My bunny Bennitt

Question
QUESTION: My one year old Holland lop Bennett has a tumor. We are not yet sure what kind of tumor it is, just found out yesterday and we are waiting for the analysis of it. It is on is face between the right eye and nose. A bump under the skin about the size of a small marble. The x-rays show that his right nasal duct and some bone are already dissolved into the mass. My poor pet is breathing through one nostril, sounds like the snuffles.
Bennett has not lost any weight and he is eating and playing and is as affection it as ever.
I would like to know what types of tumors rabbits get. Also what are the likely scenarios or rather what decisions will I face?

ANSWER: Dear Tricia,

There's no way to know for sure until the histopathology report comes back.  But the location of this marble-sized lesion and the accompanying deterioration of the bone of the jaw there suggests this could be a molar root abscess.

If this is the case (and this is really not uncommon at all), then I hope your vet is able to take a sample of the abscess for culture and sensitivity testing, to see what type of antibiotics will help resolve the infection:

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

Please also read:

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

If your vet is not a specialist in exotics, and does not see many rabbits, then I would *strongly* recommend that you find an experienced rabbit vet here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

who is more familiar with rabbit dental disorders and their appropriate treatment.  Vets who are terrific with dogs and cats, but who see very few rabbits, can sometimes do more harm than good, especially in a case like this, since dogs and cats generally do not suffer from this type of jaw abscess.

It is also possible that the tumor is cancerous, but this is MUCH less common than a jaw abscess.  If it does turn out to be a cancerous lesion, please feel free to write back for more information.  But my guess is that this is going to be osteomyelitis (inflammation/infection of the bone) due to a molar root abscess.

I hope this helps, and that your bunny will soon be on the road to a full recovery.

Dana

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

QUESTION: So as it turns out, it was an abscess. I don't know if it was due to a molar root issue but they decided to operate.
They opened it, drained and removed what they could. As the x-rays showed, there was no longer a nasal duct and some bone was gone. He is recovering well, and he's on antibiotics twice a day for 14 days. He is  a little disoriented he didn't recognize my other bunny Bella. And at times I must have smelled different because he was a little aggressive to me and usually he is never anything but affectionate. Is this normal after this kind of Surgury?

I know that there is a chance of recurrence. Is there anything I can do to prevent this? What are some early sings of a recurrence? I feel I didn't notice the first one soon enough.

Thank you for your time,
Tricia

ANSWER: Dear Tricia,

Once the abscess is "debulked," there is still a strong chance of recurrence if the antibiotics are not continued long enough, or if the wrong antibiotic is used.  I hope a sample was taken for culture and sensitivity:

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

since that will provide absolutely essential information about the appropriate antibiotic to be used.  What is he on now?  In the case of a jaw abscess, 14 days might not be long enough, so if you can find a good rabbit vet for a second opinion, that might not be a bad course of action:

www.rabbit.org/vets

If he's grumpy, he could be in pain.  I hope the vets provided you with analgesics for him.  If not, please ask about that.  Rabbits may not show pain, but they surely feel it, and experienced rabbit vets know that pain management is a vital and integral part of rabbit medicine, especially when things like jaw abscesses are involved.

Hope this helps!

Dana

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

QUESTION: The antibiotic that Bennitt is on is called Baytril 15mg.
I checked if they did a test for culture and sensitivity. Disappointingly, they did not.

Mind you, Bennitt is getting along fine with Bella, my Hot tot dwarf, and me. His behavior is back to normal, so it seems.

How soon will the incision heal? Should there still be some swelling? It has been 8 days since the surgery.
How can I know now if he's on the right antibiotic?

Tricia

Answer
Dear Tricia,

Well, now that he's on the Baytril just run the full course and see if it works to resolve the abscess.  If it doesn't, and the abscess comes back, I would *insist* on a culture and sensitivity test to determine what antibiotics (or combination) will be most likely to resolve this problem.  That's the only sure way to know which antibiotic is the right one.

The incision should heal within a week unless there is persistent infection.  In that case, the wound might weep and have trouble healing.  

Hope he'll be fine soon!

Dana