Rabbit with swollen mouth! *Abscess: anyone know how to drain?*

[Mykee]

Today I noticed that my rabbit has a swollen bump to the left of her nose. Her left eye is watery, and the bump is about the size of a quarter. It is a very firm bump. I wasn't able to open her mouth, but it seems like something to do with the tooth or bone. She is eating and drinking and doesn't seem to be in pain. Does anyone know what could be wrong?

 

[dainerra]

it could be a broken or infected tooth. it could also be an abcess of some sort. I know that some animals can get bone cancers, not sure about rabbits.
Rabbits are prey animals and expert at hiding pain and illness. I'd have her checked out by a vet.

 

[Mykee]

I can't really bring her to a vet. How life threatening could this be?

 

[kmatt87]

start her on some antibiotics. When rabbits get sick/infected they usually die VERY fast.

 

[Mykee]

What type of antibiotics? Any tips on how to open a rabbit's mouth really wide? I just looked at her front teeth and they look fine, but I couldn't see inside her mouth where the lump is. The lump seems to be comprised of one large lump and several small pieces "floating around". Would salt water rinse in her mouth help or hurt her?

 

[kmatt87]

What type of antibiotics? Any tips on how to open a rabbit's mouth really wide? I just looked at her front teeth and they look fine, but I couldn't see inside her mouth where the lump is. The lump seems to be comprised of one large lump and several small pieces "floating around". Would salt water rinse in her mouth help or hurt her?

i believe we used the tetracycline powder you can find at ranch stores for ours. Its the same stuff you can give to chickens, pigs and cows. We just did about 1/8tsp in their water bottles and filled them up. Do that with every what refill for 7 - 14 days. If its an infection it should help.
I'm not sure how friendly your rabbit is, but most of mine were fine if i laid them on their tummies and rubbed between their ears till they dozed off. You might be able to look into the mouth more then. I never had to try that, but it worked really well for the times i was trying to clip their nails.
A salt water rinse wouldn't hurt her any. Most rabbits love salt licks too. If you can't get her to drink/open wide enough to rinse with the salt water maybe just put a salt lick in her cage. That could help too.

 

[AinaWGSD]

Don't stress your rabbit by trying to look in her mouth. Believe me, even a vet who specializes in rabbits can't get a truly good look at a rabbit's cheek teeth without anesthesia. With a mouth speculum, a vet can often see problems with the cheek teeth. But even with training and specialized tools (and a cooperative patient) a good vet is still going to miss a significant amount of dental disease on an oral exam with the patient awake, which is why they will recommend anesthesia and x-rays if they truly suspect dental disease but don't see anything obvious on the physical exam.

 

[Mykee]

Don't stress your rabbit by trying to look in her mouth. Believe me, even a vet who specializes in rabbits can't get a truly good look at a rabbit's cheek teeth without anesthesia. With a mouth speculum, a vet can often see problems with the cheek teeth. But even with training and specialized tools (and a cooperative patient) a good vet is still going to miss a significant amount of dental disease on an oral exam with the patient awake, which is why they will recommend anesthesia and x-rays if they truly suspect dental disease but don't see anything obvious on the physical exam.

What do you reccomend then? Should I just try to put her on antibiotics?

 

[Mykee]

i believe we used the tetracycline powder you can find at ranch stores for ours. Its the same stuff you can give to chickens, pigs and cows. We just did about 1/8tsp in their water bottles and filled them up. Do that with every what refill for 7 - 14 days. If its an infection it should help.
I'm not sure how friendly your rabbit is, but most of mine were fine if i laid them on their tummies and rubbed between their ears till they dozed off. You might be able to look into the mouth more then. I never had to try that, but it worked really well for the times i was trying to clip their nails.
A salt water rinse wouldn't hurt her any. Most rabbits love salt licks too. If you can't get her to drink/open wide enough to rinse with the salt water maybe just put a salt lick in her cage. That could help too.

Is this the tetracycline powder? http://www.tractorsupply.com/durvet-reg-duramycin-10-6-2-5-oz--2206034

 

[kmatt87]

Is this the tetracycline powder? http://www.tractorsupply.com/durvet-reg-duramycin-10-6-2-5-oz--2206034

yes, that looks right.

good luck with your rabbit. I raised them for almost 20 yrs and would still be doing it if i didn't have a dog that has an issue with them