Hi Gina. I am very sorry about the news on Chewy. That is indeed sad, however you know what? Even if I had known how bad it was I would have done everything in my power to have it fixed. I realize she may only have a few more months but the infection would have been much worse and more painful than not having done anything at all. I think you made the right decision and besides, you had no way of knowing either.

Where exactly is the wound at that you are talking about? Depending on where it is I would suggest a collar, or a light dressing with a gauze pad and some vet wrap. What did they use to close the wound?

i’m so sorry to hear this, Gina.

Unfortunately, I have no experience, therefore no advice for you, but we are sending lots of healing vibes to take away your bun bun’s pain!

A collar has been used for a rabbit and in fact a member here is going through this. You can ask a vet for one. What I am thinking is if you can use liquid band-aid on it, that maybe it would prevent the licking. What kind of suture was done? Stitches, glue or staples?

Yes I’ve had two rabbits (mine and one from the shelter) go through surgery and get a collar. Just phone the vet up and ask for one, or any vet! Too bad you aren’t in Edmonton, I have two! {{ VIBES }} I think you did the right thing with the surgery.

If it’s a jaw abcess would a collar work? or would the collar rest on the wound? I’m going through the healing phase of abcess treatment with my dwarf bun and she has a collar on. It’s a chihuaha size with a soft foam edge. Some rabbits don’t do well with them because they think that they’re trapped and they become frantic.

If the wound is in an area where the collar won’t rest on it then I’d ask your vet for one otherwise is there a way you could wrap it to protect it for most of the day?

Make sure to call your vet and ask what to do.  But if they did surgery on an abcess- that indicates that the surgery site was not “clean” to start with (the presence of infection) and  most likely the area may need to drain- so any liquid bandage would restrict that or if it is physically bandaged it would need to be changed X (ask your vet) many times a day- and it would be important to find out what bandage material or medication if any is recommended to have right against the wound.

If you stitch closed an area that has been exposed to infection or a wound that has been open too long- it traps the bacteria IN the wound and might start another abcess.  So sometimes wounds have to heal “by second intention”- basically slowy stop oozing, dry up, scab over and heal from the outside edge inwards.  It takes much longer than a clean incision that has been stitched closed.  Sometimes depending on where the surgery is they stitch rubber tubes thru the wound to make sure it can not heal closed prematurely- and the wound can still drain.

i’m sorry the news was not good. i agree that you did the right thing tho and if he does in fact only have a short time left, the best you can do is keep him comfortable.

(((((((((((((Chewy!))))))))))))