PAWS Rescue Clinic Story
Crumpet
A Life Defined by Resilience
A story of chronic illness, extraordinary foster care, and a gentle rabbit who has continued to find joy through years of complex medical treatment.
Meet Crumpet
Crumpet is one of Romeo’s Rabbit Rescue’s much-loved permanent foster rabbits. Bonded with his companion Muffin and deeply adored by his foster family, he has spent years showing everyone that a rabbit can live a beautiful life even while managing complex medical needs.
His journey has included severe dental disease, removal of all six incisors, recurring jaw abscesses, long-term antibiotics, an implanted injection port, foreign body surgery, arthritis and chronic pain management. Through it all, Crumpet has remained gentle, determined and dearly loved.
Veterinary care donated
Over $2,900
Through Little Pet Vet and the PAWS Rescue Clinic, Crumpet received advanced dental care, repeated abscess treatment, radiography, blood testing, medications, hospital care, pain management and years of ongoing veterinary support.
Dental surgery
Abscess treatment
Injection port
Chronic pain care
Permanent foster support
A dental battle that changed everything
Crumpet’s medical challenges began with severe dental disease. By late 2021, his front teeth were so badly affected that all six incisors needed to be removed, alongside treatment for a painful mandibular abscess.
Although losing all front teeth sounds life-changing, Crumpet adapted beautifully. He learnt to eat without his incisors and continued to enjoy life with the help of careful feeding, monitoring and ongoing dental care.
Recurring abscesses and a hidden cause
Over the following years, Crumpet experienced repeated facial abscesses requiring surgery, imaging, long-term antibiotics and ongoing monitoring. In 2024, another swelling appeared along the right side of his jaw.
Surgery revealed an unexpected culprit: nearly a dozen grass seed stalks had migrated through his mouth and tissues, creating a long tracking abscess. Each fragment had to be carefully removed before the infected tissue could be cleaned and repaired.
The port that became a lifeline
Because Crumpet required long-term injectable antibiotics, a specialised subcutaneous injection port was implanted beneath his skin. This allowed his foster carer to administer treatment at home with far less stress than repeated injections.
The port remained functional for more than two years, an extraordinary result that made ongoing treatment easier and helped preserve Crumpet’s comfort and quality of life.
Growing older with comfort and dignity
As Crumpet entered his senior years, arthritis and chronic pain became an increasingly important part of his care. His carers learnt that even small reductions in pain medication could cause him to become quiet, stop eating normally and lose interest in the things he loved.
A carefully balanced pain management plan was developed using medications such as meloxicam, gabapentin, paracetamol, Cartrophen and later CBD oil. The change was beautiful to see: Crumpet became brighter, more interactive, ate better, and even began doing little zoomies and binkies again.
Crumpet’s journey
A simple timeline of the moments that shaped his story.
December 2020
Crumpet was already showing dental abnormalities, with misaligned incisors and early cheek tooth changes being monitored.
December 2021
Severe dental disease and a mandibular abscess required surgery, dental radiographs, cheek tooth correction and removal of all six incisors.
June 2023
A large recurrent jaw abscess was treated surgically, and a specialised subcutaneous injection port was placed to support long-term antibiotic treatment at home.
May 2024
Surgery for a right jaw abscess revealed nearly a dozen grass seed stalks tracking through the tissues, explaining the recurring infection.
November 2024
A recurrent abscess was drained under local anaesthetic and treated with antibiotic beads while Crumpet continued his long-term care plan.
2025
Crumpet continued to live as a permanent foster rabbit with chronic tear duct issues, intermittent abscess monitoring, dental checks and ongoing pain management.
2026
Senior pain and arthritis management became central to his care. With multimodal treatment, Crumpet became brighter, more active and more comfortable again.
What PAWS support helped provide
Dental radiography and surgery
Incisor extractions
Repeated abscess treatment
Subcutaneous injection port
Antibiotic bead implantation
Blood and urine testing
Long-term pain relief
Tear duct and eye care
Years of ongoing support
“Crumpet’s story is not defined by illness. It is defined by perseverance, exceptional foster care, and a community that refused to give up on a rabbit with complex needs.”
“Some rescues are not a single moment of saving. They are years of showing up, adjusting care, celebrating tiny improvements and making sure comfort always comes first.”
The Team Behind Crumpet
Romeo’s Rabbit Rescue
Gave Crumpet a permanent foster place and ensured his complex medical needs were supported for the long term.
Foster Carers and Sponsors
Provided daily monitoring, medication, comfort, companionship and the love that allowed Crumpet to keep enjoying life.
Little Pet Vet
Provided repeated dental procedures, abscess surgery, injection port placement, pain management, diagnostics and ongoing senior rabbit care.
See more of Crumpet’s story at Romeo’s Rabbit Rescue
Here
Crumpet’s legacy
Crumpet’s story demonstrates what is possible when rescue organisations, foster carers, sponsors and veterinary teams work together for animals with lifelong medical needs.
Through the partnership between Little Pet Vet and the PAWS Rescue Clinic, more than $2,900 worth of veterinary services were donated to support Crumpet’s treatment journey.
Today, Crumpet remains a cherished permanent foster rabbit. His journey is ongoing, but each comfortable day is a reminder that rescue medicine is not only about cure — it is about quality of life, dignity and love.
Thank you for being part of Crumpet’s journey and for supporting animals in need.