Does this sound like a correct treatment or should I look for a specialty bunny vet?

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This topic has 9sd replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 12 years, 3 months ago by Sarita.

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- 07/21/2012 at 5:31 PM
  LittleDoll
  Participant
  42 posts
  Subject: Runny eye diagnosed with “pasteurella” by our regular vet. Did not resolve after 4 wks of Baytril. Now started Doxycycline pills and Ofloxacine drops.
  
  A few weeks ago our bunny developed runny eye. I wanted to find a specialty rabbit vet but the closest one is over an hour away from us. So, I ended up taking her to our vet who has been seeing our cats and dogs for years.
  
  He looked at her eye and said “pasteruella”. He gave her Baytril solution. I believe it was 68 mg, 3 tabs in solution, once a day for 2 weeks. The eye became better but did not resolve. I called the clinic, and another vet who was on call that day told me that sometimes it takes 6 weeks. She gave me another bottle of Baytrill. I noticed that is said 22 mg dose this time.
  
  2 weeks later not only the eye didnt get better but in fact it got worse. I spoke with our regular vet again. He said sometimes this infection doesnt resolve at all. He gave me Doxycycline solution 2/day and Ofloxacin drops 3/day.
  
  I started the new treatment but I am feeling concerned now. I did an online search and Doxycycline was not even listed as one of common meds to treat pasteurella. I also read somethere that if bring a bunny to a vet’s office with runny eye, and he/she says “pasteurella” you need to turn around and leave. That they should not start treatment without doing the culture first.
  
  What would you guys suggest?
  
  P.S. We live in Bellingham, WA 98226. I didnt find any bunny vets nearby.
- 07/21/2012 at 6:28 PM
  LBJ10
  Moderator
  17238 posts
  So they just looked at it and said pasteurella? A weepy eye could be caused by a lot of things.
- 07/21/2012 at 6:33 PM
  LittleDoll
  Participant
  42 posts
  Yes, that is what he did. He said it is most commonly caused by pasteurella.
- 07/21/2012 at 9:03 PM
  LoveChaCha
  Participant
  6634 posts
  Hmm, I live down in WA as well, 30 minutes South of Seattle ,but you may want to get a second opinion. Here are some vets that are recommended by the House Rabbit Society in our state:
  
  http://www.rabbitmeadows.org/shelter/vets.asp
- 07/22/2012 at 5:38 AM
  LittlePuffyTail
  Moderator
  18092 posts
  I would definitely get a second opinion. A culture needs to be done to confirm a diagnosis of pasteurella. No vet can tell just by looking at a bunny. A culture will also tell the vet what type of antibiotic is the most effective for the particular type of bacteria.
  
  My bun, Olivia had a bad eye infection when I got her. My vet said it could be pasteurella but the culture came back negative. She was given the proper antibiotic and it was gone within 2 weeks.
- 07/22/2012 at 6:18 AM
  Emmie
  Participant
  461 posts
  My rabbit vet is 1.5 hrs away and it is worth it! Thane’s had a urine issue since I’ve had him. One trip to this vet and he was sorted. It’s far and expensive but can work out cheaper in the long run.
- 07/22/2012 at 6:39 AM
  Sarita
  Participant
  18851 posts
  So this is the second treatment for the runny eye?
  
  Certainly it can take a few different treatments if you are guessing at what it is to treat it. I would suggest you go ahead and use the treatment and if it doesn’t clear up, get a second opinion from a rabbit savvy vet. You may need to get an x-ray done to see if tooth roots are blocking the tear duct. If that is not the problem, then you may want to do the culture to see what comes back from that.
- 07/23/2012 at 6:16 PM
  skunklionshow
  Participant
  1257 posts
  Leo once had chronic tooth issues that caused runny eye.
  
  More recently our tobey had a scratched cornea. First bun vet said likely eyelashes growing in backwords may need them removed & cauterized, use natural tears. It got better very slightly so got second opinion. He dx’d scratched cornea using drops & special light. We tried standard tx, but then it developed into an ulcer. After mos of tx w/ vet opthamologist (she LOVED tx’ing a bunny). It improved & is as healed as tx can make it at this point. Second opinion all the way!
- 01/08/2014 at 11:37 AM
  TalkingLikeaCat
  Participant
  1 posts
  I am in Bellingham, too, and actually found this while looking for rabbit vets in the area. Did you ever find a vet that specializes in rabbits? I’m going to have to get my boy neutered soon, and I’d rather get it done by someone who treats rabbits often. Thanks!
- 01/08/2014 at 1:28 PM
  Sarita
  Participant
  18851 posts
  TalkingLikeaCat – welcome – we ask that members do not pull up old threads and respond to them – this thread is 2 years old – I am going to lock this thread and ask that you start a new thread.
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