Unknown fungal infection.

[stuweep]

Hello chaps and greetings from the Isle Of Man.

My 4yr old black dutch has developed these growths on her ear, eye and lower front leg. These are also several smaller ones on her back and chest.
The vet has ruled out Myxi, but suspects a fungal infection. He has put her on a course of anti-biotics (Baytril 2.5%) and a topical fungal cream (Surolan).

She is eating and drinking normally and is still full of energy. The sores were initially black and crusty but since we've started using the cream she's been scratching at them red and raw.

I've uploaded some pictures to my photobucket account of the sores on her ear and forehead. The one on her leg is very similar but i didn't want to distress her for a photo.

http://s683.photobucket.com/user/stuweep/library/Spot - Fungal infection

Has anyone encountered anything like this before? Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks,
Stuart

 

[JBun]

Did the vet do a skin scraping and check for burrowing mites(scabies) as well? Along with the other meds you are giving, you could ask your vet if an anti inflammatory like metacam, would be helpful. You may also need a collar to keep her from messing with her sores. E collars are often too difficult for rabbits to manage, but maybe a soft collar or donut collar may help. I don't have any experience with this but you can look at this link that discusses various skin diseases in rabbits. Just be aware that some of the pictures can be a bit disturbing.

http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Skin_diseases/Skin_diseases_main.htm

 

[stuweep]

Thank you for the reply, The vet took a sample of the pus that was in the sore on her ear. There was very little pus so he didn't think it was an abscess. I will call in tomorrow and enquire about the Metacam. I think a collar would just distress her but i will ask at the same time.

 

[stuweep]

I've added a couple of new pictures including the sore on her leg

 

[Maureen Las]

I would thing the vet could biopsy one of the lesions and send it out for pathology. I don't know what it is but maybe a fibroma virus ( just a guess); actually it also sort of looks like rabbit sypllis but not typical....

 

[jemm]

My little bun did have myxi we got through it though, anyways with his lesions the vet got me to apply sudacream to them, it didn't do any harm and it helped to clear them up could be worth a mention to your vet

 

[tonyshuman]

Yeah I don't think the treatment your vet prescribed is going to cut it. If there was pus, it's infected, and metacam isn't usually strong enough to deal with skin infections. Injectible penicillin would be a better option. You also have to address the cause of the lesions in the first place. I agree it looks strange. I would want to treat with an antiparasitic like selamectin (not ivermectin for a dutch bunny) in case there is an invertebrate parasite there.I'd also want to use an antifungal like miconazole or ketoconazole. Surolan contains miconazole but also contains a steroid which will suppress the immune response at the site it's applied. That's not something you want to do in rabbits, usually, because they already have a blunted immune response, and in your rabbit, there's already an infection there, so you want to augment the immune system, not knock it down.