tooth abscess

Question
My 6 year old 5 lb. rabbit had a tooth abscess and the tooth was pulled.  She has been on Zeniquin for almost two weeks now but her face is still puffy and she will not eat her pelletted food or hay.   She WILL eat carrots, soft tips of alfalfa, apples, romaine lettuce.  When I HOLD her and put a hard treat stick up to her mouth or some hay she will eat it without much problem.  I saw my vet yesterday and he said he feels that even though the bad tooth has been pulled, she needs to be put under anesthesia to have the infection "scraped out"  I can't understand why she won't eat the pelletted food she loves but will eat hard carrots and hard treat sticks.

I am afraid to take the drastic step of anesthesia again with "scraping" of the infection, is this the only treatment for this problem ?  Could a longer course of the Zeniquin help ?

Thank you,

Lisa DeArdo


Answer
Dear Lisa,

Was a culture and sensitivity test done on any of the infected material in the tooth bed?  If not, then I'd highly recommend this be done, to be sure that Zeniquin is the best choice:

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

If the infection is in the bone, it can take a very long time to heal.  It might not be a bad idea to debride the tooth bed,  but that would be up to the vet.  I wonder why it was not done when the tooth was initially pulled, since that would have prevented having her put under anesthesia a second time.  :(

A very good emergency food for her would be Critical Care made by Oxbow Hay Company.  You can buy it online at www.oxbowhay.com  It is *excellent* and could make all the difference in the world to her!

Please also see:

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

for more information on the problem your bunny is having.  Analgesia is very important. Please ask your vet about putting her on Banamine (flunixin meglumine) to help her feel better while the antibiotics do their work.

I hope this helps. Please write back if you have any other questions.

Dana