Wounds and Abscesses – Rabbit

Rabbit skin heals very rapidly (Harkness 1987); abscesses are frequently encountered in pet rabbits and are best treated by adequate surgical excision and prolonged courses of parenteral antibiotics. Okerman (1994) recommends that abscesses of the head region should be irrigated with antibiotic solutions rather than antiseptics or disinfectants as the latter are very irritant to the plethora of nervous tissues in this area. I treat by the administration of very long courses of medication, usually oxytetracycline (Engemycin® 5%; Intervet) by subcutaneous injection, and continue for three weeks longer than it takes for the abscess(es) to become clinically undetectable. Abscesses on the head have a poor prognosis because they extend to areas that are inaccessible by surgical means.

The surgery of abscesses is dealt with in the Rabbit Surgery section.

References

• Harkness, J.E. (1987) Rabbit husbandry and medicine in The Veterinary Clinics of North America - Small Animal Practice 17 (5) September 1987 Exotic Pet Medicine Pages 1019 -1044 W B Saunders Co Philadelphia ISSN 0195-5616
• Okerman, L. (1994) Diseases of Domestic Rabbits. Blackwell Scientific Publications 2nd Edition