Hi all,
Looking for some advice and shared experiences with my lop bunny, Bailey.
She’s about 6 years old, unneutered female, and lives outdoors in a safe, predator-proof garden. I’ve cared for her for about a year now after a family member moved, so I’m still fairly new to rabbit care.
The lump:
About a month ago, she suddenly developed a swelling on the side of her neck.
Vet visit 1: sample taken – no signs of infection, abnormal cells, just some fat and fluid. She was sent home with Metacam to see if it would reduce.
Vet visit 2: A week later, no change (maybe even softer/larger), so we went back. Vet advised continuing Metacam at a lower dose since she’s moving better on it.
Bailey doesn’t seem in pain, eats normally, and is active – but she is itchy near the lump on her side and back. I think it interferes a little with grooming.
Other context:
She’s not fond of handling and has become more defensive since the vet trips.
She has a big outdoor run setup and free roam of the garden. She has a large hutch with grazing access at night since I am just extra cautious. The princess prefers to sit under her hutch rather than inside. She occasionally digs small burrows.
Diet: senior rabbit pellets at night and dried herbs, plus foraged herbs and greens (dandelion, broccoli leaves, plantain, etc.), all organic.
I’m considering bringing her indoors at night as she gets older but don’t want to stress her. (Ireland = wet/cold winters).
TL;DR:
Bailey has a fatty lump on her neck. Vet isn’t worried right now, but it’s not shrinking. She’s comfortable but a bit itchy and less able to groom herself.
Has anyone dealt with a similar fatty lump in their rabbit? Did it stay stable, shrink, or grow? I am still very worried.
Any tips for helping with grooming/itchiness when handling is tricky?
Should I be pushing for more tests (e.g., imaging), or is monitoring enough for now? I don’t want to risk sedation if it’s not going to be beneficial.
Thanks in advance – really appreciate any advice or experiences.
by sunflowa20