Abscess treatment in Boston area?

[larry rubin]

Hi - I posted in the general forum but didn't receive any response - thought I'd try here... Butterscotch has a jaw abscess. The first attempt at curing it by a 'regular' vet failed. We then brought Butterscotch to the major animal hospital in Boston, Angell Memorial. The vet was 1 year out of school - he sounded like he knew what he was talking about, but I don't really want an inexperienced doctor gaining experience on my rabbit (sorry).
Anyway, they want to lop (no pun intended) it off basically after a CT scan. I don't want this to be a decision based on cost but they want somewhere between $1500-2000. Unfortunately we've had a couple of other major pet expenses in the past 10 months that have cost about $10,ooo on credit cards...the well has pretty much run dry.

I read with a lot of interest about the bicillin/pen-G that sounds like people have had a lot of luck with. Aside from the money, it also seems a lot less invasive, and also more successful. I wonder if anyone knows of a vet or practice in the Boston area that might be skilled with this method? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

 

[Popsicles]

I don’t think it’s fair to say a new grad will be any worse than an older vet - in fact, a knowledgable first year vet is likely to be very keen and willing to help and do all they can. Just a thought
Sorry I can’t help with the Boston thing, as I’m British, just chipping in as a soon-to-be new grad vet haha

 

[larry rubin]

Well, don't take it personally. There are just many things in life that become much clearer to a person after doing it hundreds of times. I'm sure many young vets are very good - but experience will make them great. All in my opinion of course.

 

[BunBunLover06]

I'm sorry for your rabbit. Is she able to still eat and drink correctly with the abscess? I'm still new to everything rabbits. I just happened to get my bunnies a couple days ago. I saved them from neglect. Also I understand the money thing. Rabbit vets are harder to find. Which sucks.

 

[JBun]

Here's some info on treating jaw abscesses. If you haven't read all of this already, the first link is about non surgical treatment using bicillin(pen g procaine/benzathine) injections. Injectable pen g P/B is otc and very affordable, so costs won't be too excessive medication wise if you go this route. Whether or not it would work just depends on the bacteria involved, the extent of the infection, and if there is any dental or bone involvement. Not a jaw abscess, but there was an RO member that was able to successfully treat her rabbits retrobulbar(behind the eye) abscess just using the bicillin injections. There's also the option of the abscess being lanced, along with the antibiotics, which might be more cost effective for you than the surgery, but does require regular cleaning of the abscess.
http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/jawabscess.html
http://people.umass.edu/~jwmoore/bicillin/bicillin.htm
http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Dental_diseases/Treatment/Facial/abs_dental.htm
http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Skin_diseases/Bacterial/Absc_treat/abscess_treat.htm

Did the vet do xrays and check for a dental infection as the possible root cause of the abscess? If not and there is dental involvement, that also needs to be addressed.

So can't recommend a vet but you can take a look at these lists of recommended rabbit savvy vets if you haven't seen them already, to see if there are any possibilities. It's always good to get a second opinion on something like this. You may just have to find a vet that is willing to work with you in trying the bicillin treatment if that's the route you want to go.
https://rabbit.org/vet-listings/
https://www.rabbitsonline.net/threads/ma-rabbit-savvy-vets.10085/ (some listings are old)

 

[larry rubin]

Hi - yes, he's eating ok, and doesn't seem to be too bothered by the whole thing but I am aware that something needs to be done. Didn't think it would be so hard to find someone in Boston area....

 

[Jenny Durling]

Here's some info on treating jaw abscesses. If you haven't read all of this already, the first link is about non surgical treatment using bicillin(pen g procaine/benzathine) injections. Injectable pen g P/B is otc and very affordable, so costs won't be too excessive medication wise if you go this route. Whether or not it would work just depends on the bacteria involved, the extent of the infection, and if there is any dental or bone involvement. Not a jaw abscess, but there was an RO member that was able to successfully treat her rabbits retrobulbar(behind the eye) abscess just using the bicillin injections. There's also the option of the abscess being lanced, along with the antibiotics, which might be more cost effective for you than the surgery, but does require regular cleaning of the abscess.
http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/jawabscess.html
http://people.umass.edu/~jwmoore/bicillin/bicillin.htm
http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Dental_diseases/Treatment/Facial/abs_dental.htm
http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Skin_diseases/Bacterial/Absc_treat/abscess_treat.htm

My rabbit has an abscess from a dental issue. The tooth was removed and he was treated with Bicillin for 1 month. It appears that he still has an infection and the vet says we can go back on Bicillin again. I've read on this forum about Bicillin in conjunction with Zythromax. Any idea how much and how long? With an abscess in the sinus area it's not going to easy to tell when and if it is resolved. Since we did Bicillin for a month in the past and the sneezing/drooling returned, we obviously didn't get it resolved.

 

[Lokin4AReason]

i have lost my two beloved bun(s) this year due to an abscess in the lower part of the jaw .... and still paying their bill(s) ( on my girl and my boys )

ct scan(s) arent cheap and they priced it about 1200 to 1500 here ...

it ll be a difficult road forward ( still coping without having their presences ) .... i just hope that it ll go in a positive direction with your little one

 

[jamesewaller]

Hi - I posted in the general forum but didn't receive any response - thought I'd try here... Butterscotch has a jaw abscess. The first attempt at curing it by a 'regular' vet failed. We then brought Butterscotch to the major animal hospital in Boston, Angell Memorial. The vet was 1 year out of school - he sounded like he knew what he was talking about, but I don't really want an inexperienced doctor gaining experience on my rabbit (sorry).
Anyway, they want to lop (no pun intended) it off basically after a CT scan. I don't want this to be a decision based on cost but they want somewhere between $1500-2000. Unfortunately we've had a couple of other major pet expenses in the past 10 months that have cost about $10,ooo on credit cards...the well has pretty much run dry.

I read with a lot of interest about the bicillin/pen-G that sounds like people have had a lot of luck with. Aside from the money, it also seems a lot less invasive, and also more successful. I wonder if anyone knows of a vet or practice in the Boston area that might be skilled with this method? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

dear larry rubin,-in boston,mass.--locate- dr jeniffer graham-exotic/avian- dvm,-boston hospital,--she is an old friend of mine the very-intetigent-,loving,and reasonable-rates--tell her james waller of Washington st.-and-Lynwood/animal hospital,--wow,-I cannot believe what I am reading,i hope we are not too late--abcesses-are in two catagories,-aerobic-{air},anarerobic,{no air}-and--visible,not visible,-one radiograph tells a lot.--sincerely james waller [email protected] kent,wa.98032-

 

[jamesewaller]

i have lost my two beloved bun(s) this year due to an abscess in the lower part of the jaw .... and still paying their bill(s) ( on my girl and my boys )

ct scan(s) arent cheap and they priced it about 1200 to 1500 here ...

it ll be a difficult road forward ( still coping without having their presences ) .... i just hope that it ll go in a positive direction with your little one

dear reason,-,please read the above comments,for larry rubin,..-if caught{ early} abscess,s are treatable-with antibioics/removale,etc.-there is not enough informed people talking about this,-remember knowledge is priceless this is why it is suppressed..-sincerely james waller for joseph r cottontail/bdenium rip

 

[Jenny Durling]

Larry, were you able to get your bunny to the right vet for this? I'm dealing with a dental abscess with one of my buns as well and trying to find a non-surgical option since it's in the upper jaw/sinuses and unlikely that it could be completely removed surgically. I started a new thread if you have found out anything that can help our rabbits! Bicillin and Zythromax for Dental Abcess?!

 

[Bam Bam]

Hi Larry
My Bam Bam had 5 abscesses in his life under his ear. My vet would drain the abscess and then for approximately 2 months he was on Penicillin shots and I would keep the incision open and keep it clean and then would put helix in. I would do this as long as there was still puss forming. It usually took about 30 days until it was perfectly clean.
I’m not sure but the jaw may be a little more difficult to treat.
Each time this happened it would cost me $260 and I am in New York where vet charges are high.