ra7751
Well-Known Member
Hi,
I think you have received a lot of good tips. I treat abscesses very aggressively. Would it be possible for your vet to e-mail me so I can give him/her some detailed information on dealing with an abscess....including detailed dosing protocols.
The version of penicillin you are using is weaker than the version we have in the US. I would probably use the .4 dosing every day for a few days. This drug should be used sub-q in a rabbit. It is extremely painful administered IM. It is still uncomfortable even sub-q. I usually buffer it with some fluids as was mentioned. In fact, he probably needs fluids anyway...up to 5%. This should be used in conjunction with Zithromax. The dosing for Zithromax in a rabbit is much higher than with dogs. The combination of these drugs have the ability to penetrate to the core of the abscess and attack the anaerobic bacteria. Culturing an abscess usually results in a growth....but that is not the bacteria that should be attacked. The drugs in that version of Pencillin are perfect for treating an abscess. The procaine aspect is a fast acting drug and attacks the bacteria literally within hours...but it has a short life. The Benzathine aspect takes longer to reach working levels but stays there longer. When Pen was first used, it was used once a week. Now, most use it every other day. I normally use it once a day for 3 days and then every other day. That keeps the Procaine aspect at a higher level until the Benzathine can get up to speed. The injection points should be moved around...don't inject near the same points. This drug can lead to some sterile skin abscesses (they are just scab overs from the irritation from the drug). There is another drug, Chloramphenicol, that is also very effective at penetrating a walled off infection. For an adult rabbit, it is a relatively safe drug (keeping in mind that any medical treatment carries risks) but there is more of a possibility for side effects for the human that is handling the drug. Some people develop a condition called Aplastic Anemia (Bone Marrow Supression) but it's rare. Gloves and hand washing are proper protocols when using this drug.
Pain management is vital. Metacam is rough on the liver and kidneys so proper hydration is essential. That dosing seems a little low so if you know the concentration of the Metacam, I can formulate it for you. There are two concentrations normally used in small animals and to get the correct dosing, I need to know the concentration. Your rabbit needs a narcotic aspect. Buprenorphine is the best. Tramadol is acceptable. Initially I would up the hydration and use the Metacam and a narcotic concurrently. I sometimes sedate with valium early in the event until I can get the pain properly managed.
I wouldn't sweat the food right now. I am sure he is dehydrated. Feeding a dehydrated animal only makes the dehydration worse. Syringe feed an electrolyte solution (Pedialyte for human babies is a good one). Plain water is better than nothing. Get him hydrated and then work on offering food.
See if your vet would be willing to talk with me. If he/she can speak English....I will talk with them by phone if necessary. I think at this point your rabbit is in significant pain. The infection also compromises the bone structure and the quicker it gets resolved, the less chance for collateral issues related to the infection.
Has your vet done any radiographs of the jaw? Most dental abscesses are caused by molar root impactions..but there can be other causes. If you have some digital rads, see if you can e-mail me a copy and I will take a look at them. I do not open an abscess. The old school way of dealing with an abscess is to lance it. At one time there was an idea that looked good on paper but didn't work so well and that was packing antibiotic laced beads directly into the abscess. Extensive surgery and debridement is a very difficult surgery even for the most experienced vet not to mention the pain and stress to the rabbit. I have treated numerous abscesses here and have never opened one.
We have a huge snow storm here today so I will be able to check back on the forum fairly often. Or you can send me a PM if you would like. I suggest getting much more aggressive in treatment.
Randy
I think you have received a lot of good tips. I treat abscesses very aggressively. Would it be possible for your vet to e-mail me so I can give him/her some detailed information on dealing with an abscess....including detailed dosing protocols.
The version of penicillin you are using is weaker than the version we have in the US. I would probably use the .4 dosing every day for a few days. This drug should be used sub-q in a rabbit. It is extremely painful administered IM. It is still uncomfortable even sub-q. I usually buffer it with some fluids as was mentioned. In fact, he probably needs fluids anyway...up to 5%. This should be used in conjunction with Zithromax. The dosing for Zithromax in a rabbit is much higher than with dogs. The combination of these drugs have the ability to penetrate to the core of the abscess and attack the anaerobic bacteria. Culturing an abscess usually results in a growth....but that is not the bacteria that should be attacked. The drugs in that version of Pencillin are perfect for treating an abscess. The procaine aspect is a fast acting drug and attacks the bacteria literally within hours...but it has a short life. The Benzathine aspect takes longer to reach working levels but stays there longer. When Pen was first used, it was used once a week. Now, most use it every other day. I normally use it once a day for 3 days and then every other day. That keeps the Procaine aspect at a higher level until the Benzathine can get up to speed. The injection points should be moved around...don't inject near the same points. This drug can lead to some sterile skin abscesses (they are just scab overs from the irritation from the drug). There is another drug, Chloramphenicol, that is also very effective at penetrating a walled off infection. For an adult rabbit, it is a relatively safe drug (keeping in mind that any medical treatment carries risks) but there is more of a possibility for side effects for the human that is handling the drug. Some people develop a condition called Aplastic Anemia (Bone Marrow Supression) but it's rare. Gloves and hand washing are proper protocols when using this drug.
Pain management is vital. Metacam is rough on the liver and kidneys so proper hydration is essential. That dosing seems a little low so if you know the concentration of the Metacam, I can formulate it for you. There are two concentrations normally used in small animals and to get the correct dosing, I need to know the concentration. Your rabbit needs a narcotic aspect. Buprenorphine is the best. Tramadol is acceptable. Initially I would up the hydration and use the Metacam and a narcotic concurrently. I sometimes sedate with valium early in the event until I can get the pain properly managed.
I wouldn't sweat the food right now. I am sure he is dehydrated. Feeding a dehydrated animal only makes the dehydration worse. Syringe feed an electrolyte solution (Pedialyte for human babies is a good one). Plain water is better than nothing. Get him hydrated and then work on offering food.
See if your vet would be willing to talk with me. If he/she can speak English....I will talk with them by phone if necessary. I think at this point your rabbit is in significant pain. The infection also compromises the bone structure and the quicker it gets resolved, the less chance for collateral issues related to the infection.
Has your vet done any radiographs of the jaw? Most dental abscesses are caused by molar root impactions..but there can be other causes. If you have some digital rads, see if you can e-mail me a copy and I will take a look at them. I do not open an abscess. The old school way of dealing with an abscess is to lance it. At one time there was an idea that looked good on paper but didn't work so well and that was packing antibiotic laced beads directly into the abscess. Extensive surgery and debridement is a very difficult surgery even for the most experienced vet not to mention the pain and stress to the rabbit. I have treated numerous abscesses here and have never opened one.
We have a huge snow storm here today so I will be able to check back on the forum fairly often. Or you can send me a PM if you would like. I suggest getting much more aggressive in treatment.
Randy
I have been so overwhelmed with the decision process of whether to do surgery or not................but I hung on to the hope, that as Randy stressed to me time and time again........."You've got to give that Bicillin/Zothrimax protocol a chance to work. It took exactly 8 days on the new treatment but that golf ball of an abscess is definitely smaller. We did draw off almost 5 ml of fluid from the spot on Friday night, but the next day, the abscess appeared just as big! 
