Urgent help-jaw abscess and tooth root broken skin

[bunny mad lisa]

Hi all
Just had such a shock and feel quite sick! My fozzy has had a jaw abscess right under his chin for some time. It has been treated several times and it had seemed to have calmed down but you could feel alot of bone growth underneath. I check him every other day and last few days there has been a crust and the tiniest bit of puss so put him back on his antibiotics and have been cleaning it.

This morning there was a bigger crust and more puss so I went to clean him up. There is a much bigger hole now and I thought it was just puss in the hole until I touched it with my finger and its rock hard bone! It has pierced the skin! It isn't bleeding and I have cleaned it up but fozzy was obviously in pain when I was touching it.

He is absolutely fine in himself and happily eating the grass on the lawn as we speak. I have some metacam to give him and his antibiotics and will take him to my vet as soon as the open Tuesday.

I'm just scared that this is the end for him as that bone is a big problem! I've never seem
anything like this and assume its his tooth root pushing down but is it at all possible to cut the bone back? I'd appreciate any advice please and to know if we have any hope

 

[twiams]

My first thoughts would be to call your vets, although their closed they should have someone as part of an emergency team, as i assume they have a detailed history of his treatment (anti-biotics etc.) even if they don’t think he needs to be seen as an emergency they may be able to give you some advice and a proper dose of medication from what you have, to save you from the danger of self medicating your animals.

Treatment wise, it may be a case of removing the tooth if it’s the tooth thats the problem as i know rabbits can live happily without their front teeth when it comes to emergency treatment with no other option. I suppose it really depends on what the problem is and what is fixable, and what is beyond repair as such.

But again, not even the best advice on this forum is equal to that of the vet thats been treating your pig

 

[bunny mad lisa]

My first thoughts would be to call your vets, although their closed they should have someone as part of an emergency team, as i assume they have a detailed history of his treatment (anti-biotics etc.) even if they don’t think he needs to be seen as an emergency they may be able to give you some advice and a proper dose of medication from what you have, to save you from the danger of self medicating your animals.

Treatment wise, it may be a case of removing the tooth if it’s the tooth thats the problem as i know rabbits can live happily without their front teeth when it comes to emergency treatment with no other option. I suppose it really depends on what the problem is and what is fixable, and what is beyond repair as such.

But again, not even the best advice on this forum is equal to that of the vet thats been treating your pig

Thankyou, I understand your concern about seeing a vet but we have been treating fozzy for 6 months and my vet gave me antibiotics and metacam incase it flared up again and gave me instructions so I have accurate doses to give him and as he is eating and acting normally. My emergency vet is at another practice and having been to them several times I would say they are pretty useless and will not talk to you kver the phone unless they have already seen the animal, they could not give me anything else for him and I want to see my own vet who can also confer with simon maddock if needed. Of course if he shows any pain or discomfort I will take him in a heartbeat.

My main reason for the post is that I am scared that it has now gone to far and we wo t be able to help him further.

 

[MargaretB]

Maybe you could give the vets a call for some reassurance? I hope this is not the end for your piggy. Hugs for you.

 

[gizzy]

Hi there , Osteomyelitis ( bone infection) that is usually caused by bacteria. Is one possibility,


Another possibility, if you scroll down on the link that I have put up
http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Skin_diseases/Bacterial/Abscess/skin_abscess.htm
(yes I know it's about rabbits but they have more information than we do)
You will see somebody pulling something out of the hole !

This happen to me many years ago with an old boar that had a long-term abscess and my first "thought" was bone degrading, but according to my vet, these calcium like bony deposits can occasionally form in long-term abscesses (but no explanation was given) unfortunately the pig died shortly afterwards, but that was more down to lack of knowledgeable treatments

What I would say is that baytril is little use against abscesses, as they just can't penetrate the walls surrounding the abscess.

A drug called Zithromax, is your best shot at this and he is Definitely still in with a chance even if it is Osteomyelitis

I have on four occasions found it successful in killing this bacterial bone infection.

If I were you I would ask your vet's to get in touch with Simon Maddox (Debbie p's vet) he will give your vet all the protocols regarding this drug http://www.catandrabbit.co.uk/html/contact_us.html

Another possible treatment is antibiotic beads, my own vet's has not tried he's on a Guinea pig, but they are reputed to be quite successful on a hard to deal with abscesses

 

[bunny mad lisa]

Hi gizzy
Thank you so much for all the information! Actually made me feel better seeing those horrendous photos on the website as I can now see it could be alot worse!
We have actually conferred with simon who was very helpful and fozzy was on Zithromax for several months and although initially worked the abscess came back so we are now uses marbocyl on his instructions. After just a couple of days the wound looks much better and dryer and there has been virtually no pus today... So I think we shall keep him on this permanently now as its a much smaller dose than the Zithromax and he takes it so much better. My vet doesn't think well ever cure him but we will try and keep him comfy for as long as possible! Thank you