The most common causes of
rabbit abscesses are infections in tooth roots, tear ducts and bite wounds.
Rabbit abscesses can be challenging to treat.
There are many thoughts on how to treat
rabbit abscesses and much depends on the location of the infection, the cause of the infection and the general condition of the bunny.
In addition,
rabbit abscesses often develop finger - like projections or tracts into the surrounding tissue where new abscesses can form.
Rabbit abscesses form a thick capsule around the infection that effectively walls it off from the rest of the body.
Rabbit abscesses often develop finger - like projections or tracts into the surrounding tissue, which are places where new abscesses can form.
Even if surgical drains are not used,
rabbit abscesses have a higher probability of returning than abscesses in cats, dogs and humans.
Treatment There are many ways to treat
rabbit abscesses but much of it depends on the location and cause of the infection and the general condition of the rabbit.
Most
rabbit abscess cases will require the use of oral or injectable antibiotics.
Not exact matches
Causes
Rabbits can form
abscesses in nearly any organ of the body as well as in skin, tooth roots and bone.
The
rabbit may present for another problem such as GI stasis, an
abscess, or an infected tear duct, which are all secondary to the primary dental disease.
Acquired dental disease with deterioration of the tooth quality, malocclusion and elongation of the roots with periapical
abscesses is another form of dental disease in
rabbits.
Pasteurella multocida is a bacterial organism that commonly causes
abscesses and chronic inflammatory disease in
rabbits.
Occasionally, an
abscess is detectable only on radiography or CT. 1 Treating a
rabbit with an
abscess can be difficult because the pus has a remarkably thick - to - solid consistency.1 Primary treatment of an
abscess is to remove the cause, which is 1 or more infected teeth.1 Further treatment of the
abscess varies by veterinarian preference but may include repeated lancing and flushing of the
abscess, systemic antibiotics, complete surgical excision of the
abscess, and antibiotic bead impregnation.1, 3 Analgesia and nutritional support may be indicated in patients that have an
abscess.1
Abscessed teeth can occur due to trauma or periodontal disease and are painful to your
rabbit as well.
Abscesses seem to pop up anywhere on a
rabbit and can be very difficult to get rid of.
While dental disease often causes
abscesses in
rabbits, these pockets of pus are seen all over
rabbits.
Rabbits are particularly prone to
abscesses.
Antibiotics, cleaning out the
abscess (if you can find it), and pain medications may all be prescribed for your
rabbit by your veterinarian.
Rabbits can form
abscesses in nearly any organ of the body as well as in skin, tooth roots and bone.
Most experienced
rabbit veterinarians feel that complete surgical removal of the
abscess, along with treatment of the underlying cause, gives the
rabbit the best chance for a complete cure.
In humans, skin
abscesses are often caused by Staphylococcus infections, but in
rabbits, they can be caused by aerobic bacteria (those that require oxygen to survive) including Pasteurella multocida, Streptococcus, Pseudomonas and Staphylococcus, and a host of anaerobic bacteria (those that do not require oxygen to survive).
Carrying around too much excess weight can also increase your
rabbit's risk of arthritis, heart, lung, and bladder problems, and
abscessed feet.
The Veterinary Center also offers several exotic pet species - specific procedures including deslorelin implants for ferrets with adrenal disease, jaw
abscess debridement for
rabbits, bladder stone removal for guinea pigs and
rabbits, and egg removal and spaying for egg bound birds and reptiles.
Rabbits» teeth grow continuously throughout their life and if they do not meet perfectly as nature intended they overgrow and cause pain, gum infections,
abscesses and often death.
Overgrown incisor teeth (front teeth) are easy to see by lifting up your
rabbit's lips, some tumors and
abscesses are easily identifiable by stroking your
rabbit and feeling a lump, nasal or eye drainage is easy to spot if there is drainage that isn't normally there (or your
rabbit spends a lot of time wiping their face with their front paws and then has dirty front legs from the nose drainage), and by holding a mirror up to your
rabbit's nose you can check to see if both nostrils are clear and creating condensation on it.
Surgical removal of the
abscess wall and aggressive post op debriding may be necessary to be successful in treating the
rabbit's
abscess.
Dental disease in
rabbits can manifest as inappetance, a lumpy or irregular feeling jaw, excessive salivation («slobbers») and
abscesses around the face, particularly in the region of the cheeks and eyes.
Abscesses in
rabbits, which are frequently caused by tooth problems can rarely be treated successfully by lancing and flushing with hydrogen peroxide as can be done with the cat.
But if you talk to
rabbit owners who have been through the molar trims,
abscess surgeries or incisor extractions, you will hear that the
rabbits are otherwise healthy and happy, and the owners are glad they have their beloved friend racing through the house, doing binkies.
A
rabbit with nasal or eye discharge and / or frequent sneezing or dental
abscesses should be evaluated by a veterinarian.
Also, even the best - kept
rabbits can develop dental disease, and once - a-year visits to the vet's office (and more frequently as they age) can help find early changes in the teeth, which may help prevent some of those terrible dental
abscesses that can plague our pet
rabbits.
Abscesses are notoriously difficult to treat in
rabbits, and can lead to euthanasia.
Keeping
rabbits on wire floors quickly leads to sore,
abscessed feet, overgrown distorted toenails and eventually to foot arthritis — a common problem in older
rabbits.
It is difficult to treat
abscesses in guinea pigs, because like
rabbits, they lack a lysosomal enzyme that helps to break down pus.
An experienced veterinarian will make a recommendation for course of treatment based on the
rabbit's age, weight, and health, the location of the
abscess, and the underlying cause of the infection.
As a defense mechanism, the
rabbit's body will produce a thick fibrinous capsule around the
abscess, which needs to be surgically removed, not simply drained.
Brown, Susan, «
Abscesses in
Rabbits.»
As
rabbits» teeth grow continuously,
rabbits often get tooth malocclusion (lack of alignment of the upper and lower jaws and teeth), overgrowth, and
abscessed teeth that can cause large swellings on their jaws.
In
rabbits, the pus in an
abscess is usually very thick.
Although infection with Pasteurella can affect a
rabbit in various ways and cause
abscesses in nearly every organ, it is best known in association with upper respiratory disease.