. Rabbits are also prone to retrobulbar abscesses often associated with Pasteurella multocida; abscesses often form as an extension from dental disease (Jakl, 2012). It depends on the underlying cause. Vet Rec 1999;144: 540. Dental abscess 01: submandibular. Hope it's not back. Common presentations include the following: . He has a retrobulbar abscess which we will be removing soon but I've noticed that recently there began to appear egg-shaped droppings. Intraocular pressuree was 14 and 13 mm Hg in the right and left eye, respectively. Clinical FindingsThe rabbit weighed 1.0 kg (2.2 lb) and had a body condition score of 1.5/5 . These photos illustrate the before and after repair of this dogs tooth decay. In rabbits, retrobulbar abscesses are commonly the cause of exophthalmos (Figure 20-1). The site is secure. If the surgery is not sufficient, it is possible the rabbit will be left with deformities or euthanasia may even be considered. Dual-Acting Penicillin: Non-Surgical Treatment of Head Abscesses in Rabbits. RETROBULBAR ABSCESS IN A RABBIT 659. A 1-year-old sexually intact female Netherland dwarf rabbit was examined because of a 3-week history of signs of lethargy, decreased appetite, left unilateral exophthalmia, a previous draining sinus from a left maxillary facial abscess, and bilateral nasal discharge. An official website of the United States government. JavaScript is disabled. Unauthorized use of these marks is strictly prohibited. INTRODUCTION. J Clin Microbiol 2002;40:10441047. Premedication with atropine. Continuously growing dentition predisposes rabbits to development and persistence of dental problems.13-15 Dental disease in pet rabbits can be staged.3,16,17 The precise etiology of dental disease in pet rabbits is still unknown and is likely to be multifactorial and include genetic, dietary, metabolic, traumatic, and infectious components.17,18 Dental disease can be caused by primary (inherited) or secondary (acquired) malocclusion. This case report describes a 13-month-old female neutered Netherland Dwarf rabbit that was diagnosed with a dental associated infection of the right maxillary third premolar. In the following article different methods are presented by which an enucleation of the bulbus can be avoided. Exophthalmos is the most prevalent clinical sign associated with orbital disease. Notice that the material caudomedial to the curvilinear line is less echogenic than the wall and that the structure displaces the globe rostrolaterally. Sorry it had to happen. An abscess is a cavity containing pus surrounded by a capsule of thickened, inflamed tissue. Retrobulbar abscess may be distinguished from other causes of exophthalmos on the basis of its acute onset, pain, and often pyrexia. Some rabbits can live with abscesses on various parts of their body for years by having them surgically drained as needed. Results of susceptibility testing revealed that no single antimicrobial was effective against both bacteria. Lab Anim Sci 1987;37:6568. In 1938, Derry's summary [49] indicated that the earliest occurrence dated to 3300 bc, although Morse et al. Orbital abscess: management and outcome. Doxycycline (50 mg) was mixed with 2.5 mL of reconstituted dental ceramic and infused into the cavity. In addition, some lumps are not abscesses at all but rather tumors or cysts and may need immediate removal. Stomatoscopy-aided dental trimming, tooth removal, and abscess debridement were performed. Philadelphia: WB Saunders Co, 2004;392394. Treatment options for retrobulbar abscesses are presently limited in pet rabbits, and in 1 review,20 the prognosis was considered to be guarded to grave. Whatever the treatment choice, it is imperative to follow through with your veterinarians requested recheck appointments and diagnostic testing to improve the chances for abscess resolution. Radiographs of the cranium (dorsoventral, right and left lateral, and oblique views) were obtained on a mammography cassettec and films.d Radiography revealed severe malocclusion of the premolars and molars, with multiple elongated roots. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. Retrobulbar and facial abscesses of periapical origin in rabbits often carry a poor prognosis [1,2] . Case DescriptionA 1-year-old sexually intact female Netherland dwarf rabbit was examined because of a 3-week history of signs of lethargy, decreased appetite, left unilateral exophthalmia, a previous draining sinus from a left maxillary facial abscess, and bilateral nasal discharge. 2nd ed. }. Exot DVM 2004;6:3740. 000-000-000 . } Although bacterial culture has low sensitivity and specificity because of the polymicrobial nature of endodontic infections and rabbit coprophagia, it is considered important in determining antimicrobial selection.29,34 Biopsy of the abscess wall was not performed because of the inaccessibility of the site with the endoscope introduced orally. The .gov means its official. These wounds must be left open to be flushed at least twice a day for several weeks. This is part of Dr. Browns Small Mammal Health Series. Abstract. Retrobulbar abscesses in rabbits often results in enucleation of the affected eye as surgical drainage is traumatic and difficult (Gelatt, Gilgerm, & Kern, 2013). Philadelphia: WB Saunders Co, 2004;421428. 2006 Sep;9(3):657-65. doi: 10.1016/j.cvex.2006.05.022. London: Mason Publishing Ltd, 2005;113144. He went in under the eye in hopes that he might be able to access the abscess without reomving the eye, but unfortunately that wasn't the case. J Small Anim Pract 2001;42:130136. If you read journals published by vets, they will usually talk about treating several individuals but include pictures from the worst affected. Lake Worth, Fla: Zoological Education Network Inc, 2005;109110. Stomatoscopy should be regarded as a valuable technique that facilitates diagnosis, treatment, and serial reevaluation of dental disease. If you would like to, you can learn more about the cookies we use. . Over the weekend, she got much worse, so I called again and we decided to do surgery. 97. Br Small Anim Vet Assoc Sci Annu Meet 2003;511512. Results of blood testing were within reference ranges. Abscesses that form internally can be more difficult to diagnose or manage and include areas such as the uterus, lungs, heart, liver, abdominal fat, intestine and kidneys. Abnormal ocular or oculonasal discharge can also develop as a consequence of the eye irritation and the rabbit may show signs of discomfort such as excessive blinking and grinding teeth. Background: Ophthalmic disease is a common reason for rabbits to be presented to the general veterinary practitioner. Two months after the initial surgery . Disease at an early age may also be attributable to genetic maxillary brachygnathia (in dwarf and brachycephalic rabbit breeds).3,17,19 The most likely etiology of secondary malocclusion is a combination of husbandry-related deficiencies. You may need to adress this still or another abscess may occur. Abnormal ocular or oculonasal discharge can also develop as a consequence of the eye irritation and the rabbit may show signs of discomfort such as excessive blinking and grinding teeth. Dorsoventral (a) and right dorsalleft ventral oblique (b) radiographic views of the rabbit's head on day 16 after surgery to remove the left maxillary second molar. Preoperative assessment and long-term monitoring were achieved with a combination of radiography, ophthalmic ultrasonography, and CT. Extraoral rigid endoscopy via a fenestration in the maxilla was used to facilitate surgical debridement of the lesion, and extraction of multiple cheek teeth has been fundamental to achieving control. Wills J. Coenurosis in a pet rabbit. Dental disease is often a predisposing factor since the roots of the upper cheek teeth can impinge upon the eyeball, and in extreme cases penetrate through it. It is not always possible to surgically remove an abscess due to its location, other disease (making anesthesia or a lengthy surgery dangerous) or financial restraints. This case report describes a 13-month-old female neutered Netherland Dwarf rabbit that was diagnosed with a dental associated infection of the right maxillary third premolar. One rabbit included in this study presented with a retrobulbar abscess from a periapical origin (Figure-4). CAB Direct is the most thorough and extensive source of reference in the applied life sciences, incorporating the leading bibliographic databases CAB Abstracts and Global Health. House Rabbit Society Condemns Alleged Felony Rabbit Abuse at Peacebunny Cottage, Lessons Learned: On Two Decades of Rabbit Rescue, HRS Announces New President Laurie Gigous, Feed your rabbit a healthy diet, provide ample exercise and a clean, safe environment to minimize the formation of abscesses. height: 10px; Receive latest Vetlexicon news and updates by signing up to our mailing list. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract 1994;24:2565. Andrews SE. The most widely cited data are from the mummy Nesperehn, excavated in Thebes, where a psoas abscess and spinal changes were recorded, which established TB's presence in Egypt between 1069 and 945 bc [47]. One year after the initial diagnosis, the rabbit was clinically normal and no further complications were reported. Appreciate species differences in ocular anatomy . . Endosurgical treatment of a retrobulbar abscess in a rabbit. A second swab was used to obtain smears for Gram staining and cytologic analysis. Define retrobulbar abscess. Microbiological and molecular analysis of endodontic infections. Vet Ophthalmol 2002;5:227230. It may not display this or other websites correctly. This causes a high recurrence rate, since only a small amount of exudate needs to be left inside the abscess cavity for it to return. In rabbits, unilateral exophthalmos may be caused by: Retrobulbar abscess : Pasteurella has frequently been implicated as the cause of these abscesses, although culture is rarely performed. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the Kirschner SE. (See. Corneal diseases of rabbits. HELP!! Gillet CS. This can prove long and expensive, and treatment may need to be aimed at palliative care, to keep the rabbit comfortable for as long as possible. Register today and take advantage of membership benefits. Crossley DA. width: 100%; 2005 Jan 15;130(2):50-3. Mamoray film, Mamoray HDR-C film, AGFA Corp, Greenville, SC. Taking the abscess out, when very encapsulated, is often the best choice, especially if the area already has to be opened up to remove the eye. Seeing your rabbit's eye suddenly protruding out further than it used to can be very confronting. We did radiograph her teeth, and did a thorough dental exam. In chronic cases, rabbits can continue eating and drinking normally, but often the rabbit will deteriorate as the pain escalates or the dental disease progresses and eventually will stop eating and passing faecal pellets. Selected drug dosages and clinical reference data. The authors thank Dr. Susan Sanchez for assistance. 2007 Jul 15;231(2):284-9. doi: 10.2460/javma.231.2.284. We believe that rabbits are intelligent and social beings. Suneetha N, Battu RR, Thomas RK, et al. Usually an abscess is the result of a bacterial infection. The wall of the abscess should be cultured for bacteria and an appropriate antibiotic can be selected. However, in order to confirm the diagnosis, radiographic and ultrasonographic examinations are generally the tests of choice. In humans, skin abscesses are often caused byStaphylococcusinfections, but in rabbits, they can be caused by aerobic bacteria (those that require oxygen to survive) includingPasteurella multocida, Streptococcus, PseudomonasandStaphylococcus, and a host of anaerobic bacteria (those that do not require oxygen to survive). Have a vet take some radiographs of the teeth to see if the roots look OK. An 18-gauge catheter was directed into the cavity, which was copiously flushed with 200 mL of warm sterile saline (0.9% NaCl) solution. Jenkins JR. Soft tissue surgery and dental procedures. The course of antimicrobial treatment was consequently extended until complete clinical remission was observed.