Is there a role for injectable long-acting antibiotics in rabbits with abscesses and osteomyelitis?
The rationale behind the use of long-acting injectable penicillins is sound: the drug is released slowly into the blood stream, killing species of bacteria that may not be affected by the antibiotics more commonly used (and licensed) for use in rabbits. It’s already known from years of experience treating rabbits with rabbit syphilis that injectable, long acting penicillins are generally safe and well tolerated. There does not seem to be any great risk of causing diarrhoeal problems, although they are always a possibility and the rabbit’s droppings and general condition must be closely observed during treatment. Abscesses, particularly in the head, are a serious problem for companion rabbits. They are fairly common and are often associated with dental disease. They can be extremely difficult to treat, often requiring repeated surgery and prolonged treatment with a very uncertain final prognosis. Nobody knows the “best” way to treat bone infections and abscesses in rabbits – there have
