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Update on Poofy :: home :: R2D2 is My (Lego) Homeboy


* Patient: Poofy *
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20060204_0975
Originally uploaded by titaniumtommy.
It looks like Poofy has developed an abscess under his chin that may be the result of an infection in his jaw. We're not 100% sure, but we're trying to keep him ok for the next week until we can see the rabbit expert over at the VCA in Oakland.

I've been looking up info on rabbit abscesses and it's not pretty. Here are somethings to note:

Rabbits are very good at "walling off" infections inside healthy tissue and can live for years with infections. They may look weird, but as long as you drain the pus, it's ok.

Rabbit pus is like toothpaste...very thick. It requires a large hole to evacuate. Don't make the same mistake we did and use a thin needle. In fact, you probably should not try this at home.

Giving him a shot of antibiotics under the skin is very easy...he doesn't even seem to feel it. We need to feed him yogurt though to make sure his stomach bacterium balance is kept in check. Otherwise, he may die because he cannot digest what he eats.

Rabbit meds smell (and probably taste) like fruit. So oral feeding is not a problem either.

Anyway, we're hoping that Poofy makes it out of this unscathed and without requiring surgery (because it is not only very expensive but also very traumatic and rough on the rabbit). I'm thinking if push comes to shove and we need surgery, I'll just tell the doctor to give us antibiotics for longer term and see what happens. I would much rather have Poofy live out the rest of a shortened life at home with relatively little suffering, than risk putting him through hell and back and have him die anyway.

As for informational resources, the Internet, once again provides more that I could ever ask:

MediRabbit has very good (and graphic...ewww) guides of rabbit conditions and how to care for them. I probably won't be attempting these at home, but it's good to know the info is there and that I can discuss the options with the vet.

Also I found the Chicago House Rabbit Society's article on rabbit abscess sans graphic imagery for those of you that are weak of stomach. It has lots of good info and basically gives us hope that Poofy can survive this ordeal.











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