3942. A young rabbit has a large golf-ball lump on his back area. What is it? Encapsulated abscess.

16 Dec 2020.

BE KIND TO PETS VETERINARY STORIES. Image 1/4

How to effectively treat an encapsulated abscess in a rabbit
Dr Sing Kong Yuen, BVMS (Glasgow).

In this Yangon rabbit with a golf-ball sized lump above its thoracic spine, an X-ray shows clearly the capsule and the caseous (like cheese) pus inside an encapsulated abscess. The vet aspirated pus from the abscess using an 18G needle and noted it was cheesy (video).

An abscess is a collection of pus. Incision and drainage is the usual treatment in abscesses in dogs and cats. They make liquid pus, but the rabbit's abscess contains caseous pus. Hence, incision and drainage will lead to recurrence of the abscess a few weeks later.

Blunt dissection and removal of the capsule with pus inside will the treatment of choice.

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f you see a bump or lump on your bunny's cheeks, take him to the vet for a diagnosis. It could be fairly innocuous, or evidence of a life-threatening condition. Let your vet know if your rabbit displays any symptoms of illness, such as lack of appetite or lethargy, which might help pinpoint your pet's problem.

Abscesses

While abscesses in other animals -- and people -- usually burst and drain, that's not true of bunnies. The infection inside a rabbit's abscess, that is a lump of pus underneath his skin, has a thicker consistency than in other mammals, similar to toothpaste. Since rabbit abscesses often result from dental disease, you'll notice a tender, painful swelling on the cheek.

Treatment

Your vet examines the rabbit's mouth for signs of disease, as well as taking a sample of the abscess to determine the type of bacteria inside it. While your vet might prescribe antibiotics for smaller, less invasive abscesses, larger abscesses might require surgical removal. 

While abscesses are lanced in other animals, that doesn't always work with bunnies. If the abscess is lanced, it might continue to require regular surgical draining along with long-term antibiotic therapy. 

The dental issues causing the abscess also require veterinary attention. 

A constant supply of timothy or grass hay usually provides sufficient fiber to wear down the teeth and prevent dental disease.