Pain from abscess

Question
QUESTION: My vet knows 0 about rabbits.  She has a bulging eye (rt eye) which I believe is an abscess behind her eye.  I told the vet about Bicillen, but first he gave her Ciproflaxacin for 9 days a (2xday) but it did not work.  So I gave him the protocol for abscesses behind the eye and he gave me bicillen which I give her every other day.  I have given her 3rd dose today and she is not better.  I have to steam carrots and parsley and make into baby food for her to eat.  It is the weekend now and I can't reach the vet.  I believe she is in pain right now and need something to give her asap until I can see the vet again.  What do you recommend>  I know metacam is good but I don't have any.  Can I buy at the feed store or do I need to get this from my vet.  He was hesitant about giving her pain meds as he felt she wasn't in pain.  We live in the country and honest the best vet is about 6 hrs. away for exotics so please don't tell me to find another vet.  It is getting more expensive every day and we love her so much and want her well.  She is our 8 year old house rabbit and to drive her 6 hrs. away would probably kill her.  Also, the vets office stressed her out (dogs and cats all over) She was terrified plus all of the predator smells.  Is there something I can give her that is over the counter, as she is not eating as much and I know this is very dangerous.  She is thinner too now.  Thank you for your help.

ANSWER: Hi,

for the situation you are in, give her 1/2 an aspirin in 5 ml water.  NEeds to be in water or else it will cause stomach problems.  Give her 1/2 in the am with 5 ml water and 1/2 in the evening with 5 ml water.  Unfortunately this is not the solution.

This is just temporary.  You need to get on the phone to the vet around you and ask for the metacam, it's prescription so you can't get it without him.  If you say you can't get her to another vet then you have to get it from the vet.   SHe's not eating and not moving and probably grinding her teeth, these are all symptoms of a rabbit in pain.  They don't vocalize when they are in pain, they are prey animals.  It is up to us to see their behavior changes and realize they are in pain.  You know rabbit behavior better than the vet does.  

The bottom line I believe is that you are not going to get life-saving care from your local vet.  She is dead if you stay with this vet.  You don't have anything to lose driving her to a good rabbit vet 6 hours away.  And time is ticking off, and she is getting weaker.  My suggestion is to locate a good rabbit vet and then call them ahead and then get there.  Keep her warm so she doesn't go into shock.  A rabbit's temp can be normal anywhere between 100-103 degrees.  If it goes less than 99 you need to keep her warm.

ALso check here to see if there's a good vet closer to you:

www.rabbit.org/vets/vets.html

and see where the nearest House Rabbit Society recommended vet is.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: She is not grinding her teeth at all.  In fact she still clicks when  I love on her.  She does eat, but not as much.  She is on Penicillin G Procaine 1x every other day.  I am sure that the abscess causes some discomfort but she does eat a bit and responds to love, also drinks water and still nibbles on a carrot but she is not as active and understandably so.  Her temp is also normal.  She was so scared at the vets last week that she was shaking and panting even after we got home.  I don't believe that is good for a bunny.  I will keep trying to find one here but they seem to be very hard to find.  I gave her a baby aspirin (chewable) until I can get the Metacam.  Thanks for your help.

ANSWER: Hi Jen,

it's good to hear she isn't teeth crunching, that would signify serious pain.  Make sure her hay is fresh several times a day, fresher might make her eat a little more.

Yes I can understand her being scared of the smells at the vet especially if the vet doesn't do small animals nearly as much as dogs and cats.  It's stressful but if it's all you have it's better than dying.  It's pretty stressful being in pain and dying too.

One other thing you can try, if you can't find any near you via the HRS site I mentioned before, call around to animal shelters or rescue groups, and even some animal control officers (or law enforcement humane officers) and ask them where they would go with a sick rabbit that needed more specialized care.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks, I called Humane Society and Animal Control but they only have dog and cat vets and take bunnies to them as well.  They are a bit behind here.  I use to work with the Vets where I use to live and there were so many rabbit savvy Vets.  Luckily, I called a Pet Store that sells rabbits and they actually have a Rabbit vet that is about 30 miles from here.  I have an appointment this afternoon.  Also, the swelling has gone  down quite a bit and is no longer inflamed, plus, she ate most of her salad greens and dandelion (1) last nite and this morning ate a few pellets.  I am thinking that the little bit of aspirin (gave her baby chewable) took the edge off the pain and she is much more chipper today!
Thanks for your kindness and for trying to help.  It is so appreciated and bless you for what you are doing to help the bunnies!  Jen

Answer
Hi,

glad to hear you were able to find a better vet and get in this afternoon.  I should have mentioned that aspirin, being a pain reducer, is also anti-inflammatory as well.  So that may have helped the swelling behind the eye.

Let me know how it goes with the vet you visit today, and if you can forward me their contact info, I'd appreciate it for my own information.  Just make sure your little gal is drinking well, that is the key to keeping her from gi shutdown and shock.  Even if she's eating less, that isn't as critical as water is.

If this vet still thinks there's an infection, keep in mind chloramphenicol oral and topical for the eye - she's had it awhile and needs something stronger than baytril.  Also the metacam as it is safer for her than the baby aspirin.

Keep me posted!  I hope this vet is better with rabbits than your other one was.