Does anyone know what is wrong?

[brs]

Hello, we have female rabbit that has an eye problem.
She also has a bony lump above the eye, on top of the head, that may or may not be linked. It seems the skin is now turning a reddish browny color, but this could be because the fur is missing.
We have been to two recommended rabbit vets who do not know what the problem is and say they have not seen anything like it.
The one vet gave antibiotics, which did nothing, and the other said there was nothing wrong with the eye itself so antibiotics were of no use, and offered to take x-rays but said they really would be of no use.
She also said the bony lump could be an enclosed abcess, and unlikely to be a tumor, but could be.
We believe the fur is missing because her partner licks around it.
So I am asking if anyone knows what this is, we already have plenty of guesses, but it would be nice to know if anyone recognizes this eye problem.

 

[missyscove]

Hi and welcome to RO! Sorry you had to join us under these circumstances; it's no fun to have a sick rabbit!

Where are you located?
How old is the rabbit?
How long has the problem been going on and how has it progressed? (Has the lump grown? What did you notice first, etc.?)
I think radiographs (x-rays) or advanced imaging could definitely be useful because it sounds like as of now you're calling it a "bony lump" based on how it feels and that no real diagnostics have been done to determine what it's made of.
How does the eye itself look on ophthalmic exam? Is the rabbit still visual out of that eye? Is there any discharge coming from the eye? (This may be hard to tell if there's another rabbit grooming it away).
The reddish brown color change you're noticing could be due to staining from saliva or yeast. I've never personally seen it in a rabbit but it's common in dogs (with allergies) that frequently lick their paws. How does the area smell?

 

[ladysown]

looks like a pasturella problem. quite possibly gone systemic.

The missing fur is due to the leakage out of the eye.

The lump is mostly like a pasturella abscess.

weepy eyes (is one of the first signs of an pasturella infection, the lumps are most likely abscesses caused by ... the pasturella)

 

[squidpop]

More often than not, the first antibiotic used doesn't work on infections in rabbits. Often vets use baytril/enroflaxin as the first to try, and it has been used for so many years that many believe many bacteria have become immune. That may not be the antibiotic your vet used but the fact the antibiotic used didn't work doesn't rule out that it is an infection. It really looks like an infection to me and as Ladyowns said could be pasteurella. If it were my rabbit I would want to try a different antibiotic possibly injectable penicillins like bicillin or orally zithromax.

 

[brs]

Hello, and thank you for the responses.
I will try to answer and not miss out on anything.
We are located in Birmingham, England.
It is a rescue rabbit, they thought it was about 2 years old.
We first noticed it about 3 months ago, the lump has not grown, the eye is weepy with occasional yellow discharge.
The vet who said she could x-ray it said it may tell them something, but often on rabbits xrays in that area do not show up well, and she said whether an abcess or tumor that she would not recommend it's removal. So we could not see the point of spending hundreds on an x-ray.
The one vet was recommended by the rabbit rescue, the other by rabbity friends.
She is still visual out of the eye, and the vets said they do not think it is causing her any great discomfort, although we think it cannot be nice.
The pasturella sounds interesting, I will investigate that and see if I can find a vet who is familiar with that.
Thanks everyone for your help!

 

[brs]

Hi and welcome to RO! Sorry you had to join us under these circumstances; it's no fun to have a sick rabbit!

Where are you located?
How old is the rabbit?
How long has the problem been going on and how has it progressed? (Has the lump grown? What did you notice first, etc.?)
I think radiographs (x-rays) or advanced imaging could definitely be useful because it sounds like as of now you're calling it a "bony lump" based on how it feels and that no real diagnostics have been done to determine what it's made of.
How does the eye itself look on ophthalmic exam? Is the rabbit still visual out of that eye? Is there any discharge coming from the eye? (This may be hard to tell if there's another rabbit grooming it away).
The reddish brown color change you're noticing could be due to staining from saliva or yeast. I've never personally seen it in a rabbit but it's common in dogs (with allergies) that frequently lick their paws. How does the area smell?

Thanks for your questions, I have responded in a seperate reply, but I noticed I did not answer one question, does it smell? No, it doesn't, thanks.

 

[brs]

looks like a pasturella problem. quite possibly gone systemic.

The missing fur is due to the leakage out of the eye.

The lump is mostly like a pasturella abscess.

weepy eyes (is one of the first signs of an pasturella infection, the lumps are most likely abscesses caused by ... the pasturella)

Hello, after reading about pasturell, it says that there is usually a respiratory infection or problem, and she does not have that. She also eats well, she was just out eating her fresh greens.
So could it still be that?

 

[JBun]

The runny eye may be caused by the lump affecting the tear duct draining. If there is pressure on the tear duct causing it to not drain properly, then it will cause the eye to be runny. It could also be the tear duct is plugged with pus, possibly in connection with the lump if it is an abscess. Yellow discharge from the eye, does mean that there is some sort of infection present. The only way to know what bacteria is causing the infection, is to have a culture done on it.
http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/weepy.pdf

If the lump is an abscess, inoperable abscesses can sometimes be successfully treated using the correct antibiotic(s). Usually it requires several weeks to months of treatment. Some rabbits may even stay on antibiotics longterm for difficult abscesses. Did either vet do a thorough dental exam to rule out infection and tooth root involvement?
http://wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/S/00dis/Bacterial/Abscessation_rabbits.htm

My suggestion would be to get another opinion from a specialist. Fortunately you have several excellent ones in your country. There is Marie Kubiak at Manor Vets in Edgbaston. Not sure if she is considered a rabbit specialist, but she is a highly regarded rabbit savvy vet. There is also Simmon Maddock at the Cat and Rabbit Clinic in Dunston, that is a rabbit savvy vet. A rabbit specialist further afield is Iain Cope at Cambridge Veterinary Group. There are other specialists further away that could be contacted by your current vet for a consult, such as Molly Varga in Cheshire, Mark Rowland at Trinity Vets, Richard Saunders at Highcroft Vets, and Frances Harcourt Brown at Crab Lane Vets, though she is partially retired and may be difficult to get a consult with.
http://www.bvzs.org/images/uploads/BVZS_Specialist_list_2015.pdf

 

[ladysown]

pasturella presents in many different forms which is one of the reasons it is SO hard to eradicate. Weepy eyes is but one of the many symptoms. It is one of the more common symptoms.

Pasturella can go systemic where you get abscesses in the body. If you can't find the source of the abscess it MIGHT be systemic.

 

[brs]

Thanks for the further information.

The second vet did a dental exam and said her teeth were in very good condition.
The eye on the good side appears larger as it seems to be the area around the eye or above the eye that has made the appear smaller.

I think we will try another specialist, Manor vets is not too far.