Joop

[bunn]

Philmophlegm heroically drove to Bristol yesterday to take Joop bunny to the rabbit specialist clinic. The specialist (seemed very good and thorough) thinks Joop has not one but two problems

1) the ear abcess
2) possible neurological damage due to e. cuniculi infection (this is the thing that Ash has but I really thought Joop had escaped this). Symptoms are head tilt, stuff picked up by x-ray and apparently he ran into a cupboard, (though actually I think this may have been panic in an unfamiliar environment as he can get around his own house and run well enough).

X rays were taken and we are now waiting on the results of a battery of tests (total cost: £445, ouch, though not as ouch as it will be if he needs to have the abcess operated on).

In the meanwhile, I have just administered:
- panacur by mouth (against e.cuniculi)
- metacam (pain relief)
- antibiotic by mouth (baytril)
- washed out ear with cleaning stuff, remove revolting pus, lovely.
- antibiotic by ear (genticin)
- something called zantac, which is something to do with digestion as apparently his stomach seemed a bit swollen

I think most of it went inside the rabbit, though some of it is smeared over both of us...

Joop now thinks I am very mean and scary.


Conclusion: anyone out there thinks rabbits are cheap simple pets for kids: think again!

In more optimistic news, Ash bunny is looking loads better and although she is still underweight, she is eating like a little piggy and her back legs are nearly normal. I think she will need to have a daily dose of Panacur for the rest of her life, but that is at least looking like it will be a good few years, with luck.

Comments

[philmophlegm.livejournal.com]

"apparently he ran into a cupboard, (though actually I think this may have been panic in an unfamiliar environment...)"

He didn't seem panicked at the time - he just attempted to walk gently into his carry case, which was on the floor, and just, well, missed.

[bunn.livejournal.com]

well OK - being a bit tired and zonked from the journey and an unfamiliar place then. He seems to be able to get about OK in a familiar environment, so maybe it's that he can't see so well? Dunno.

[helflaed.livejournal.com]

I've taken Zantac- it is an antacid, often used in the treatment of ulcers

[philmophlegm.livejournal.com]

I think I managed to impress the vet when I spotted that it was human medicine, although I admit that this is from knowledge that it is (or at least was) a key product for AstraZeneca than from any doctorin'.

[king-pellinor.livejournal.com]

I've never understood about operating on an abcess. It's a hole, after all. How do you cut a hole off?

[bunn.livejournal.com]

I think the idea is that you open it up so that instead of it swelling up into a big lump then bursting, you can clean it out and let it drain.

Though in fact this one is discharging pus into the ear, which I have to sloosh out with special earwash, so possibly it's not th swell up and burst kind.

[firin.livejournal.com]

There's also the problem of the tissue or organs surrounding the abscess, which can get compressed and/or displaced depending on the size of the space occupied by the abscess. By draining it, you are relieving tissue compression, hopefully lessening pain, minimising damage and also lowering the overall bacterial load that the antibiotics and immune system are hard at work combatting.

It all really depends on how well the abscess responds to antibiotics. Hopefully poor Joop won't need surgery!