Cracked Lips and No Clue What It Is

Question
QUESTION: Hi there,
about a mounth back I notice my British Giant Rabbit had a realy nasty saw on the side of her mouth. I rushed her to the vets and there was dry dark scaps. It was wet and horrable so the vet gave her anti-biotics.
It seemed to clear up after a time but we discovered it spread to the other side. we then discovered that she had mites!
We treated her for that and on the final dosage against the mites it seemed she was doing really well and her lips were looking better and better.
We all thought at the time that she might of scratched it, got infected and then the mites came along to delay the healing.
Durring this time she was kept inside, in her cage rather than her hutch so we could keep an eye on her but 2 days after being in her hutch, both her lips are becoming cracked, saw and the dark scaps are appearing again.
Noone, not even the vet has heard anything like it. She's been put on the anti-bi again and she isn't any different in her self, she's eating and drinking fine and all ok apart from her lips. If anyone has any idea, we would be really, really greatful.
Thanks for your time

ANSWER: Hi Amy,

Umm...this might be a tough one.  My first thought on this is a dental issue.  Molars can cause something like this.  With it seeming to improved with antibiotics, that would lead to something causing a bacterial infection.  I do have a hypthesis on this but I would like to get some more info from you.  Where are you located and what antibiotics were used?  Depending on your location can mean a difference in what to look for.  Also, if possible, a picture would be helpful.  I don't know if you can paste a pic into this forum, but if not, I will provide you with our rescue e-mail account so you can send some pics directly to me.  I will be checking back often for most of this evening.

Randy

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

QUESTION: Hi there, Thanks for your fast reply. I was reading about how dental issues may end up irratating the skin but I cant see how because she keeps getting comments from the vets about how good her teeth are.
She has been given Baytril twice a day and we're in the sw of england.
Her mouth was clearing really nicely untill she went back into her hutch, so we thought it might be some kind of virius? Even though I cleaned and disinfected it with animal disinfectant, I might of missed an area.
I'm going to see if I can get some kind of cream from the vets instead because I'm abit concerned about her having anti-bi for so long because of her imune system.
I can't find the email button but it's as though the top layer of skin around the side of the mouth is peiled off and forms dark hard scabs that build up untill finaly they come off on their own accord. Underneith is pink skin and I'm not sure if another will appear in it's place.
She's not too bothered by it but obvious it's not normal and Im affraid of it spreading.

ANSWER: Hi Amy,

Your response basically confirmed what I thought.  Most likely your rabbit has Syphilis.  It is not the same that causes STDs in humans.  But it is very contagious between rabbits.  The best course of treatment is penicillin.  But using this drug in rabbits is a little tricky.  It has to be administered correctly.  Giving this drug by mouth will usually result in death.  Have your vet research this condition.  If he/she is not familiar with using penicillin in rabbits, maybe the vet and I can talk directly and I will walk them thru the protocol.  I am not a vet so I can't legally tell you how to do this....and it should be done under the care of a doctor.  But if your vet does some research...the drug to use is Pen-G.  I can't stress enough the importance of correctly using this drug.

Randy

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

QUESTION: hi there, thanks for the surjestion. Ive looked into the condiction but even though it's got smular results (around the mouth) I dont think it could be due to the fact that she isnt any where near any other rabbit and also I dont think she even likes them (she thinks she's a human)but thanks very much for all the help you've given me.
They've given her some cream to help it heal and I'm hopeing it'll work.
Thanks again

Answer
Hi Amy,

Not trying to contradict your vet....but I really would like to ask him/her to do more detailed research on this condition.  Your rabbit doesn't have to be around another rabbit to contract this disease at any given point.  Like other issues in rabbits....examples are E Cuniculi and Pasteurella....they can lie dormant, I think the term is subclinical....until something gives them the opportunity to show themselves.  If the Baytril improved it and it relapsed, I doubt seriously that any topical will fully resolve the issue. We run into something similar in wild finches (bird) with an eye infection. While a topical clears the visible condition, it takes a parental antibiotic to eradicate the infection from the body.  I am going to attempt to insert a link here for a technical article for your vet to review.

http://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jvms/65/5/637/_pdf

Based on my experience in our rescue and my non-professinal opinion based on your statements....I would treat this condition with an aggressive antibiotic.  Regardless of the route you choose to treat, I wish your rabbit the best and please keep me updated on the progress of treatments.

Randy