Rabbit jaw abscess

Question
I have had my netherland dwarf rabbit as a rescue since she was 6 mnths old, she is now 2 yrs old since having her she has never eaten hay we have tried every single type of hay going,but she never has had it we tried to encourage her and fresh hay is still put in on a dailly basis with no positive result, She is a geat eater of her normal rabbit food and pellets.In April 2009 she had a dental and advised by the vets she should have it regularly every 6 mnths or so, so she had it done again 3 weeks ago, then a week after her dental a lump appeared below her eye and white thick fluid leaking from the eye I immedeatly took her to the vets who kept her in and operated the next day we were told she had an abcess which has completly damaged her tear duct and they have cleared the abcess but left the wound open and we take her back every 3/4 days to have the wound filled in with gauze as they said it allows the wound to heal inside first and then the outside. My rabbit seems fine eating drinking really well. I was just wondering if you could offer any advice to myself and my partner please as to what we could excpect from this procedure? and what could the possible outcomes be please? Any advice would be appreciated and how will her damaged tear duct affect her now?. thank you

Kind Regards
Miss Kaur

Answer
Dear Miss Kaur,

Jaw abscesses in rabbits are a nasty problem, and they can often recur.  Is she on antibiotics?  Please read:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/jawabscess.html

Injections of Penicillin-G Procaine are often effective at controlling these lesions, but every case is different.  So it's impossible for me to give you a prognosis.  I hope your bunny will do well.

I might also suggest you join Etherbun, a free listserve with more than 6000 rabbit-loving members, many of whom have dealt with this problem.  They may be able to help with diverse experience and advice for you and your bunny.

I hope this helps.

Dana