Pus and crust around bunnys mouth

[Indie&me]

SORRY FOR THE PAINFUL PICTURE! ??
Hi everyone, I know it’s recommended to go see a vet, but it’s late at night right now and I’m from Spain so the exotic vet is an hour driving from here.
I would like to ask you if anyone has seen anything like this before.
It has started about 9 months ago (i first noticed, but me and my bunny are very close and she sleeps with me and all so I guess if she would have had it before I would have noticed) she got this strange crust just in the corners of her mouth. I thought it was dried food and cleaned it and it seemed to go, but this has started to happen every 2 months +/-. I have asked the vet twice, different ones. They both said it didn’t seem like anything serious because it just comes and GOES. So if it dissapears it seems to be ok.. but right now it just looks so painfull and there’s even pus on the inside of her lip like as if she’s bit herself. She is more quiet that usually, still eats without a problem, poops right, shes with me begging for attention on the bed right now but I still notice she is not feeling a 100% and I noticed it hurts when she eats (obviously.. ) I cleaned it with a little bit of Betadine..
What can this be and what do I do?

Thank you so much Im so worried, she’s my everything?

IN CASE THE PICTURE DOESNT UPLOAD:
Its a yellowish dry crust in the corners, in her hair.
The skin underneath is just a tiny bit red (i think)
The has small pus bubbles on her lips, as if she’s burned her mouth (100% sure she hasnt) and its lightly swollen on just one side. (This did not happen the times before)

[Deleted User]

I can’t see the picture, but from your description it sounds like it could be rabbit syphilis. It can lie dormant for a long time and then start showing symptoms (crusty spots on the face and/or genitals). If you do a google image search, you can see mostly very severe cases, but your rabbit could be in the early stages. 

I would definitely recommend seeing an exotics vet that is experienced with rabbits. The treatment is typically penicillin, which must be injected and cannot be giving orally in any circumstances (it’s very toxic to rabbits!). There are all sorts of “home remedies” floating around the internet, with essential oils and whatnot, but the only thing that will kill the infection is a full course of antibiotics. Because it can go dormant, it’s important not just to assume it’s cured because the symptoms go away. 

[LBJ10]

I checked, there aren’t any uploads.

Although we are not vets, I do agree that it could be syphilis. We have seen atypical cases here on BB where only the mouth has lesions.

[Indie&me]

Thank you for your response. I have thought about this a few times as I also read it on the internet: But because it completely dissapears after like two days and doesnt come back for 2 months I was toñd it couldnt be, but Im still not sure. Also, I forgot to mention that a month ago she was Spayed, and therefor has been on meds and antibiotica for a week, and its still there. Are these the same meds they would give for syphillis?
I asked the vet again and showed him a picture of her mouth, and he said that anything (i think he said) bacterial or fungus would dissapear.
I will go to the vet tomorrow because this is not ok and I can’t stand seeing her like this.

Thank you for your help, and btw, sorry, it won’t let me upload the picture, i dont know why.

[Deleted User]

Posted By Indie&me on 3/25/2018 6:34 PM

Also, I forgot to mention that a month ago she was Spayed, and therefor has been on meds and antibiotica for a week, and its still there. Are these the same meds they would give for syphillis? 

Not necessarily. Different bacteria are sensitive to different antibiotics. There are some antibiotics that are effective for a broad range of bacteria, so those might be prescribed as a preventative measure after surgery, but even those won’t treat every infection. 

It sounds like you are doing a good job being persistent in finding out what is wrong! Sometimes it takes a few appointments (or a few different vets) to get a diagnosis and the appropriate treatment. 

[LBJ10]

Your picture might be too big.

Rabbit syphilis is difficult to treat. And yes, the lesions can experience periods of remission and then resurface. This is particularly true is the rabbit is on “regular” antibiotics. The problem is that most antibiotics do not cure the infection. If she was given oral antibiotics, it was likely something commonly used like Baytril. Unless the vet had a reason for using something else.

Rabbit syphilis is treated using penicillin (pen G) injections. According to MediRabbit, the standard treatment is 4-6 injections spaced 5-7 days apart.

http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Skin_diseases/Bacterial/Syph_gen.html
http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Skin_diseases/Bacterial/Syphilis.htm

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