Lump under Echo’s incision

[Lara]

I have been checking Echo’s incision daily, as directed by my vet, and today when I checked, I noticed something unusual. The bad part is that it’s the kind of thing you need to look twice to see, so I don’t know if it’s new or if I just haven’t noticed it before. Underneath the skin, there is a little bulge right under and by the incision. It is subtle, yet pronounced, once you notice it, if that makes sense. I called the emrgency vet, and she said that as long as Echo is acting normally (she is) and pooping and eating (again, she is), then I should just keep an eye on it over the weekend and take her to my usual vet on Monday.

I just wanted to know if anybody has seen something like this before. Xiao Pang didn’t have anything like this after her spay; her little belly and incision stayed flat. Any ideas of suggestions would be helpful! I’m just praying that it’s nothing serious or chronic, like an abscess. I will try to get a pic tomorrow.

[jerseygirl]

How does the scar look near this? They stitch multiple layers of skin I think, the dissolvable type stitches underneath. Jersey had a slight bulbous bit at one end of her incision where the stitching of the underlayer was. I could just see a bit of blue from those stitches. Could it be something like that you are seeing?

[Lara]

I had another look at it just now, and it’s not like what you are describing… honestly (I’m a nursing student) the first thought that popped into my head was that it looked like a hernia. I lightly palpated it, and it feels kind of solid, similar to how a hernia in a human would feel… I don’t know if bunnies get hernias or not. Any input on this? I’m very worried that it is an abscess… do those feel squishy or solid? Also, it’s more to the right side of the incision, with the incision sort of on the left “slope”. It’s about an inch to an inch and a half long, about half an inch wide.

Echo seems very curious and lively, so I sincerely doubt that she is in pain, but I know that bunnies can hide that. I’m just not sure that they hide it under their exuberant personality…??

[Barbie]

I wonder if some of the sticthing on an inner lay of muscle/fat came undone and what you’re feeling would be intestines poking through the hole? (which i suppose would be a hernia… :/ sorry for my utter lack of help) I would suggest having your vet take a look at it! Let us know what he/she says!

((((((vibes for Echo!)))))

[jerseygirl]

Do you have an appt for Monday yet? I would call your vet and let them know your thoughts. Perhaps they will see you earlier if the think it could be post spay complication.

Abscesses in rabbits can feel firmer – unlike in humans, cats, dogs etc.

On hernias – it is possible.  This case seems similar to what your seeing.  en.allexperts.com/q/Rabbits-703/2009/5/Hernia-spay.htm I don’t know if this helps any but in my view, it warrents you urging your vet to see her.

[Lara]

Oh, no! Now I’m so worried. That bunny died! I didn’t want to spend the money for an emergency vet because she said it could wait; but now I won’t be able to rest until Echo sees a vet. Oh, well… it may be expensive, but I’d rather spend the money than lose my baby or see her suffer… I’ll update once she’s been to the vet.

[jerseygirl]

What? Not in that link I posted. Where did you read that it died? Anyway, that bunny had a spay as part of removal of a tumor. The similarity I was referring to was just the incision and possibility of a hernia. I wasn’t meaning to freak you out!!!!! If you could talk to you own vet over the phone you might get more of an idea whether she must be seen asap or not. Well, you know your Echo best so do what you feel is best…I’m feeling like Henny Penny now. 

[Lara]

lol Not in that post. I googled bunny hernia and found subsequent posts by the girl who asked that question and the person who responded… six weeks later, the bun died. It is very sad. Anyway, I took Echo in (the vet is just down the street and had happened to already be there for another sick animal) and, instead of doing anything and charging me, the emergency vet was kind enough to take a look and confirm that it could wait until Monday without charging me the exorbitant weekend fees! Isn’t that nice? Anyway, now I am less worried and have a bit of peace of mind, knowing that Echo will be fine until she can be seen by a vet during normal hours.

Don’t worry Jerseygirl, I whipped myself into a frenzy all on my own! lol

[jerseygirl]

Oh phew! It was nice they gave you a break too! Paying enough for it in grey hairs right?!

[Beka27]

Very good! Keep us posted with what the vet says Monday. (These silly buns always seem to wait until 7pm on a Friday night to show any signs of illness…)

[Lara]

Yay! The lump is apparently just a reaction to the stitching and should go away within a few days! Woohoo! My baby girl is okay!

Now to just worry about re-bonding the little munchkins…

[KatnipCrzy]

Yeah- good news!!!

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Abscesses in rabbits can feel firmer – unlike in humans, cats, dogs etc.

That’s seriously a really good point Jersey!!

The reason they feel firmer is rabbits tend to drain all the fluid from the abscess so it’s just the gook and can get really quite hard. Then they are almost impossible to just drain (as you would in another animal, usually just needle and squeeze) and they need surgery to remove them.

emergency vet was kind enough to take a look and confirm that it could wait until Monday without charging me the exorbitant weekend fees

That’s super! What a nice vet!

Yay! The lump is apparently just a reaction to the stitching and should go away within a few days! Woohoo! My baby girl is okay!

PHEW!!! That’s pretty much the best news you could have got ! That’s great news!

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