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About Dana Krempels, Ph.D.
Expertise
I've lived with companion rabbits for more than 35 years, and consider them members of my family. I can answer any questions about the biology and health of rabbits, from the commonplace to the unusual. But please note:
RULE #1:
THE INTERNET IS NOT THE PLACE TO SEEK HELP IN AN EMERGENCY.
- If your rabbits is LETHARGIC
- If your rabbit is NOT EATING
- If your rabbit is PHYSICALLY INJURED (including broken bones)
- If your baby rabbit has DIARRHEA
...it is an EMERGENCY.
Find a rabbit-savvy veterinarian at www.rabbit.org/vets for immediate help, and don't risk your bunny's life by spending time asking questions online!
RULE #2:
Help me help you! Please make your subject line informative if you have an urgent question.
- If you already have been to the vet and still need help
- if you can't find an available vet with the resources above
then LET ME KNOW IN THE SUBJECT LINE so I can give your question highest priority over non-urgent questions. If you don't do this, then I can't guarantee timely assistance!
For all the best, most accurate rabbit health, care and behavior information, visit The House Rabbit Society.
Experience
Publications
Exotic DVM
Warren Peace (Journal of the House Rabbit Society of Miami)
Various newsletters of the House Rabbit Society, nationwide
Education/Credentials
Ph.D - Biology
B.S. - Biology
B.A. - English
Awards and Honors
Lightspan Academic Excellence Award for web site on rabbit health and biology
(http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare)
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You are here: Experts > Animals/Pets > Veterinary Medicine > Rabbits > Oral Dermatitis
Rabbits - Oral Dermatitis
Expert: Dana Krempels, Ph.D. - 11/7/2009
Question
QUESTION: Hi there!
Here is a little history on my Netherland, Paulie. His first year of life was spent in a rubbermaid container, he was found during a confiscation of a hoarding case. He had chronic stasis issues after I first adopted him, it's been better, there hasn't been another problem since, but now he still gets a sensitive stomach when fed too many pellets. He has also had issues with his teeth (which led to runny eyes and unhappy hungry bunny), his age and breed doesn't help matters. He's had his molars filed and tear ducts flushed.
I brought my rabbit into the vet because he started with poo butt (not runny, just a wad of poo stuck to his bum) and this tannish color stain on the side of his mouth. Upon smelling his mouth - it was just gross, so I thought infection. Anyway, the vet said he had oral dermatitis? I had never heard of this before, and couldn't find it during my internet searching. Do you know much about this? She had also mentioned that his teeth are quite worn, would that have anything to do with the dermatitis? She didn't mention spurs or anything, just that they were worn down. Would moistening his pellets help with his digestion and teeth?
Thank you for your help!
-Shalyn & Paulie
ANSWER: Dear Shalyn,
Is the vet who diagnosed "oral dermatitis" primarily a dog/cat vet? That's my suspicion. Because "oral dermatitis" is just not something that we see in rabbits.
It is far more likely that your bunny has dental problems, and possibly a molar root infection/abscess that is causing the foul smell. If he has bad teeth, he's not likely to want to eat hay or grass, but these would be the very best thing for him. If you can find a safe, fenced yard where there have been no wild animals passing through (including raccoons, which can leave really deadly parasites behind) and no fertilizers or pesticides, a few days of natural grazing could do wonders for him. But you'll need to supervise and guard him closely, even if the yard is fenced.
Second to that, timothy hay is the best option for helping his teeth.
But I would think the most important thing is to get him to a good rabbit vet with lots of experienced with oral/dental problems in rabbits. I'm just not buying the "oral dermatitis" based on what you've described. You can find another vet here for a second opinion:
www.rabbit.org/vets
Please also see:
www.bio.miami.edu/hare/dental.html
Moistening his pellets will help him eat if he's having trouble with them. But that, too, would indicate molar problems. If he's able to eat pellets without a struggle, don't moisten them. He needs to work those teeth, but better is the side-to-side motion and cleansing action of fresh grass hay.
Hope this helps.
Dana
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: I will definitely continue the hay, with his teeth I can't afford not to give him hay! He still eats everything without issues, and I have yet to see the same problem with the discharge which made me wonder if it wasn't squished cecal pellets or something.
He's on Baytril right now and I have a follow up with the same vet, but I think I'll take him to another vet in my area that has rabbit experience as well.
I wish I could find somewhere for him to graze! No such luck though. At least no where that I can definitively say there's no pesticides or wild animals running through.
Thank you once again! :)
-Shalyn
Answer
Dear Shalyn,
Baytril is a good start. But if the foul smell doesn't resolve with that, ask about trying bicillin injection (once every 48 hours for as long as it takes). It would be best if the vet could locate the source of the smell (likely an abscess), but a mouth culture is going to be a true mess, with loads of contamination, and you'd never be sure of which bug growing would be the actual pathogen.
Fortunately, many of the opportunistic bacteria that inhabit a jaw abscess are often sensitive to Penicillin, and of the many types available, only injectable Penicillin-G Procaine is safe for rabbits. Please see:
www.bio.miami.edu/hare/jawabscess.html
I hope this helps.
Dana
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