worried about my bunny

[jubieanna]

my bunny rabbit has an abscess on her cheek. she had it cut open and cleaned out on wednesday. it had refilled by friday so had to be done again. i have kept her indoors since but she is not eating! she has been having a drink.
im due to take her back on monday but im really worried that the abscess is refilling again.
anyone know what i can do. ive tried all her favourite treats.

[welshlibranr]

May help to bathe the abcess with warm water, if she'll let you, it'll keep it open, and allow it to drain, I'd try to do it as often as you can!.................hope she's ok!..............

[jubieanna]

the vet stitched it up! then opened a little bit on friday with a razor blade so it bled quite a bit! i will try bathing it though. she looks so sad!

[Prudie]

Poor thing. Did the vet not give her any kind of antibiotic, I thought that was standard treatment for an abscess. Hope she's better soon

[jubieanna]

yes i have to give her 2mls a day through a sryinge. but she hasnt eaten for ages now!

[welshlibranr]

well jubieanna, if you can bathe it and get some of the poison out she'll feel a little better, don't be afraid to squeeze the area gently to encourage the poison out, she'll benefit from this I think!.......If you don't have any antibiotics for her I would call the vet and ask for some, they surely should have given her some!.......hope she's better soon,

[jubieanna]

the pus is like philadelphia cheese (sorry if you're eating lol) and it smells disgusting! i tried earlier but only got a little out.
do you think she'll be ok not eating?

[welshlibranr]

I wouldn't worry about her eating at the moment jubieanna, try to get her to drink though, if she won't she may become dehydrated, and need to go on a drip to rehydrate her, try to bathe the abcess as often as you can, and even if you only get a little puss out, it will help!...............

[jubieanna]

thanks for your advice x

[welshlibranr]

You're welcome jubieanna, hope she's ok, if you're worried tomorrow, even though it's Sunday, ring the vet and ask for some antibiotics for her, they will help, and the sooner she has them the better!...............Let us know how she goes........

[jubieanna]

ive got antibiotics for her welsh. ive been managing to get her to take it. 2mls from a syringe.

[what..the?]

If it has been a long time since she has eaten you might be best trying to encourage her to eat because rabbits are terrible for letting themselves starve. If they stop eating for a few days their gut can slow down so much they just dont start eating again. If you can try and feed her a favourite snack, or if that doesnt work soften some food for her by soaking it in a little water. They always suggest weetabix and water but mine never like that so try crushing down to a fine powder some treats of food and add a little warm water and place in a low level bowl. If she goes to long you might have to ask the vet to give her a steroid injection his will make he hungry and start to eat again, and ask for some wider syringes which will allow you to feed crushed soaked food, baby food, or a rescue small animal powder they will give you that you add water to and syringe. The key with syringing food which is powdered and water is added is to add a spoon of baby food is stops the syringe clogging. Also keep bunny warm and lots of love and cuddles but I'm sure she is already getting this.

[jubieanna]

yes lots of cuddles poor thing. i haven't seen her eat at all today. ive tried all her favourites but to no avail! in fact she just tipped her bowl up and threw it across the cage!!
if she hasnt eaten tomorrow i will try your suggestions thank you so much. its times like these when you wish they could talk!

[welshlibranr]

That.s good jubieanna, hope the antibiotics kick in soon! good advice here too from what..the!..............hope she's ok!..............

[jubieanna]

yes fantastic help and advice from everyone thank you. i'll update you on this thread tomorrow x

[what..the?]

poor thing
maybe she flew the bowl because she is annoyed she cannot chew the food because it hurts her cheek, If you can try a soaked food or ideally a crushed and then soaked as soon as possible it might get her started I dont want to be annoying, but I have been there so many times before and the longer you leave bunny the worst they get and I have just kicked myself in the past for not acting sooner.

Hope she gets better soon xxx

[JustJenni]

When my cat had an absess the vets left it open to drian out it was disgusting and smelly, it was right on his cheek too. If you keep having to take her back maybe try a different vet if your worried.

[jubieanna]

quick update before i go to bed. little Boots the rabbit looks a bit better today although she is still not eating! i tried to mush up some food but she wouldnt eat that either. so back to the vet tomorrow to add to my £111 bill :-((

[welshlibranr]

Oh Jubieanna, she probably doesn't feel up to food, but she is still fighting this, let us know how she is tomorrow after the visit to the vet!...........

[jubieanna]

I will. I'm taking her after work so will update on this thread tomorrow evening x

[jubieanna]

the vet gave her some critical care food which we have to feed her with a syringe 4 times a day. she had lost weight. she seems to have perked up a bit. so i hope she's on the mend. the abscess had filled a little so they flushed it out again but vet said it looked cleaner so there is hope!!!