Lower Jaw abscess 4 years

[2Bunns]

Hello,
I have little Bambi who is 7 years old and for the past 4 of these she has suffered lower jaw abscess. These have become much more regular in the past year and even months with her being on ciprofloxacin, metacam, tramadol, gabapentin, eradia and also now having weekly laser therapy. I have a good vet who is over seeing her care but with over 16 operations on her little face and morning and night time meds and cleaning and flushing. Its changing her alot and she spends alot of time sitting facing the wall. She is fussed over and spoilt and very well loved, but i can see that this is taking its toll on her. Has any one had dealings with ongoing jaw abscess? She has an infection in the bone itself and excessive bone has grown under her chin. Would be willing to go anywhere and pay anything to find a cure.

 

[JBun]

Has your vet tried the antibiotic azithromycin? I have a rabbit that had an abscess in her eye socket after her eye removal. It was treated with azithromycin(50mg/kg, once a day for 3 weeks) and that cleared it up, and fairly quickly too after the initial treatment and antibiotic didn't help. Though hers hadn't gone to the bone. I don't know if you've had a culture and sensitivity done, and if your rabbits infection would be sensitive to azithromycin, but it might be worth asking your vet about if you haven't already tried it. It seems like your rabbit is very uncomfortable, so I understand that you may not want to try anything that takes too long to be effective and doesn't reduce her suffering and pain quickly. But from all I've read about azithromycin, if the bacteria is sensitive to it, it seems to be a very effective antibiotic that works quickly.

Another option might be to have surgical antibiotic beads implanted, though at this point this option may just increase your buns suffering.
Medirabbit (facial abscess in rabbits)

 

[JBun]

If you are needing a more knowledgeable rabbit vet I know there are several good specialists in your country(UK?) like Molly Varga, John Chitty(I might be able to remember a few more) though they may be too far away for you. I know Mark Rowland at Trinity Vets in Maidstone is highly recommended by other rabbit owners there, and I think that may be near your location.
https://www.trinityvetcentre.com/

 

[2Bunns]

Thank you for the advice and responses, She has a condition called osteomyelitis.
Mark from Trinity in maidstone is her current vet and he is amazing!!!!! Really kind and helpful and the practice have been so good to us. I had even contacted the supervet from the television and enquired about possible artificial bone bridges after seeing amazing work they had done rebuilding some animals jaws but they unfortunately do not cater this level of rabbit care. Bambi was originally referred to Mark at Trinity from her previous vet who know she needed expert help. I suppose by reaching out on here im hoping to find either similar cases who have success stories or advice that i can speak with her current vets about. Her laser treatment was mentioned to me whilst waiting in the car park from somebody whos bunny is also having this treatment done albeit for a different reason. It seems that although we are keeping on top of it we are not winning the battle. She is my little angel and i would do all i can for her. I will ask about azithromycin and if it is possible, she was on pen&strep injections but she had an awful reaction where she came up in painful lumps all around the injection site (the injections were correctly given)

 

[majorv]

Unfortunately, if it’s spread to the bone there isn’t much else you can do. Jaw abscesses can be tough to clear up, even without bone involvement.