20070406About Toa Payoh Vets Singapore Toa Payoh Veterinary Surgery, animal doctor, horse, dog, cat, rabbit, hamster, clinic info

Check your rabbit regularly, at twice per week for hard lumps under the skin. Many rabbits get infected wounds which develop into very hard yellow "rocks" that are mistaken for tumours. It is reported that rabbits do not possess an enzyme to make its abscess soft.

This rabbit had a rock hard lump of a ping pong ball below its left elbow (red wound incised). The pus is usually the very thick creamy type in rabbit abscesses. Pasteurella bacteria is said to be culprit.

Rabbit has a hard golf-ball abscess under left elbow.

The veterinary surgeon may need to get the swelling softened by antibiotics and drugs and operate to remove the hard lump. Otherwise, the rabbit gets irritated at the lump, scratching it to "get rid of it during self-grooming. Unlike dogs, rabbits all over the world tend to develop rock hard abscesses in the face. These may require veterinary anaesthesia and surgery to remove them. If the bacteria germs have not infected the bones, chances of recovery are good. Regular checks up by the Owner will mean a healthier longer life for the rabbit companion.