Vibes for Poppy- SHE's HOME

Poppy has been to the vets last week because she had a wet chin and I feared that she may have dental problems, after a good check over the vet couldn't find anything wrong with her eyes, nose, teeth, breathing etc. She's been fine since but then yesterday we noticed she had a wet chin again, it looked like she'd got it wet from the water bowl but since she's a bit quieter than normal today I've had a closer look. There are bald patches where it was wet before and a little bit of scabbing, also one of her eyes is showing the white a bit towards the front which I've never seen on her before. She will be going to the vet either tonight or tomorrow (depending on when we can her her in) but I just wondered if anyone had any ideas as to what it is so that I can ask the vet to investigate them?

Could it be caused by drinking water from a bowl? Could it be mites? A reaction from her VHD jab?

I can try and get photos if it would help, she will let me have a good look at it. Other than the patches she is only slightly quiet but she is eating well.

Is her jaw line at all lumpy?

The third eyelid can remain exposed if there is something going on behind the eye eg a retrobulbar abscess. The fact that you say she is a bit quiet makes me think she may have some discomfort.
I think tooth root problems are a possibility. This can only be diagnosed from an Xray.

To prevent further soreness on her chin dry the area off well and apply a tiny smear of Vaseline. Will she use a sipper bottle ?

I hope you get on OK at the Vets

Thanks Jane, no her jawline isn't lumpy. Would the fur loss/dampness on her chin be linked to her eye? I'll upload a picture of her eye in a minute. I'm switching her to a bottle and keeping her in for the night. Can retrobublar abscesses be treated with antibiotics if caught early?

Did the vets actually get a good look in her mouth? Often spurring can be found right in the recesses of the mouth amongst the soft cheek tissue and it can be really hard to spot in a conscious animal. Dribbling usually accompanies dental problems when a laceration or ulcer is causing pain or swelling leading excessive salivation or difficulty swallowing.

I agree with Jane that tooth root problems can lead to other medical issues such as abcessation and infection, so it may be worth having her sent under for xrays combined with a thorough dental check whilst she is out.

I've never heard of these symptoms as a direct side effect of the VHD vaccine and they seem unlikely to be secondary to a immune deficit.

X rays were mentioned last week if she didn't show any improvement. The vet had a good look at her front and back teeth because that was mine and her first thought when I took her in. Her apetite hasn't been affected at all, she's sat eating her hay now, has had more pellets than usual, some veggies and a grape and has also clambered over the bag of SS to try and get some more. Since she went to the vets last week, I think it was wednesday that she went her chin has been dry, it was only wet again yesterday evening.

If you take her bowl away will she drink from a water bottle? It may help to establish if she is actually dribbling or not.

Yeah she will do, I've taken it off her so will see if it helps her chin.

Jack had the nictitating membrane showing after she had her incisors removed. The vet said it was due to being 'bashed about a bit' as the teeth have to be wiggled a lot to be removed.

The symptoms certainly do sound somehow dental - maybe she has some problems in her upper jaw which would be causing the 3rd eyelid to show?

Jack also had excessive drooling with her molar spurs (which weren't caught first or even second time around) and the fur rotted away due to dampness.
Vaseline as Sooz suggested or sudocream - some sort of barrier cream should help with the bald patches but I would agree an X ray seems like a good idea

Hope she gets well soon

We've been to the vets, she's still fine in herself, she's out playing with Charlie, her chin is most likely caused by dribble, it's at the corners of her mouth. I've given her a bottle anyway and she's been having probiotic for a couple of days incase she needs antibiotics. She's booked in for a GA on friday morning, I've asked them to do an X-ray too. I feel sick with worry now, fingers crossed that whatever is wrong can be sorted out okay

I hope everything goes OK, try not to worry too much.....hopefully it's as simple as a little molar burr and some pain relief for a few days.

I really hope everything will be ok.

Sending vibes xxx

I hope all goes well at the vets on Friday.

I've just got back from work, she's fine, running around being her usual happy self, her chin is dry but her eye is still bulging slightly, I'm trying to upload a picture of it now. I'm so confused

If her eye is bulging it sounds suspiciously like an abscess to me
Hope all goes well at the Vets tomorrow

This is what her eye looks like

Does anyone have any idea how much it will cost for a GA and x-ray- I would like a rough idea, she's still going in for it but I have to pay for it before claiming it back from the insurers.

Prices vary a lot as each Practice sets their own rates.
I pay about £40 for a GA+Dental. But I have heard some Vets charge over £100 I am not charged for Xrays but I have heard they can also be about £40.

His pupil is very dilated which does point to the possibility of a retrobulbar abscess

I'll just have to ask them for an estimate in the morning when I drop her off.

She does have quite big pupils normally and I was in her face with the camera. How are retrobulbar abscesses treated, I've read that sometimes the eye is removed but can anything else be done first.

Poor little girlie is a rescue from fat fluffs, she arrived there in a mess, she's such a sweetheart, she doesn't deserve this.

Do you think I should take Charlie with her, my only worry is he's a bit boisterous and doesn't like being confined to a hutch/cage he hasn't been with her so far because he makes the carrier weigh a tonne and he's always welcomed her home with grooming sessions.

I always try to keep bonded Buns together during Vet trips if at all possible.
Especially if one Bun is to be admitted for treatment.

Retrobulbar abscesses can be hard to treat with abx but that is usually the first step. A skull Xray would definately be a good idea as any abscessation in the head is potentially tooth root related.
It may not be an abscess at all, it is hard to tell from a photo.

Good luck tomorrow

Poor Poppy, am sending loads of vibes for her.

Good luck at the vets tomorrow,
Vanessa xx

No advice here I'm afraid but good luck and thinking of you
x

no advice but i always take my buns in bonded pairs to the vets.

We're setting off now, Charlie is going with her so I'll have no buns to keep me company for the morning, he should look after his little girl, he was laying with her the other night when I brought her in to keep an eye on her. I'll let you know what the vet says.

They are both at the vets, the estimated bill is £222.00, I nearly fell over when I saw it! £80 for the dental, £110 for the x-ray and the remainder is on meds which I have no problem with. Thankfully Petplan wil be paying out for most of it, there really is no wonder people are reluctant to take their animals to the vets.

I paid £150 for an x-ray including GA and I've paid between £60 & £120 for a dental including GA. So my vets would probably be costing a similar amount, if not more....and with 6 bunnies we don't have insurance!

Hope everything goes well today.

Thinking of you today!