Hey all, I'm a new rabbit owner and my bunny Merlin developed an abscess due to pasturella. I was just looking for some advice. I have taken him to the vet, and they burst the abscess to determine the pasturella. Now they have recommended surgury to remove the abscess, but its going to cost $430. I am a starving university student and cannot afford the surgury but want to do anything to help my bunny! What exactly are the success rates of the surgury, will the growths keep comming back? Do I have to get the surgury and if not what will happen?
If anyone has some suggestions or has experienced this before please any advice is welcome. I'm pretty heartbroken about it and I want to get Merlin better. He has a cone around his head right now, and I feel awful!
Please help, lauren

That's a lot of money! My bun, Loppy, had a pasteurella abscess removed in 1997. It came back. He started to have trouble standing up straight. He died almost a year after the first abscess. The surgery cost not much over $100. Your vet may be overpriced. Where is the abscess? Does it involve his mouth or ears or is it localized? I suggest getting a second opinion. My current vet today would charge under $200 for such surgery.

If the abscess is not removed, the infection will spread. Being on his head, it will eventually spread to his mouth which prevents eating, to his ears which will make his head tilt and he possibly may fall over, or to his brain which would eventually kill him. If the abscess is removed, and he survives the surgery and recovery, the abscess may or may not come back depending on if they got it all. If they missed any of it, it will come back. If the pasteurella is in the blood stream, it probably will come back. I wish I had better news. If untreated, he may live another 6 months. With surgery, maybe a year or two. I've lost many animals and feel your pain, frustration, and anger. Good luck to you and your bun.