How long do bunnies have colds?

[C00KiE]

I recently got a baby bunny (see avatar) less than a week ago. I noticed she had a runny nose (not constant). I had my bf take her to the vet and he was told that my bunny had a cold. We were given antibiotics. I was wondering how long would it take for her to get better?

[Sarita]

Rabbits do not get colds like humans. Is your vet familiar with rabbits, because if he/she told you it was a cold I would be looking for another vet.

What type of antibiotics did the vet give you?

[C00KiE]

What?! They don’t have colds  What could it be? I was given, Albon. Give .5 every 12 hrs.

[Sarita]

Here is a link to an article that will help explain this:

http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/sneezing.html

Are you sure the Albon wasn’t given for coccidia which is a parasite that infects the intestines – that is what Albon is used to treat generally – not an upper respiratory infection.

[C00KiE]

Thanks for that site I saved it. I’m going to have to speak with my bf again and see what he remembers what the vet said. My bunny only has a runny nose. Her eyes aren’t watery and she isn’t sneezing. So Albon won’t help with her running nose?

[C00KiE]

What is done or given to rabbits with running nose?

[Sarita]

I very much doubt that Albon is going to help with a runny nose.

[Max1]

When rabbits get respiratory infections people call it snuffles. There many kinds of bacteria your rabbit can pick up that cause the snuffles symptoms- here’s an excerpt from bio.miami.edu about it. 

Definition of Snuffles from http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/sneezing.html
“Snuffles” is is a non-specific, “catch-all” term used to describe such symptoms without naming the specific cause.. Until fairly recently, many veterinarians believed that “snuffles” was almost always caused by the bacterial pathogen Pasteurella multocida, commonly found in rabbits (though often without causing any problematic symptoms at all). More recent information suggests that many different species of bacteria can cause “snuffles.” Some of the bacteria most commonly cultured from rabbit nasal discharge include Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bordetella bronchiseptica, and Staphylococcus aureus, though there are many others.

My advice…. 

You need to find a rabbit specialist in your area. Don’t go to a regular vet, some regular vets almost never even see a rabbit in their practice so they are not going to be up on all the latest greatest treatment for rabbits.  There are lists online of rabbit savvy vets- you can look there- or try to find a reputable rabbit breeder, or rabbit club in your area and ask them if they can recommend a really good rabbit vet. 

My experience….

I’ve had three different rabbits – they came from three different breeders and where unrelated – They had symptoms of snuffles and my vet cured them all – My vet treats with Azithromycin/ Zithromax so I recommend that particular antibiotic.   I’ve also read of rabbits being cured with injectable penicillin (has to be injected not oral) and Convenia. Regular vets usually try Baytril/enrofloxacin first, because it is one of the most common antibiotics liscensed for use on rabbits— but it has been around for such a long time that people feel the bacteria has grown resistant to it. You can save a lot of time if you go to a rabbit savvy vet who is going to go straight into using some of the newer mor effective drugs– all this is just my opinion based on my experiences. Good luck.

[LongEaredLions]

When you go to the vet, you will need to get a culture and sensitivity test to determine the right antibiotics for your bun.

[Author]

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