UPDATE – Mr. Bunny’s Salivary Gland Infection – Penicillin?

[FluffyBunny]

A little background, for those who didn’t see my old thread: Back in September, I noticed some lumps on Mr. Bunny’s chin. He was also much sleepier than normal, and he didn’t have his full appetite. I took him to the vet, where it was diagnosed as a bacterial infection.  He was put on 2 weeks of Trimethoprim Sulfa, and then 2 more weeks of it when it wasn’t effective.

He seemed to be doing very well during the second 2 weeks – a few of the masses disappeared while the rest shrunk, and his appetite and activity level went back to normal. Unfortunately, almost as soon as I took him off the medicine, his activity level went back down again, and the lumps got slightly larger. It’s now been a couple of weeks since he went off the antibiotics, and the masses are almost the same size that they were at the beginning.

I called the vet, and he said that he’d be comfortable prescribing an injectible Penicillin medicine, since the Sulfa isn’t having much effect. I’ll be picking it up either today or early next week, depending on whether or not my local vet stocks it.

Has anyone else here used Penicillin injections for infections/abscesses with good results? I’ve heard “rabbit horror stories” about bunnies having bad reactions to Penicillin, so I’m scared to death. Also, are there any videos/guides of how to give injections? The vet is going to show me how to do it when I pick up the Penicillin, but I’d like something for reference.

[Sarita]

I’ve done pen-g shots many times with success for dental abscesses.

Ask the vet NOT to put the pen-g in a syringe because in my experience (since this must be refrigerated) the needle has gotten condensation and it won’t work properly and besides it’s very cold that way. Just had terrible experiences with pre-filled syringes for pen-g.

The last time my bet gave it in a tube type thing that was covered in some kind of gauze to keep it dark. This medication has to be refrigerated and kept in a dark container – I think the light affects it. It also must be shook up very very well too.

Did the vet say how often and how long you will be administering this to Mr. Bunny?

[FluffyBunny]

The vet said that I’ll be giving it every other day. I think he said that I’ll be giving it for 15 days, which probably means 7 or 8 doses.

[Sarita]

I think you will do fine because the max dosage for most rabbits is .25 mg’s (I think).

[FluffyBunny]

Alright, I’ll keep that in mind. Thank you!

I just remembered something: My mother and brother have a very severe Peniciliin allergy (even small amounts on their skin make patches of their skin get rashy/swollen), and I have a possible allergy. This should be fun!

[bunnytowne]

OH boy penc allergy   

The one thing I know for sure about pen c   is it isnt’ to be given orally to a bunny. 

[Kafrn]

Its meant to be brilliant stuff. Ive been reading lots about it the last few days

[FluffyBunny]

Penicillin is, indeed, miraculous stuff! It makes the Trimethoprim Sulfa look like sugar water in comparison!

Mr. Bunny has been responding to the shots very well. He doesn’t seem to care that I’m sticking him in the neck every other day.

His masses immediately started shrinking after his first dose. We gave him his second dose yesterday. The masses have almost disappeared now, and he’s finally almost back to normal – he hasn’t been so active and affectionate since September! It’s so great to see him act like himself again. I had almost forgotten why I loved his personality so much…he acts like an ultra-affectionate dwarf rabbit!

There’s no doubt in my mind that the Penicillin will get rid of the masses by the time I finish with the shots.

[Sarita]

Yay, so glad to hear this!

[FluffyBunny]

I know that this is a very old thread, but I haven’t been on in a while, and I thought that I would give a little update on Mr. Bunny. I didn’t feel that it deserved a new thread.

Mr. Bunny finished the Penicillin shots about  1 1/2 weeks ago. Halfway through, I discovered that I gave 3-4 shots improperly, so the vet offered to give me more shots if I needed them. The Penicillin wasn’t doing much for Mr. Bunny anymore, and the shots seemed to be getting more and more painful for him, so I decided to just see if the masses would get better on their own.

Mr. Bunny has been fine, for the most part. He isn’t as tired as he used to be, and his appetite is as huge as ever. As far as I can tell, the masses haven’t spread, and they never grow beyond a certain point before shrinking again.

I’ve recently discovered that massaging the masses gently 3-4 times a day makes the masses shrink considerably. I’ve been doing that, and he seems to enjoy it quite a bit.

I’ve decided to just watch him carefully and get him checked out again if the masses get larger/spread or he gets sleepy again.

[RabbitPam]

That sounds like a smart way to proceed.

I’m glad you revived your post to give us an update. I hope his masses start shrinking more significantly with your massages.

[Sarita]

Poor Mr. Bunny. This must be terribly frustrating for you. I hope he continues improving with the massages.

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