Muffin’s chin problem

[Moonlightbunny66]

Not sure if you guys remember my older post about the redness and scabs around Muffin’s mouth. The vet said it’s probably dermatitis and gave us medicine and cream and it cleared it up. Although I couldn’t really apply the cream because he ran away when I tried touching his mouth (you have to rub it in for it to work and not upset their stomach from grooming it off).

It’s gotten really red again but I didn’t see any scabs this time. I only noticed it because I was feeding him some bok choy so Pinky couldn’t get it and have an upset tummy.

I think it’s from being wet all the time. He gets his chin dripping wet when he eats veggies (even if I dry them off) and when he drinks water. I’ll be taking him to the vet but they’re closed on weekends so I can’t make him an appointment until tomorrow. And hopefully I can bring Pinky with him for some company and a checkup, since this vet hasn’t seen Pinky yet.

Do you guys have any experience with this? He’s got a big dewlap and cute, fluffy, squishy cheeks. His head shape is kind of rounded where his nose and mouth are so it just gets wet easily.

Btw the vet said he is starting to get spurs on his back molars. I know dental issues can cause drooling. Would that make him drip the veggie juice on himself? They said he doesn’t need it fixed right now but maybe in the future. Maybe it’s just because he’s fluffy and his fur catches the veggie juice.

And sorry that’s the best photo I could get this morning. But you can see how red it is. ): My poor Muffin.

[Moonlightbunny66]

Here’s maybe a better photo. I’m not holding him down! I know it looks like it lol. He was just tired and I pet him and lifted up his cheek gently.

[DanaNM]

My guess is the spurs are causing some drooling and extra juice dripping, as you suspect. So my first action would be to have his spurs filed and see if that helps.

You are really going through the ringer with these bunnies right away! You are doing a great job with them! Many new owners don’t catch these sorts of problems until they are very advanced, so good work!

. . . 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.  

[Moonlightbunny66]

Thank you DanaNM! Yeah, I had a short period where they were both healthy… My poor bunnies.

I’m sure they’ll check his teeth again when he goes back to the vet. So we can figure out if it’s the issue. This is the treatment plan they gave me. Is it normal? All these things seem necessary. But wow that’s a big cost. It’s Canadian dollars btw.

[DanaNM]

That seems very expensive for a teeth filing (usually they are closer to $300), but if he needs an extraction or abscess treatment that’s more normal. But I don’t think he would? Was that supposed to be an extreme high estimate?

. . . 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.  

[Wick & Fable]

That is very expensive for a teeth filing. Google tells me that’s around $640 USD, which is triple what I have paid at my vets, who tend to be on the more expensive side due to my location.

I see the hospitalization as something really hiking up the price (the $94), because if it’s just a filing, your rabbit should not need to stay overnight (in my opinion; my dental-prone rabbit never needed to in his over a dozen filings).

In comparing to my old vet bills, fluids only cost me $25-31 USD. Also, at two separate vets, I never got charged separately for the anesthesia mask before (the iso-mask) and the anesthesia during (iso monitoring). They got lumped together as anesthesia costs at both practices, totalling $90-103 USD.

So there’s an obligatory hospitalization charge, in addition to higher charge for fluids and two separate (and equally expensive) charges for anesthesia.

That’s my break down of that bill, in comparison to my own.

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.

[Moonlightbunny66]

Thanks guys. I think it was just a normal estimate for them. If he needs it done I can look into a different vet who’d do it for less. It’s hard to find rabbit vets in my area though. :/

[Moonlightbunny66]

I just made an appointment for Friday, hopefully we can figure out a way to clear it up for good.

[NoodletheRabbit]

If it it is because of his dewlap being wet constantly, then you could also switch to a water bottle (I know, they aren’t the best, but it will keep him from getting wet so much)

[Moonlightbunny66]

Thanks Noodletherabbit. I asked the vet if it would help to use a water bottle and they said it probably won’t. But I can see what they think this time, since the issue came back.

[NoodletheRabbit]

Yes, I don’t see why it wouldn’t help, but I am definitely not a vet, so there may be a reason.  You could also try cutting up his greens into smaller bits, I don’t know if that would help, if he would just put more in his mouth instead, but it may work.

[Moonlightbunny66]

Noodletherabbit thank you! Yeah I’m not sure either. Maybe because it drips. That’s a good idea with the veggies. I’ll try that out today!

[NoodletheRabbit]

Great 😀 ! Any luck with the veggies @Moonlightbunny66?

[Moonlightbunny66]

@NoodletheRabbit Yes!! Thank you. Giving him small pieces makes him a lot less drippy. I also watched him and saw that I should avoid giving him the middles of the lettuce that have a lot of water in them. Those were making his chin wet too.

Came home from the vet yesterday with the same meds as last time. Some sulfatrim (oral meds), and I still have leftover flamazine from last time (cream).

They said they can do a culture to see what bacteria they’re fighting. I’m not sure, it cleared up last time from these meds. I think I just need to keep his chin dry. They also said the Spurs that are staring on his back molars might be contributing. The estimate for the cost they gave me was still the same as last time.

Every time I touch the cream to his chin, he jolts his whole body up. ): I could try wrapping him in a towel later, but they’re so squirmy and get out easily. I’m supposed to rub it in so it can absorb into his skin. It can also upset his stomach if I don’t. But he only lets me do a dot with my finger. He hates it. ):

[Moonlightbunny66]

Oh and the vet also cleaned up his chin and I think trimmed the fur a bit.

[NoodletheRabbit]

I’m so glad it helped!!! Yes, that is a pain that he won’t let you rub the cream in. Poor bun! Well good luck with everything!

[Moonlightbunny66]

Thank you NoodletheRabbit!!

[Bu20055]

I just wanted to pop in and say I’m sorry @Moonlightbunny66 for all the stuff you’ve had to deal with with your two so soon after getting them 🙁 . You’re doing a really great job with them and they are so lucky to have you as an owner! I hope Muffin’s chin gets better soon and then that’s the last of the buns problems for a long time to come!

[Moonlightbunny66]

@Bu20055 Thank you so much. I try my best to help them feel better. I love them a ton! It’s been pretty difficult. I’m really hoping they’ll be healthy for a long time after this too. I just want them to feel better!

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