If this were an abcess, would Sherry still be eating normally?

[ra7751]

Angieluv....you are so correct in that statement. I have been making some progress in that area but it is only me at one place. I actually get to work with senior vet students during clinical rotations at avet office. I also do some presentations thru animal services at the college. There are many new and exciting....and effective....treatments out there. But many doctorsprefer to "play it safe" with old info. Problem is....the old "safe" info ain't really so accurate in many cases. I can say that some of the vet conferences are placing more emphasis on "exotics". Something all of us can do is just hound the vets, call the vet schools and contact your state veterinary board insisting on help in getting new doctors properly trained and established ones up to date on new protocols for exotic focus. Something I have noticed at the local vet school is more interest in equine....and less interest in large animal medicine which will affect farmers down the road. Interesting.

Sorry if this comment isn't exactly on target with the thread....but abscesses are one area that doctors really need to "bulk up" on their knowledge and protocols. Some of the treatments I have heard ofare almost barbaric...and most likely very painful and ineffective. An abscess can be a major challenge....but it can also be a major success.

Randy

 

[Haley]

Hey there

I am just seeing this. I'll try to post more tomorrow. I dont know if you remember but Max and Basil both had abscesses in the past year. Max's was hard, in his jaw. It was an abscessed tooth and was horrible to deal with. He's still on Pen G shots after 2 surgeries and a year later. Basil's, on the other hand, was loose in his cheek and not attached to the jaw/teeth. This was surgically removed but came out easily with no trouble since.

I do know that both developed them fairly quickly, like within days they were marble sized lumps.

I'll say a prayer for your little one that its nothing too difficult to deal with. Keep us posted.

Haley

 

[cmh9023]

Thanks, everyone, SOOO much for all of the information and advice! I really appreciate it. I'll post more tomorrow because I'm about to go to bed, but I wanted to give a quick update...

Sherry does have an abcess, it is hard not squishy, and is along her jaw. She is scheduled for surgery on Tuesday, however, if anyone would share with me the drug protocols that have been successful, I know my vet would be very open to trying that if it seems like it might be an option. She said she has treated some abcesses successfully without surgery but looking at this one she didn't think it would work, but again, she is wonderful and I know would be open to hear about something she may not have tried or be familiar with and consider it.

My question is, is it dangerous to try a drug therapy first because if it doesn't work out does it make the surgery more risky having waited?

She didn't take an x-ray today, but she did say an x-ray will show if it is tooth-related. Is it strange that she didn't take one prior to the day of surgery? Or is it normal to do it on surgery day?

Another question...Sherry is positive for e.c.. I recall reading in a recent thread (I think from ra7751) that you really can't know for sure if a bun is e.c. positive. I'll have to look back for that thread to read it more closely. Anyway, her titer (I think that's the word) has been very high in the past two blood tests. The reason she was tested is because she wasn't using her litterbox and her urinary-type tests were all fine. Just the titer was high. She took Oxybendrole but re-tested with a high titer the second time. Does this make surgery any more risky for her?

On another note, my heart bun Ben had to have weekly radiation treatments for 6 weeks at the UW vet school for a thynoma and once he had to be resesitated (totally spelled wrong, I know). I've been very fearful of anethesia ever since so that worries me about surgery.

Between now and Tuesday I am to give her Baytril twice a day. Does that sound right?

Anyway, sorry about the rambling. I'm just really tired and worried. Any additional suggestions, information, or advice would be greatly appreciated. I'll post more tomorrow after reading some more of the previous threads about abcesses.

Thanks!!

Cara

 

[TreasuredFriend]

Cara, you might want to search on Randy's posts.

I've PM'd with info from -and referrals to-Milwaukee area rabbit parents. Readingeveryone's contributions here broadens our knowledge even greater. How I love RO community!!

Second opinions are helpful and this message from a shelterhelper reiterates that point:

I've adopted another ... bun with medical problems. He was allowed to go to an outside vet and was misdiagnosed with cancer/autoimmune disease.... I ended up fostering him when his original fosterer went on vacation and he bloomed at my house. Became very attached to one of my dogs. After watching him a couple of days I figured out he was deaf and was sure he had a tooth problem. Decided to take him to Dr. Bloss on my own and found he had several rotted teeth, 3 more that needed pulling and absesses in his upper and lower jaw. Of course he was put on antibiotics and pain meds right away, had surgery 2 weeks later and today at 2 weeks post-op is doing very well! He has become an official member of our family! I've renamed him Forrest (Gump) because of his funny gait when running due to arthritis. Found out he is 7 years old, not the 4 his surrendering owner had originally reported.

 

[Haley]

Hey Cara

Sounds like you have a great vet working with you. Baytril isusually prescribed by most vetsbut really wont do anything to penetrate the abscess.Surgery is probably a goodidea if its something you can afford. We did surgery first with Max and then aggressive antibiotic therapy. Usually removal alone is not enough.

My vet also did xrays on the day of the surgery. I guess it was easier to sedate him, do the xrays, and then go ahead with the surgery all at once. If any of the teeth are involved she will most likely remove them (and their opposing teeth) as well.

Some people have had success with the antibiotics impregnanted beads (which are implanted into the area where the abscess has been removed). Im hearing the most success though, from people who have used PenG or Bicillin injections (also sometimes in conjunction with Zithromax) along with surgical removal.

As for the ec, I dont think that will have any effect on the surgery. From what I know of ec, almost all domestic rabbits have had some sort of exposure to it, and thats what the titer detects so its basically meaningless.

You should also check out the abscess section in the RO library, especially if you want to print out any info (on antibiotics etc) for yourvet. It really helped me when dealing with Max's abscess.