Eye removal due to abscess

[BigJ111]

Hi,

we have a bit of situation with our 3y old bunbun. After noticing his left eye bulging a bit we consulted a specialist that confirmed after ultrasound that there was either a tumor or abscess behind his eye. Due to its placement, the only way seems to be eye removal in order to clear everything. We are torn about this, if it’s worth putting him through that ordeal, especially if it’s an abscess that is likely to reoccur according to what we’ve read.

So the question is mostly to know if anyone has been in the same situation, as we would like to know more about the recovery process and complications that may have occurred, from an owner point of view, not just from a vet point of view. As here we’re talking basically either risky surgery or sadly euthanasia…

Thank you in advance.

[DanaNM]

Ugh I’m so sorry. 🙁

Not all abscesses recur, but I think I would want to be sure there aren’t other abscesses brewing as well. Does the vet have any ideas about how the abscess formed? They are often dental origin. It may be necessary to get a CT scan to know for sure, which I know would be expensive. 🙁

For abscess treatment, generally the more aggressive you are from the beginning, the better the chances of success. I think I would discuss the chances of recurrence with the vet and see what they think about the chances of other issues that haven’t been detected yet.

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

[BigJ111]

Thank you for your input. Yes, at this point, the first thing is that the CT scan would cost already as much as the surgery itself. But independently from the cost (as our bunny is family and we just wanna do what’s best for him), due to where the abscess is, the vet (who has performed that kind of surgery before, so knows what she’s doing) is not certain to be able to clean it entirely, so if some traces of bacteria are left, it’s lot of complications and relapse down the road. The vet is also not certain about the reason, as nothing obvious appears, but if it’s a problem with a tooth root somehow, that would mean again more surgery and dental work later…

Also, even if physically all came around perfectly well, I’m a bit worried about the mental health aspect. Our poor Miso was literally traumatised last year when he had to spend one night at the clinic after a bad GI episode. Took him literally 6 months to be back to himself and totally chill at home, though still with some obvious anxiety issues that developed. So, is it worth it to put him through so much physical and mental pain?… That’s the dilemma and that’s why I wanted to get opinions from bun owners who experienced the same thing.

 

[DanaNM]

Poor Miso 🙁  It does sound like a very complicated surgery that would likely require lots of follow-up care. And without knowing the full extent of issues it’s hard to say, as there could be a lot more going on that you can’t see.

I can’t speak to a completely similar experience… but I did have a bun with a dental abscess. His was due to molar issues. His molars were literally just rotting and practically falling out and the vet had no idea why other than just “bad teeth”. We treated the first abscess successfully, but then he needed more molar extractions down the line. A few months later he died suddenly and a necropsy couldn’t find any real cause. He was just 2 years old and we had only had him for about 6 months. My personal theory is perhaps he had bone cancer that was affecting his jaw, but I really have no idea. 🙁

There was also a bun at the rescue I volunteered at that developed facial abscesses very suddenly after being adopted. The rescue helped get her a CT scan which revealed extensive abscesses throughout her head that were not treatable, so she was sadly euthanized.

I do think it’s always important to think about what’s best for the bun, rather than just what we want as their humans. It sounds like you are very much considering Miso’s well-being.

One thing you might ask the vet is what she would do if it were her bunny. That may be able to give you some more sense of prognosis.

There are also instances where abscesses are treated palliatively with antibiotic injections. This does not cure the infection, but can buy you some time in by slowing the growth in cases where the bun may not be a good candidate for surgery.

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

[LBJ10]

I’m sorry this is happening to your bunny. I agree that you should weigh your options. What would the vet do if this were her bunny? Then decide what you think is best for Miso. There are definitely options for palliative care, as Dana mentioned. There have been members on BB in the past that have had decent luck with pen G shots. It doesn’t cure, but sometimes it will shrink large abscesses and prevent smaller ones from getting bigger.

[BigJ111]

Thank you all for your replies, really appreciate. After weighing in, it’s with a heavy heart that we’ve decided to not go through with the surgery. Miso has an antibiotic, eye drops and painkiller treatment for a limited amount of time and we will have to let him go soon. The abscess is apparently stretching constantly the optical nerve to the point that he might be soon in pain even through the painkillers, and the bacteria associated to it will be spreading to his blood…

We’ve decided to give him the best life we can for a few more days, perhaps weeks some luck, and let him join the bunny happy place when it will be the right time.

Thanks again for the support.

 

[DanaNM]

I’m so sorry. 🙁

Having just had to make these decisions for 2 pets, I know it is so so hard, but know you are making the choice out of love.

I hope you can give him lots of snuggles and bananas. <3

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

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