You may have already been told that rabbits can be particularly prone to abscesses. But they’re a little bit different to those seen in other domestic species – read on for more detail!

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But what is an abscess?

An abscess is a walled off area of infection that can occur anywhere in the body. The body creates a thick wall round the infectious bacteria to try and stop it spreading to other parts of the body. This results in a swelling or lump in the location of the infection.

What is special about abscess in rabbits?

In rabbits the infected material inside the abscess often turns to a more solid consistency. In other animals we often associate abscesses with a capsule filled with liquid pus that when burst will drain away. However in rabbits this pus quickly turns into a consistency more similar to toothpaste which means it does not drain away. In addition, rabbits are very good at creating a thick wall of tissue around abscesses to keep them contained. Whilst this is great at keeping the abscess where it is, if not removed fully the abscess can reform as the bacteria often like to live within the wall of the abscess.

What can cause abscesses in rabbits?

There are many different causes of abscesses in rabbits, some of the more common ones include:

Dental disease 

Abscesses in the jaw of a rabbit are often caused as a result of dental disease. Infections from the teeth as a result of broken teeth and overgrown teeth can cause abscesses around the jaw as bacteria get trapped in this area.

Wounds 

Any wound exposes the rabbit’s body to bacteria from the environment. This can be a bite wound from another rabbit or a wound caused by other trauma such as sores on the feet and paws. The bacteria enters through the wound and results in an abscess forming in the area. 

Foreign body

This is when a piece of material from the outside world gets stuck in part of the rabbit’s body bringing infection in with it. Sometimes the material then falls away and the bacteria causes the abscess, in other cases the material stays in the body and is recognised as abnormal causing the body to react by creating a wall around the material to seal it in and prevent any infection its carrying from spreading. Examples of foreign bodies which can cause abscesses include pieces of straw, hay and grass seeds and splinters from wood.

How do I know if my rabbit has an abscess?

Common signs of an abscess in a rabbit include a swelling or lump on any part of the body. Abscesses in the jaw can sometimes be felt as lumps around the jaw. Your rabbit may or may not be over-grooming in this area as well. Often abscesses can form and grow in size quite quickly so it’s important to check your rabbit daily for any swellings, lumps or changes in their body. If an abscess bursts you can get fly strike on the area and may notice wet matted fur. Abscesses and associated infections can quickly result in severe illness in your rabbit so it is important they are seen by a veterinary surgeon quickly if you have any concerns.

How are abscesses treated in rabbits?

Due to the fact that pus in rabbits is solid in consistency rather than liquid, and that the bacteria that causes the abscess often lives inside the capsule that surrounds the pus, the best way of treating abscesses in rabbits is surgical removal of the abscess and the whole capsule. Nowadays, a swab will usually be taken from the abscess capsule where possible so the bacteria can be cultured, and an antibiotic that is most likely to effectively kill any remaining bacteria can be used to treat the infection.

Depending on the location and cause of the abscess, some can be more difficult to treat than others, and some will have a worse prognosis than others, so it is very important that if you suspect your pet rabbit has an abscess you get them seen by your local veterinary surgeon without delay.

Summary:

  • Abscess can be a common occurrence in rabbits
  • Abscesses in rabbits are caused by bacteria which enters the body being walled off and forming a capsule
  • Pus in rabbit abscesses is often much more solid than in other species so it does not drain away well
  • The best treatment for rabbit abscesses is often surgical removal of the abscess and capsule
  • Some abscesses can be more difficult to treat than others, so it is important any rabbit with a suspicion of an abscess is seen by a veterinary surgeon as soon as possible 

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