wasn't frostbite. I had reason to believe he would develop frostbite, though, so was on high alert and noticed it before people normally would. It's 6 of one, a half dozen of the other.

There's no heat, and it doesn't feel particularly swollen(there is thickening of the tissue, but I imagine that's because it's healing huge gaping wounds where pieces of it just fell off.) I just don't want anything else to happen to make this worse for the poor guy, I feel bad enough already.

He doesn't seem like he's feeling poorly. I had him out for pictures(christmas themed, hence the garland) and he was having fun playing with the garland and ornaments.

__________ Mon Dec 16, 2013 1:04 am __________

Anyone?