Abscesses

[naturestee]

Also see:
Infections

What is it?

From Susan Brown, DVM
http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=503&S=5&SourceID=43

An abscess is a cavity containing pus, surrounded by a capsule of thickened inflamed tissue which is the usually result of a bacterial infection. The pus is an accumulation of dead cells as the result of the battle to fight the infection. In humans, abscesses of the skin are often caused by Staphylococcus infections, but in rabbits, abscesses can be caused by many different aerobic bacteria (those that require oxygen to survive) including Pasteurella multocida, Streptococcus, Pseudomonas and Staphylococcus and a whole host of anaerobic bacteria (those that do not require oxygen to survive).

Articles:
Listings in Rabbit References: Abscesses and Severe Wounds
http://homepage.mac.com/mattocks/morfz/rabrefs.html#abs

Abscesses
http://www.ontariorabbits.org/health/healthinfo1.htm

Abscesses- Rabbit Adoption and Information Network
http://www.lagomorphs.com/abscesses.pdf

Skin Abscesses
http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Skin_diseases/Bacterial/skin_abscess.PDF

Abscess Management in Rabbits: an Illustrated Guide
http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Skin_diseases/Bacterial/abscess_management.PDF

Abscesses: Injectible Penicillin Offers New Hope
http://www.ontariorabbits.org/health/healthinfo1.1.htm

Non-Surgical Treatment of Head Abscesses in Rabbits
http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/jawabscess.html

Successful Eradication of Severe Abscesses in Rabbits with Long- Term Administration of Penicillin G Benzathine/Penicillin G Procaine by Marcy E. Rosenfield (Moore):
http://www-unix.oit.umass.edu/~jwmoore/bicillin/bicillin.htm

Abscesses in Rabbits
http://www.forpetssake.com/Pet_Topics/Abscesses_in_Rabbits.htm (broken link)

RO Threads:

Abscesses: A Heads Up

Daphnee's Story

*New* Daphnee photos (update)

Abscess in Foot

Swollen Mouth and Gums?

Max's Story: Tooth Root Abscess

Penny's Jaw Abscess

Pez Needs Your Prayers!

Pez's Autopsy

PenG v Bicillin for Treating Abcesses

Last Resort Help Needed, Abscess Problem *GRAPHIC PHOTOS*

Big Lump Found!
(Last ditch attempt at healing an abscess under poor conditions)

 

[Marietta]

The below important note is copied from our Library thread on Antibiotics and should be read in conjunction with the Marcy Rosenfield-Moore's article on the "Successful Eradication of Severe Abscesses in Rabbits with Long-Term Administration of Penicillin G Benzathine / Penicillin G Procaine", which is listed above.


QUOTE

An important note and update from Marcy Moore, one of the researchers who first studied, tested, and published information on Bicillin as a treatment for abscesses in rabbits:

THIS INFORMATION IS THE CORRECT BICILLIN PROTOCOL...PLEASE DISREGARD
ANY OTHER PROCEDURE THAT IS DIFFERENT TO THIS:

We are seeing so much misuse and inaccuracies with respect to
Bicillin hence the reason to REITERATE the proper protocol.

It took years of controlled experimental data (from a reputable
institution) that went clinical, collaborating with many different
vets. It has been proven that Marcy Moore's method works because
dozens of vets have independently replicated her data with the
identical results which is called a peer review process.



*****MISUSES AND INACCURACIES *****

- Bicillin is in the blood for 7 days so once/week is enough

- Pen–G Procaine is bicillin

- Maintenance dose every 3 days

- Leave Bicillin out for over an hour to warm

*****PLEASE NOTE THESE ARE INACCURACIES!!!!!!!!!!!!
__________________________________________________________



Bicillin Protocol (condensed version):


Bicillin C-R® (150K penicillin G benzathine & 150K penicillin G
procaine 300,000 units/ml
Route of administration: subcutaneous injection

* Rabbits weighing LESS than 2.50 Kgs receive 75,000 units (.25 cc)
every other day for 8 weeks or longer until a cure is met.

* Rabbits weighing MORE than 2.50 Kgs receive 150,000 units (.50
cc) every other day for 8 weeks or longer until a cure is met.

Many rabbits have done very well on daily injections for 1 month then
on every other day for another month or two or until cured. If your
rabbit has an abscess it is treated aggressively until the abscess is
GONE/ERADICATED/CURED. It could take 8 weeks or it could take 8
months. DO NOT go to every 3 days. This protocol was tried and
failed. The most dangerous thing you can do is a maintenance dose
with antibiotics. The idea is to eradicate the infection not create
resistant bacteria.

IMPORTANT: KEEP BICILLIN REFRIGERATED AT ALL TIMES AND SHAKE BOTTLE
WELL BEFORE USE OTHERWISE injections would mainly be composed of
inert liquid while the microparticles are stuck to the bottom of the
bottle. Hold bottle upside down for a minute or 2 to allow air
bubbles to clear the base. Withdraw bicillin into your syringe - Now
put the bottle back into the fridge. You can either leave the loaded
syringe out for 10 minutes OR hold it in your hand to warm it. There
is however a misconception with respect to sterile abscesses and cold
bicillin (withdrawing directly from the bottle then injecting before
warmed). Sterile abscesses are not caused by cold bicillin - they
are caused by mis-placing the needle and injecting literally into the
skin opposed to under the skin. The problem is easily resolved by
using longer needles and not tenting the skin (pull it away from the
body as far as possible instead). I have always found 23 Ga 3/4" is
more than long enough to get the injection subcutaneous & not
cutaneous. It is very important you know how to administer
injections subcutaneous and have been taught by a professional – in
person. NEVER learn how to administer injections via email or the
internet. Benzathine can be fatal if it is injected & enters the
blood therefore not knowing how to properly administer injections
subcutaneous can be very dangerous and have serious ramifications.

If by chance you happen to leave the bicillin bottle out and forget
to put it back in the fridge for several hours it may not be an
issue, but having said that, it might be a very good idea to get
another bottle from your vet ESPECIALLY if you see the bicillin is no
longer working. Leaving the bottle out for over an hour or so could
cause it to become ineffective and leaving the bottle out over and
over again WILL cause it to become ineffective.

Marcy Moore


UNQUOTE

 

[Haley]

The latest from Marcy Moore:

http://f1.grp.yahoofs.com/v1/kNuySkMMk5u__6vlp2AhY9mpyYOuyUWbWLf1PLm8oyNc88gWz6Oi0gFwKk5itUBYGsAM0eywIvBRr--WaPPbV0f2fdPOFkJY/Bicillin%20Protocol

One key note since I have seen people saying PenG Procaine alone is the same as Bicillin except that it must be givin once a day....

Pen–G Procaine is Bicillin (Pen-G Procaine is only ½ of
bicillin) Wrong!!! Bicillin C-R® has a long acting component that keeps the
penG serum level up that procaine penG does not have. THAT's the
only difference. Benzathine is formulated to hydrolyze (change
into) the procaine form within 24 hours. Procaine is very fast
acting but also leaves the body very quickly which is why it must be
given every 24 hours. Bicillin C-R® has both. So when you give a
shot, the first 24 hrs. are covered by the procaine & the 2nd 24
hours is covered by the slowly hydrolyzing benzathine. Because
rabbits have such sensitive gut flora, we cannot give the amount (to
reach peak serum level) of antibiotics needed without causing flora
disruption (even slight inappetence isn't good for a sick bunny). A
rabbits' gastrointestional tract cannot tolerate the huge amount of
plain penG it takes to keep the blood serum level up. So Pen-G by
itself in treating abscesses is not recommended.