Our Rabbit has a growth?

Question

We just discovered a growth on our english spot rabbits cheek. It just came out of the blue. It feels pretty hard. He was doing well on Tuesday, being his normal self, no abnormal eating. Then yesterday, he started to act different and the growth had gotten bigger. We want to help him, but at the same time, we can't afford a vet visit. We are thinking about putting him to sleep, fearing that it may be cancerous or tumorous. Anyone have any other ideas of what it may be?

I think I might have worded it wrong, I wasn't planning on putting him down right away. I wanted to see if it could be something else. I just haven't had the time to look into the vet. I've never had any other animals besides a rabbit and I have never had a rabbit have this before. I guess I immediately thought worst case. Believe me, the last thing I want to do is put him to sleep. He's too cute.

Thanks for the replys and the suggestions

Answer 1

Before you put him to sleep, consider contacting your vet to see if you can arrange a payment schedule. If you can't do that, then putting him to sleep may be the kindest course of action.

Good luck.

Answer 2

First, let me say that I understand your position where it comes to possibly not having enough money to get into an expensive vet bill. We all have different lives and different needs and income levels. Only you can decide how much you can afford to spend on your rabbits health issues.
With that said, it does sound more like an abscess than a cancerous tumor, but only a vet can tell you for sure. Rabbits do tend to get a bacterial infection called pasturella. It can be treated, but it can also be difficult to cure. I would start by looking at the age of your rabbit. How old is it? If it's young, say up to 4-5 years, you might want to consider the vet treatment and perhaps a payment plan. If it's an older rabbit, 6-10+ it may be more humane to euthanize him because as they get older they don't respond to treatment as well. Keep in mind that rabbits can live up to 10 or more years. It wouldn't hurt to make an appointment with your vet. Talk about all your options and then make your decision. Just remember, the decision has to be right for you and your family as well as for the rabbit. Euthanasia is always difficult but it's far better than suffering a long painful death.
Good luck

Answer 3

It's probably just an abscess. Rabbits rarely to never get tumors. And as the one person mentioned tumors grow slowly whereas abscess typically grow fairly fast in size.

The abscess should be able to be lanced and drained then the rabbit can be given some antibiotic for the infection. Abscesses can be hard. Normally the vet looks for the soft spot in the abscess for lancing it. The will normally shave the fur off that area then use a scalpal or the end of a large needle to open it up.

Sometimes it's not easy to find the correct spot to lance it, so I'd recommend not trying to do it yourself. Have the vet do it. It shouldn't be an expensive vet bill, $20-$30 most likely, if not less. Should take the vet less than 5 minutes to fix.

One other thing, check the rabbit's teeth. You'll want to make sure that your rabbit's teeth don't curl and that they allign properly with the top teeth overlapping the bottom teeth. Bad teeth in rabbits are referred to as wolf teeth or malocclusion. Often bad teeth in rabbits can cause abscesses around the head area. If you notice that your rabbit's teeth curl, just take a pair of wire clippers and clip the teeth to their normal length. You don't really need a vet to clip the teeth. Clipping the teeth is pretty simple.

Answer 4

I completely understand the lack of money to take your rabbit to the Vet. Especially since most Vet's office call for exotics are higher than for a cat or dog. One HUGE possibility is an ABSCESSED TOOTH!!! This happened to one of my cats, I could not believe how large it became within one day!!! I sincerly hope that you will call your Vet and find out how much it would cost to take him in and have it checked. Most Vet's will work with you regarding payments when the animal is ill. I'm still leaning towards it being an abscessed tooth, tumor's don't normally grow larger in a short amount of time. Depending on the abscess, it's possible that an antibiotic would be all that's needed. Make some calls to your local Vets, MAKE SURE THEY ARE LICENSED WITH EXOTIC ANIMALS, get some prices and talk to them regarding your financial situation. I was a Practice Manager at a Veterinarian Hospital, and we ALWAYS worked out payment arrangements for ill or injured pets. Actually all the Veterinarians in my area will do this! I truly hope you will make some calls and get him in ASAP! If it is an abscess, it's very painful for him! Hope I have helped and hope your rabbit will be well soon! :) p.s. If you want some rabbit health websites shoot me an email, I'd be more than glad to assist you.

Answer 5

At least take the rabbit to the vet for an exam before you start thinking about euthanasia! A check up won't be expensive at all.

I don't think this is a tumour. Nine times out of ten, lumps on rabbit's mouths are dental abscesses. Rabbit abscesses are quite different to dog and cat abscesses - the pus is a lot thicker and harder, and their abscesses tend to be firm and very hard to break open, often appearing like a tumour. The fact that your rabbit is acting differently (is he having trouble eating?) indicates that his teeth are troubling him. You won't be able to see the rabbit's back teeth, this is pretty much impossible without sedation and cheek braces, but I think you'll find it's likely the molars have spurs on them which have cut the inside of the mouth and caused infection.

Please take the rabbit to the vet. Abscesses are fixable, although by leaving it to grow it has now become more difficult to fix. I don't think it's fair on the animal to just have it put to sleep because you don't want to spend money on it - sell your computer, that'd give you enough to treat it, or at least cut off your internet access, that'll save you enough to get started.

Chalice

Answer 6

The best thing to do is to call the vet and ask someone there for their advice. Twice when i called the vet they gave me home remedies to try and if they didn't work to bring her in. If it is serious and you want to help your rabbit you may have to take it to the vet. You can't put down your own pet and the vet will only suggest that if there is nothing that can be done and the pet is suffering. Your pt always has a better chance at surviving if something is done ASAP.

Answer 7

Talk to your vet about setting up a payment plan. It's really not fair to the rabbit for you to put him to sleep over something that may be harmless simply because it's cheaper than having the vet examine him. If all else fails, you could surrender your bunny to a rescue group, s at least he'd get a chance at seeing a vet.

In the future, please try to keep an emergency fund for your pets in case of situations like this. Unfortunately, pets can't stay healthy just because their owners don't have the money to take them to the vet.

Answer 8

Take teh rabbit to the vet and see what it might be could be an abcess that shouldn't cost much and no reason to have put to sleep. If it isn't see waht the vet says and tehn make your decission. Most cansers don't show up and grow that fast that's why I have a feeling without seeing it it mught be an abcess.

Answer 9

Vets are more than willing to set up a payment schedule for you. Please take your bunny to the vet for a check up, rather than just putting him down!

It could be just a swelling or infection of the saliva glands.

Answer 10

probably an abcess from bad teeth not a whole lot you can do for it