Tongue Sore- infection rate and healing

[Dee]

Hi Everyone,

Well, on Monday we found out that Luke definitely has a sore on the left side of his tongue. I don’t know whether it’s more of a cut from coarse hay or biting his tongue, or a real sore from his molar spurs, which are now gone. The strange thing is that he is still able to eat hay (I’m only giving him soft hay) and he is eating with real enthusiasm, grabbing several strands at a time. However, he won’t eat pellets, and yesterday he wouldnt eat bananas or oats until about midnight. He is often great at night- eating, playing, happy. Then in the mormimg, I find him hiding and miserable. This morning he only nibbled a few banana pieces, refused oats, and refuses greens. Yesterday he ate his greens in the morning but no oats or bananas. I don’t understand the huge difference in behavior between night and day.

My questions to all of you are:

Question 1- Do rabbits often need to be out to sleep because of mouth sores that won’t heal?? I read that somewhere and it terrifies me.

Question 2- Do mouth sores tend to get infected on rabbits?

My vet prescribed SMZ for antibiotic 3 times a day, plus I have Luke on Metacam, ranitidine and metoclopramide. As long as he’s producing good poops and eating hay, I stopped syringe feeding because it stresses him,SO MUCH. He shakes if I put my hand on him now ?. Except at night when he gets in this great mood.

The reason I ask if mouth/tongue sores get infected often is because I’m beginning to wonder- since he can eat hay even in the morning when he’s miserable and won’t eat anything else, is his tongue really bothering him OR is it all the handling and different meds in his little system making him so miserable during the day? I’m tempted to not give him meds for 24 hours and see if he improves, but scared of him getting a crazy infection.

Question 2- Is opened Benebac- the kind in the tube- still good if it has been opened but not finished and is months before it’s expiration date?

Question 3- How much acidophilus- lactobacillus acidophilus 0.5my per tablet- would you give a bunny? This is in case the Benebac is no good and I can’t find it in stores.

Sorry for the strange questions. His last recovery from molar spurs was very stop and go too, but this time since I KNOW he has a complication, his tongue sore, Im,so afraid that it won’t heal and hate to watch his suffer. Poor little guy. Thanks for any advice!!

[Muchelle]

Hello! So sorry Luke has to go through this I can’t say about Benebac (not sold here), but my bun had a necrosis in his tongue from molar spurs when he was younger. It took a lot of antibiotics but he pulled through.

Luke might be more miserable at times because of the medications wearing off/kicking in, but being under pain meds and antibiotics he should get better fairly quickly. It’s hard on our human nerves, I know

[Bam]

Uncomplicated sores in the mouth as a rule heal well and fast. Forum leader LittlePuffyTail’s bun Bindi had to amputate a third of his tongue, but it healed just fine even though Bindi is an elderly bun.

Acidofilus and other lactobacilli can be given pretty much unlimited. Most if not all won’t survive the stomach acid in the bunny tum. Acidofilus is not naturallyboccuring in the healthy bunny gut. Benebac is better because it has a type of bacteria that’s the most prevalent in the bunny gut, enterococcus faecium (nasty name, I know).

I can’t say how well an opened tube of benebac keeps though. I don’t think it’s dangerous to try it, but it might be less potent than when it’s just opened.

Ask your vet if it’s a good idea to give a probiotic even though the sore is in his mouth where the probiotic bacteria can come into direct contact with the sore.

Keep giving him what he wants to eat. You can give him baby gas drops (simethicone) in case he has a bit of gas. Gas is common following dietary changes and it’s very painful for a rabbit. Simethicone can help the bun fart, and Dana Krempels says a flatulent bunny is a happy bunny

He might be willing to eat pellet slurry/Critical Care from a plate if you mix it with something yummy like baby fruit smoothie or canned plain pumpkin. Some buns will lick the mush from a spoon or your fingers.

You can also try giving him a bit of tummy massage. Mary S Cotter and Amy Sedaris has done a series of lovely HowCast videos about bunny care, here’s a link to their bunny gas massage vid: http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LbyC6CWbm5M

[Wick & Fable]

Wick’s vet says old probiotic is not bad, but some of the bacteria would have probably died, making it less potent as bam says. 6 months since first using it is Wick’s vet’s recommendation for suspecting it’s not as good as when first used.

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.

[Dee]

Thank you all so much! I’m feeling very encouraged ☺. I’ll reply in more detail later- no doubt one of my mile long posts. I’m leaving work right now but just read your replies and am so happy to see so much helpful and uplifting info!

[LittlePuffyTail]

I don’t have any experience with mouth sore complications but as Bam mentioned, about 3 years ago, Bindi had a molar spur that was so bad it created a wound on his tongue that became necrotic. When my vet went to do his molar spurs, she had to remove about 1/3 of his tongue. He had not shown any symptoms of pain or chewing, so I had no idea his teeth were that bad and I was horrified. I was sure I’d have to have him pts. But he’s a tough guy. He had to have it stitched up and was put on antibiotics as a preventative (sorry can’t remember which) and Metacam. The stitches dissolved and he was fine. Never stopped eating at all. I think the whole thing was worse for me, than him.

He also recovered from a mouth abscess. Not sure what the cause was but it went away after a few weeks of antibiotics.

So, yes I think you should feel encouraged, for sure. Especially since your vet seems really on the ball and is giving meds.

Sorry I can’t help you with your other questions. 

(((((Healing Vibes)))))

[Dee]

Wow, LPT, that’s amazing- he never stopped eating through all that! Probably that determination and love of his food- lol- helped Bindi pull through. It seems our rabbits either don’t show symptoms like Bindi, or are so sensitive that any emotional or physical stress makes them stop eating like Lukie!

Muchelle, that is scary that molar spurs can cause that much damage! Must have been a very stressful time for you! I imagine your bunny stopped eating- did you just keep him going on syringe feeding? If Luke’s tongue hasn’t healed by Monday, I’m considering asking my vet if I should withhold all foods and exclusively syringe feed for a couple days to allow the tongue to heal without the constant abrasion of chewing. Probably way too stressful, but I don’t see another way if it just won’t heal.

Wick, thanks for the info on probiotics. Good to know that while they don’t turn toxic, they might be less effective after some time.

Bam, thanks for the info and for raising the question of whether probiotic should be given when it will touch the open sore. I never thought of that!! I’ll check out the video on tummy massages- I’ve found them to be very helpful, and I’d like to learn better technique. I’ll try mixed Critical Care with more appealing things if I have to, but Luke is finally eating his hay and greens at night. During the dsy he will,sometimes eat banana and oats, but today he won’t. Its so up and down, I’m getting,more worried by the day.

The really strange thing- and I’m going to make a separate post because it’s so puzzling to me- is that during the daytime, Luke seems quite uncomfortable and hides most of the day. Even when he eats, I have to give him his little plate right outside his box.But at around 7, Luke suddenly seems fine. Eating his hay, hopping around begging for food- his old self. But the next morning he’s back to being miserable. This is really crazy. I am,worried that Luke’s tongue is getting infected, but if it was that bad I don’t see how he would be so happy at night. Not sure whether to keep giving meds or assume he’s getting better on his own. I’m waiting for his vet to call back and give advice.

Thank you all for reading this and giving advice and encouragement!!

[Muchelle]

Wasn’t a pretty experience… anyways if Luke’s being under antibiotics, he shouldn’t get to bad infection/necrosis state. K’s tongue got that bad cause I didn’t know crap about rabbits and our first vet didn’t bring up possible dental problems until when he personally called the ER of the vet hospital and sent us there =_=

Anyways, ever since then when K’s sick I keep him on a rigorous CC feeding schedule: 5-8CC every 2 hours during critical moment, then slow it progressively down to 15cc every 4-5 hours, and finally 5-8cc every 5-6 hours + solid food until he’s eating and drinking consistently.

I remain of my opinion that he’s being a bit bipolar because of meds, but do ask your vet It’s a good sign that he’s begging for food, I hope he can get back to 100% as soon as possible <3

[Dee]

I’m sure it was definitely not pretty! I can’t even picture neurotic tongue tissue on a bunny- I’ve seen all kinds of nasty stuff going on with humans but that doesn’t bother me much. A bunny with a boo-boo though?? I feel their pain so strongly I can barely stand it. But I know also that we do what we gotta do for our bunnies, no matter how hard it is. Good for you for getting K through that awful time!

Oh so you only give 5-8 cc’s per feeding, except for 15 cc’s on the 2nd feeding? I’m a bit confused on that amount but understand the concept of gradually spacing out the feeding. I think I’m trying to give way too much during the feedings! I read that a 2kg bunny like Lukie should get about 100c.f. a day, so feeding should each be at least 20cc. He fights really hard- maybe thats just too much for him.

[Muchelle]

Sorry I didn’t write clearly. The small amount every 2 hours is meant for the first days when a lot of meds are involved and there’s absolutely no will to eat or drink. Then when stuff is better, I space out the feedings (with more CC to keep him hungry but not too much) and then when he’s eating I still give some CC support until I am sure he’s 100% eating and drinking

I’m also accounting for how much I usually can get into him. K’s a feisty one so he will fight not to eat CC. I’ve made batches of 20-25cc and got only 15 or 16cc into him… He’s 2kgs but so far he always managed good with this system (last time he lost 300gr, but he’s been sick for almost 2 months)

[Dee]

Ok that makes me feel better ☺. Luke is pretty difficult to syringe feed too- he usually ends up with it all in his fur below his mouth and I have it all over my shirt. He gets really panicky, like I’m going to choke him, even though I only give him a tiny bit at a time. To give an idea of how cautious I am, I only give about 0.3cc’s at a time when giving meds. He is also 2kg, so our bunnies probably should eat about the same which is great because that gives me a guide tip feeding Lukie.

We just brought a new rabbit guide today- horrible timing but We had been putting off picking her up for weeks. She is adorable but Inn so focused on my little Luke that I’m not as excited as I would normally be. I have her in the mudroom at the opposite end of the kitchen to the living room and bedroom where Luke hangs out, and I put up the kitchen gate. Plus I put up cardboard so in case of Luke somehow getting into the kitchen, he wouldn’t see her. I’m quite sure he’s aware off her presence but I’m hoping it wing stress him out. I’m working an overnight tonight ago I can’t even be here. Ugh. But Luke is eating his hay and eating greens at night and doing normal poops, so I’m trying to stay calm about the way he’s hiding.

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