Small lump on the side of leg

[beebun]

Hi folks!

It’s been long. Chito is now two, and still as lazy as ever. He figured out how to hop to the sofa and once nibbled on remote control buttons. Now he gets there if he thinks noone is watching, and once ate some of my ied cookies. I caught him in the act and he was like (0_0) oh no mum is here and promptly hops off and looks at me like I disturbed his fun. What a silly bun.

I just got back from a holiday three days ago, and had to post Chito up in his usual boarding place. They used to have bamboo flooring for buns, but recently changed to wire. I suppose I should have had my inner siren wail that moment, but I’ve never been to the alternative and decides to book Chito there as normal.

So we got back home, and he had stress poops from both travel and diet (looks like he hadn’t any hay for 4 days, and it makes me seriously upset. They don’t usually do that. I’m definitely going to visit the second place and make it my go-to from now on), but is still hoppy otherwise.

Then he was lounging and I saw this little…lump on the side of his leg. It’s movable, but it turns out it’s bigger on the inside (the surrounding area moves a bit. The skin that had formed atop it is hard, but it’s soft enough to tell me there’s something inside.

Is this an abscess? I’ve never dealt with wounds on buns before. I suspect the wire on the cage they kept him in hurt the side of his paw The only bunny vet is about 3 hours of car trip away, and he gets upset with travel. Should I go? I asked someone more experienced and they said it looks like an abscess which has to be drained or it will spread(?).

Any advice would be appreciated. I love you folks. Kisses from Chito x

[Bam]

If it is an abscess your bun will need antibiotics. You often start with that if the abscess is small, if it doesn’t go away with antibiotics, you need to get it opened up and cleaned out. I too would suspect the wire cage.

To get antibiotics for your bun you wouldn’t really need a rabbit vet, just a vet that can prescribe oral Baytril (enrofloxacine) in a dose suitable for rabbits. Suitable dosage according to Medirabbit is 5 – 15 mg/kg once or twice daily, depending on the severity of the problem. If the abx don’t work though, you will need a rabbit vet.

[beebun]

Hi bam, thank you so, so much for the reply. I’ll try and get to a vet who can give us Baytril and monitor his injured foot for a week. Thank you from me and chito ;_;

[LittlePuffyTail]

Best of luck at the vet!

[beebun]

Thanks LPT! If the abx works, I should see it fall off or deflate? Sheesh I’m sorry I’m clueless about this.

[Bam]

It should deflate. It could form a scab that falls off, you’ll have to keep an eye of course. When you feel it with your fingers, be very gentle, you don’t wan’t the abscess to burst.
Good luck at the vets!

[beebun]

Hi everybody- an update. Chito is on his third dose of Baytril and he’s been taking it like a champ when mixed with a drop of honey. I’m so proud.

Also- his lump had started to deflate! Amazing. I didn’t expect it to be this quick. I even have to feel his legs to see if the lump is still there- it is but it doesn’t protrude as much. Thank you, thank you!

[Bam]

Yay!!! Thanks for the update!

[beebun]

Update- twenty dosages later (10 days-ish), the lump is still there, still soft, and doesn’t look like it’s changing. How long do I continue before making a dash to the 3-hours-away vet?

(we have an emergency vet here who takes rabbits but I don’t trust her that much since she picks Chito up by the scruff and just mumble ‘aw he doesn’t like it rough doesn’t he’ when the poor boy scampered away)

[Bam]

You could call and ask. The antibiotics might just be keeping it from growing, or it might need even longer treatment. But if a rabbit vet says you need to get it opened and cleaned out, I think that’s what you do. Little Puffy Tail here has experience with bunny abscesses, I’ll alert her to the thread.

[beebun]

Thank you so much, bam! I’m a little worried because Chito have been having small poops although I’ve been supplementing with Bene-bac and a lot of hay and nice juicy vegetables.

Again, thank you!!

[LittlePuffyTail]

I don’t have much experience with abscesses but I know that my vet would probably want to do a culture if it isn’t clearing up with the antibiotics. There are a number of bacterias that you could be dealing with and you need to know which one so the vet can prescribe the best antibiotic. There are two types of abscesses, an external injury like a bite or a puncture that becomes infected or one that forms from an internal bacteria like pasteurella.

Like Bam said, some vets prefer to open and clean abcesses, especially stubborn ones. Not sure if this is available in all areas, but a recurring abcess can be cleaned out and antibiotic beads can be put into the wound.

Hope you get this cleared up soon!

[beebun]

Thanks, LPT! Guess a trip to the faraway vet is due. I’ll update :>

[beebun]

Update- just got back from the vet. It was indeed an abscess! Chito got local anaesthesia and the vet extracted it. I got to watch, and it was a mixture of amazement, confusion, and relief. I heard that rabbit pus is like toothpaste, and after seeing it irl I can confirm that it’s more like mozzarella.

Doc wrapped the site in stretchy bandage and I wonder how long I should keep it on? He gave us a salve as well.

Best news: doc said he’s cleared off the URI and can be neutered once the abscess thing is done! Yay!

Thanks bb team for holding my hand Chito sends a pile of cranberries!

[Bam]

I’m glad you got it taken care of! Mozzarella  Really cool they let you watch! And yay for the URI being gone so he can have his procedure 

I don’t know how often you should change the dressing. Call and ask them, they must’ve just forgot to give you instructions. Some dressings are supposed to be changed every day and some a couple of times per week. 

Many recovery-vibes for (((((Chito)))))

[beebun]

Finally, yep! The confirmation feels really great because the last time we went to that vet, Chito was feeling very poorly and the vet said ‘I can’t possibly neuter him in this condition, he might not wake up from anaesthesia’ and it scared me to bits!

I called, and he said the bandage should be left overnight and I can start dabbing it with salve tomorrow. Fingers crossed that Chito will be cooperative!

((everybunny))

[beebun]

There’s been one week! Chito’s incision site had completely closed, but…

It looks like this now!

Did I do something wrong :'( is the abscess coming back? ;A;

*edit: gah,the attachment didn’t work. Will edit on a pc- I’m on mobile now. Basically it looks like a mosquito bite with a red dot in the center. The glistening, waxy substance is the salve

[Bam]

Call your vet again. Maybe you can e-mail the picture as well. I think it’s the abscess coming back. Sadly that’s not uncommon, abscesses in bunnies are tricky. Sometimes a vet will put antibiotic beads in the wound to keep bacteria from starting to grow again.

[beebun]

Oh no

Thanks bam, I’ll do that!

[LittlePuffyTail]

Sending more ((((Healing Vibes)))))

[Benthebunny]

How is your bunny?

[beebun]

Hi Ben!

I haven’t had the chance to go to the vet yet since work is hectic to the next week…

The site still looks largely the same. Not getting bigger or anything. I’m honestly worried. I hope I’ll be able to ask dad to drive me to the 3hr vet next Tuesday :”

I’m worried it’s because Chito won’t let me clean the wound and wants to do it himself. He would lick on the salve about 5minutes after the salve is applied. Maybe he should stay in the clinic but I’m worried it’d stress him out…

[beebun]

Update: chito’s abscess is all gone now! Hopefully it won’t grow back!

[Benthebunny]

Great! For now just keep an eye on it.

[Bam]

Oh, great What a relief

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