Abscesses in the head and jaw area most frequently are the result of intraalveolarly infected incisors and/or cheek teeth changes where the periodontal infection is allowed to spread unrestricted. The earlier treatment is started, the better the chances of healing. Therefore early diagnosis is needed and a targeted therapy. Presented are the aetiology, diagnosis, differential diagnosis and the pathogenesis of osteogenic mandibular and retrobulbar abscessations in rabbits and herbivorous rodents. Therapy includes radical abscess revision (‘en bloc’), intraoral or extraoral cheek tooth extraction with or without osteotomy and alternative treatments (marsupialization, calcium hydroxide, antibioticum impregnated polymethyl methacrylate (AIPMMA) beads, bioactive ceramic material, gentamicin‐soaked, bovine collagen fibre plates). Finally, systemic antibiotic therapy and different local wound treatments (e.g. sugar, honey) are discussed.