Severe crusting around the mouth :(

[Aysha Faith]

Hi there everyone! I’ve been struggling with my neutered Netherland Dwarf named Bear for a few months now. He’s been struggling with general crusting around the mouth and some fur loss, and I’ve done all tests possible. I’ve been to the vet more times than I can count and the vet consistently just says, “I don’t know at all what it is. We CAN put him on antibiotics, we CAN put him under and see if it’s an issue with his back teeth, but I don’t know what’s wrong with him.”

He eats and poops just fine, he’s voracious even. The only thing that I think could cause this is he refuses to drink from a water bottle; only from a bowl. He’s terrible at grooming himself, so it’s possible that bacteria is forming in his fur from all of the water. 

If anyone could help at all, please let me know. He’s been tested for mites and ring worm already. Here’s some photos to help. Any of his fur around his mouth, if I pull, falls out.

This black spot has only formed in the past few days.

These are each sides of his face.

[Wick & Fable]

Nothing necessarily wrong with doing a treatment based on slight, educated guesses. Wick has been treated successfully for ringworm, URIs, and a tooth infection, all without doing tests. Generally antibiotics when prescribed at a realistic dose won’t really harm a healthy rabbit. Potentially an upset stomach, but if it’s precautionary, it won’t kill it unless it’s a very sensitive rabbit.

Did your vet attempt to look at the back molars with an otoscope? This can give a somewhat better idea of teeth problems which can cause excessivice salivation, which leads to crust and fur loss.

How was the test for ringworm conducted? That honestly looks exactly like Wick when he had ringworm. Ringworm isn’t a single bacteria type. There are multiple bacteria which can cause ringworm. Ringworm is actually just a visual descriptor, rather than the infection. Ringworm is a descriptor for fungal infections. Generally Wick’s vet doesn’t do any tests for things like this because there’s always a chance the test is contaminated or wrong, so sometimes it’s good just to start treating to see if it helps instead of letting it get worse.

Is that black patch new fur coming in? I’m unsure what necrotic skin looks like from experience, but I know that turns up as black as well. If it seems like new fur growth, that’s actually supporting evidence for ringworm, because ringworm spreads continuously and will abandon some past area as it spreads since it cannot live there (hence the name ring worm. Fur loss in a circle and as it moves out, fur regrows inside where it used to be, making a worm of bare skin).

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]

Also, potentially find a new vet. Unless they’re being considerate of your finances, they really should be a bit more firm in saying “let’s try this since you’ve been in so often and it’s getting worse”.

Also, all rabbits will drink from a bowl more than a bottle. The bottle requires a lot of work and because of this they drink less water than they want so drinking from a bowl is ideal.

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.

[Aysha Faith]

She tested it from what it seems by taking a fur sample from arounds his mouth. We waited the two week period she said was required, and she said nothing came up. I’m so frustrated. I’m calling them back right now to schedule something.

What’s the treatment that Wick goes through/went through?

[Wick & Fable]

I would move forward and at least try some sort of topical or antibiotic treatment to see if it helps.

Itraconazole is an oral antibiotic which can assist your rabbits immune system so it doesn’t spread too crazily, if it is ringworm. That skin pattern can come from other causes, but I’m mainly familiar and experienced with ringworm, so this is written based on that.

For topical treatment, I used nolvasan (soap used to disinfect skin before surgeries) to clean the area, then applied either clotrimazole (liquid topical fluid) or silver sulfadiazine (lotion topical cream). Wick would lick it off, but as long as it stays on for about 20 seconds, it will absorb pretty quickly and your rabbit will groom off the excess. You want to not slather on too much for your rabbits sanity sake.

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]

Hmm… right now, it looks more like a fungal infection than anything else. Is this the worst it has looked? If it gets worse and thick crusts with sores underneath start to develop then it could be something like syphilis. These are just guesses of course.

[Aysha Faith]

This is definitely the worst it’s looked so far. I’m getting some antibiotics from the vet tomorrow, so I’m hoping that that might help. She’s also giving me some anti-fungal wipes so hopefully that will help as well. I’ll keep this posted as a reference to any one else who might be suffering from this with their bun buns.

[LittlePuffyTail]

Hope the antibiotics help!

[Wick & Fable]

https://binkybunny.com/FORUM/tabid/54/aft/163981/Default.aspx

My post if you’re interested

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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