About 2 weeks ago i noticed a lump on Mason, my grey netherland dwarf rabbits chest. At first i thought he was putting on weight until i noticed it was hanging down more on one side than the other.
I took him to the vets, who shaved the area and tried to drain the lump with a needle but there was no fluid. I was told to watch him over the next few days and to take him back if it got bigger. Then while watching him stretch up to try and push his cage lid open, i noticed a swelling on his right side, behind his shoulder.
I took him friday to the P.D.S.A. and they haven't a clue what's wrong. The lump in his chest is already no longer a definate lump, but has spread. He said that they couldn't remove it as it was all around his neck and around arteries. As for the swelling on his side, he thinks that that is a secondary complication.
Mason has got to go back on the 6th of october for a biopsy which i'm dreading as he is very nervous but clings to me; but i know it's got to be done.
The thing is, he hasn't lost any weight and is eating fine, and is still running around with Millie his partner as though nothings wrong. I'm just praying he'll be ok, but it doesn't look good.
The fact he's eating and is himself is a good sign.
Why is the vet waiting over a week to do the biopsy? That makes no sense at all.
I know, i thought the same.
I took him to my local vet just to get him checked out, but i knew if anything big had to be done i would have to find someone to take me miles to my local P.D.S.A. Thank God my sister was off and able to take me that day. Also once we were in the room, the vets are always good enough to hear when she is able to get me back there, though on this occassion, the 6th is the soonest they can get him in.
It was the first vet that shocked me, sending us away, telling me to just simply watch to see if it got bigger.
I think that if the vet thought it was something serious he would have made a point to get Mason in sooner so hopefully this is the case.
Thinking of you and Mason and let us know how you get on.
luv 'Bella 😉
Good luck Mason, I hope all will be well.
Sending positive vibes.
Thankyou so much for your kind words.
I forgot to say that the vet did give me anti-biotics to give him morning and night. He said that it probably wouldn't change anything, but that it would do no harm.
I dropped Mason off at 8.30 this morning. I left him with the same vet which pleased me. I phoned twice and was finally told that i could collect him.
We got him at 5pm and was seen by a nurse. He looked rough, his whole chest was shaved and he had a nasty looking scar going upwards. She said that the vet said that it looked similar to fat, but was unusual because of where it was situated. They still couldn't explain the large swelling on his right side. She told me to be prepared incase it is a tumor, and i have to take him back in 11 days to look at his stitches.
It's past 11pm now and he still looks rough, which i know is to be expected, i just feel so sorry for him. He has had a pain killing injection the is supposed to last for 48 hrs. Apparently rabbits get higher doses of painkillers than a large dog. Supposedly because of their metabolism.
I'm a little worried to go to bed incase i get up in the morning and he's managed to get to the stitches. But the vet said this morning that he would try and operate where he can't get to; here's hoping..
Poor Mason, hope he recovers quickly and it isn't a tumor.
Thanks Louisa,
He's suprisingly bright; a little too lively yesterday and today. He's usually very quiet but seems a little eratic. I'm hoping whatever it is isn't affecting his thyroid or something.
I've put a soft blanket and towel in the bottom of his cage instead of straw as i was told to do that when he was spayed. He keeps digging it up, and when i put my hand in his cage to straighten it out for him, and get his little droppings out, he's been growling and scratching me with his front paws..lol. I don't know if he's gotten a little cocky since he's been ill because i've been making more of a fuss of him, or again, it's another unchararcteristic behaviour coming out with his illness.
Anyway, i don't mind if he feels cocky as long as he's ok. I'll let you know when i get the results not this friday but next; i don't want to even think about it yet..
Just to let you know, at the vets last friday, i took mason to have his stitches out, which took me, the vet and my sister to hold him, and to get the results.
The vet said that he had infected fat and has put him on a 3 week course of anti biotics. But he also said several times that that was their findings from where they took the biopsies, but they couldn't explain the swellings. He also said that they could not rules out a tumour but that it would more than likely be benine!
To be honest at the time i was just pleased it was good news, so i didn't think about or question anything he was telling me, though it does all seem to be a bit vague.
Anyhow i've got to take him back when he's finished his medicine, and apparently, if the swelling is still there i've just got to keep my eye on him.
But he still seems fine and is still eating and acting normal, so i just hope it stays that way.
Fingers crossed, I hope he stays well and the antibiotics do the trick.
Thankyou Louisa.