Mayday! Neuter pics! Please look!

[TARM]

I very seriously hope this is one of those times that can be labled “new mom panic”.

The surgeon called to check on Digger just as I was getting home from work.  He’s eating, drinking, and though he’s mostly resting he does get up and move on his own.  So the tech was satisfied that he’s doing well and we hung up.  

And then I flipped him over to look at him.  And my eyes about popped out of my head.  I was told to expect a little swelling but what I saw, in my mind, is a heck of A LOT of swelling.  I called the vet back and tried to describe it.  I was told to do warm compresses twice a day and that if it came open or oozed or anything to bring him in.  If I lived closer I’m sure they would have asked to see him but since I’m 26 miles away…they told me to watch it.

What do you guys think?  This is my first bunny neuter.  I’m only familiar with dogs and if a dog swelled up like this I would have a vet look at it.

[bunnytowne]

oh my that looks like it hurts. I don’t know anything but someone else should help you out.

[MarkBun]

Go to the vet. It should not be that inflamed on the left side of the pic. At least not in my book.  I’ve not seen a neuter with that much shaved area but the obvious redness says to me that there is an issue.  But don’t get hysterical about it right now.  as you said, he’s eatin, drinkin and poopin and if you get all tense about it, it’ll freak out Digger.

[TARM]

That’s what I needed to know. We have an 8:20 appointment. Tonight, they’re open til 9.

Oh, he’s in his cage and I’m only freaking on the inside. 

[MarkBun]

Good. Worst thing to happen if you’re wrong is that you’ll spend some money on a quick checkup. Normal thing would be that they will look at it as a follow up and not charge you and ‘Best’ case is that you caught something really early on. (I say ‘best’ case only to comment that your actions were the best. Everyone here is really hoping for the first or second option).

BTW, keep an eye on him until then.  I don’t forsee anything but dang buns go from great to terrible in a second.  Check to see if he’s grinding his teeth or is ‘overly’ lethargic.  BUt I did just notice you’re on the east coast so your appointment is only a couple hours away.  It should be fine.  Sorry for the scare.

[TARM]

My poor boy. It’s got to hurt and he’s just washing his face and eating and stuff like normal. Knowing me I’ll leave way too early and sit in the waiting room forever.

[MarkBun]

Well if he’s acting normal, it’s probably not hurting him that much, if at all. A bun in pain is rather easy to notice. Such things as washing and eating aren’t in their activity list when in pain. However, I just don’t like the redness of that area and it could develop into something worse – I just don’t imagine it developing in the next couple of hours. By tomorrow morning maybe but you’ll be fine.

And I know you are probably hitting the refresh button on this topic between glances at his cage. So just letting you know that I am sending those silly parens at you ((((())))) and I personally feel everything will be fine. Early is the best thing when dealing with any issue of a bun. I am not overly sensitive about my bun’s and their antics (I barely flinched when Maryann took a header out of a volunteer’s arms and 4 feet into a linoleum floor) but if I ever find myself saying “I wonder if he/she will be all right,” I immediately go to the vet.

Once again, I will say I am as certain as I can be that Digger will be fine.  But I’m going to keep on putting more and more and more words into my posts to distract you.  so NEENER NEENER NEENER.

[TARM]

::backs away from the refresh button::

Thanks Marusdark. I’m generally not super sensitive about neuter surgery either but this just didn’t look like it could be normal. I’m watching him move in his cage right now and he’s keeping his hind end really high up in the air as he hops..but he was hopping to his pellet bowl and he’s eating so I’m not worried that this is a dire emergency.

[MarkBun]

Yeah, right now it is more of a sore spot like a sun burn for him – as long as there’s no pressure on it, he’s okey. But that would probably change overnight. I fully believe that you caught this in plenty of time before it became something life threatening. If you’re not an experience bun owner – or even if you are, the best rule of thumb is that if it doesn’t look like it could be normal, have a vet look at it and tell you that it is. I had thought recently that Maryann had a malinclusion issue but when the doc actually showed me what malinclusion looks like, I realized I was WAY off base.

Speaking of which, I think Maryann will need to go in for some dental work soon. She had some uneven stuff on the left side of her mouth and the doc said that it will probably need to be worked on by the next visit. Even after 6 years with the lil devil, I get nervous whenever she goes to the vet.

[TARM]

Alrighty, packin up and heading out. I’ll let you know how it turns out.

[MarkBun]

Good, lookin forward to hearing it!

[Deleted User]

Just wanna be in on this and see how things turn out…good luck!

[MimzMum]

Poor Digger! That’s an ouch! >.< You have my prayers that all will turn out well.

But yeah, I can remember seeing Mimzy’s surgery area and thinking, “WHOA, 0_0, how did I miss that?”

The gents tend to heal really well from what I have seen so far. And this is with most animals, not just buns. So let’s hope they can get it handled nicely and all will be well. *nods*

[MooBunnay]

I agree with markus that taking the bun to the vet was definitely the right thing to do, and I’m sure that they will be able to help you out. It does look like more than the normal amount of swelling so it is a good thing that you checked, but I’m sure that if he had been in severe pain he would not be eating and drinking and acting normal. Let us know what the vet recommends, I would be interested in what helps bunnies with swelling since I know that most neuters involve some swelling. Poor Digger probably is tired of the vet

[TARM]

OK. So we got to the vet 30 minutes early and I fully expected to wait…but they took us 5 minutes after we got there. The vet came in, took Digger out of his carrier, and flipped him over. He felt around for about a nanosecond before Digger tried to climb over his head and dive to the floor to escape but I was able to take him and hold him so the vet could get a better look.

The vet said his sacks are filled with fluid, which sometimes happens. The neuter left an empty space and Digger’s body thinks it needs to fill it. He said they don’t drain them because they’ll just fill up again and prolong the healing process. Digger was given a shot of Banamine to get rid of the swelling. He said he sees this in canine neuters all the time but it’s the first time he’s seen it in a rabbit.

And my bunny knows me! When the doctor left the room to get the medicine Digger relaxed in my arms and let me pet him. When the doctor came back in he tried to get back into his carrier and hide! OK, after reading that maybe Digger just really didn’t like the vet as opposed to loving his mama.

Anyway, his sutures look fine, he’s eating well, even ate hay in the exam room, and his nads should shrink down…lol

[MimzMum]

Poor little guy. I have an idea how he feels…when I had my cancer surgery, I had drains placed that had to be emptied every day twice a day. When they took the drains away, the skin began filling with fluid. They had to aspirate it with a syringe and a LOOOOONGG needle. I didn’t look and couldn’t feel it, but the hubby almost passed out! lolz….

Feel better Digger!

[TARM]

Oh wow Mimz…I had no idea. Are you better now?

[TARM]

Actually I’ve never seen it in dogs…the vet is the one who has seen it. He’s never seen it in a rabbit.

I worked for a few months in my vets office part time and saw a fair number of neuters but most of my experience is with rescue. Those poor dogs are in and out and I’ve seen lots of problems but never the fluid thing. I’ve only got about 5 years in dog rescue though.

[Nicci607]

oh poor digger!! markus gave you some good advice. just looking at that picture made me really worried. I’m glad to hear digger is on his way to recovery that must be painful for him. Get better soon sweet digger…and digger mommy )))

mimzmum:

I had no idea either!! Are you doing OK???

[BinkyBunny]

Holy Nads Batman! Wow, that is also a first for me. I am so glad that you got him to a vet. I hope that the swelling goes down quickly. Please keep us updated.

[MarkBun]

Well at least the doctor gave you a piece of mind.  That’s the important thing – well that and that he’s okey.

 

My first bun, Lazer, hated me.  And I mean HATED me.  And I deserved it as I was given her as an impulse buy, didn’t know anything about buns, didn’t have her altered, treated her like a dog and well.  But the ONLY time she wanted me around was when she was at the doctors.  She would run and hop into my arms.

 

[MimzMum]

Amazing how that works, eh, Markus? Works that way with humans too. My kids don’t want anything to do with me sometimes either, until the doc comes at them with a needle. Then it’s time to hide in mom’s coat.
Lolz…I’m going to have to make a short post about this somewhere, but yes, everyone, I am actually a three year breast cancer survivor. I just remember some things from the surgery and treatment pretty well. TARM’s post really brought that memory back quite strongly.
But yes, fluid retention is common after some surgeries apparently. I just can’t believe poor Digger wasn’t hunched up in a corner whimpering, but I am glad he wasn’t too!
Made my teeth (and other things) clench! >_< YEOWCH!

[kimberleyanddarren]

oh wow im so glad he is ok! that does look mighty sore ****vibes****! get well soon!

[TARM]

UPDATE: I checked my poor Digger boy this morning. When I opened the door to his cage he scurried over to me and I scooped him up, flipped him over, and saw that his nads had shrunk down to half the size they are in the picture, which is a lot more in line with what I was expecting when I checked him yesterday.

You know, the worst thing about those pictures is how red he looks. His skin is actually BLACK! Not pale like he looks in the picture. I’m happy to report that the color is back to normal. :0)

He got an early morning carrot, which never happens. (The bunny boys shared a carrot too…just because they’re cute.)

[Deleted User]

Thank goodness Digger is fine … but that did look mean and nasty …

[BBMommy]

hi bie
(\__/)
(=’.’=)
(“)_(“)

[BinkyBunny]

Good news. Keep us updated with his continual healing.

[TARM]

Digger is doing well. His swelling is almost totally gone. :0)

He’s still a love bug lap bunny. He did try to hump me a couple of times today, which he hasn’t done before but the first time I put him back on the floor and two other times I sat him on the couch next to me and held him firmly for about thirty seconds, then let him go. Both of those times he hopped back in my lap and behaved himself.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Glad the swellings almost gone!! That’s great

[kimberleyanddarren]

yeah my guys took about 3/4 days before the swelling went down much.

[ADEE]

so glad the swelling went down and it looks better!!! ((hugs)) sorry i didnt comment sooner, i didnt see the post

[skunklionshow]

T & R’s Mom:  You can add Leo to the list of neuters gone awry.  He popped his stitches open.  He kept up w/ all his hopping, eating, & pooping.  I checked his incision and it didn’t look right.  So glad you were up on it!

Mimz:  Congrats to hear your a cancer survivor.  My mom is almost 4 years survivor.  She developed some really bad lymphedema (sp?) from her surgery.  Anyway pink ribbons to you!!!!

[Buster Bunnie]

So glad Digger is doing better, I just had my bun neutered last wednesday and boy was I nervous.

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