Tyzzer's Disease

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This topic has 7sd replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 12 years, 8 months ago by BelarusianBunny.

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- 07/24/2013 at 2:37 PM
  BelarusianBunny
  Participant
  81 posts
  I can’t find a lot of information about it.
  
  We have a diagnosis for what is wrong with my bunny. The blood tests came back and they’re positive for Tyzzer’s disease and E. cuniculi. I expected the E. cuniculi to come back positive because the literature says most rabbits are exposed at some point in their lives.
  
  I was shocked at the Tyzzer’s diagnosis. My rabbit has never had diarrhea. We were told to keep up the good husbandry and to keep the rabbit’s life stress free. I’m very scared that it is fatal. Without the bloodwork, I would have never known there was a problem. We nursed him through the time he stopped eating and his falling/unbalanced problems are gone. He is like his old self again. He is even gaining back the weight he lost.
  
  I think an unexpected heat wave is the stresser that caused the attack. Even though we gave him frozen bottles, ice packs and ice cubes, it was still hot for him.
  
  The vet used the “E” word. My rabbit still is alert and enjoys life: I cannot imagine him being euthanized right now.
  
  Also, the vet said both diseases can be passed upon to people. It is for this reason my husband is upset. He also used the “E” word, said we should “get rid” of the rabbit and he is very worried about it. He has called his doctor right now with the advice of the vet to arrange a blood test.
  
  Does anyone have any experience with this? Is there successful care that can be done to prolong the rabbit’s life? I am so worried. I expected to go to the vet with good news because my rabbit is doing so well and my world is upside down.
- 07/24/2013 at 8:44 PM
  Beka27
  Participant
  16016 posts
  I’ve had rabbits for years and been on BB for years… And I am not familiar with that. Someone else may know tho… I’ll try to do some research.
- 07/24/2013 at 9:53 PM
  BelarusianBunny
  Participant
  81 posts
  Thanks for the reply, Beka27.
  
  There isn’t much information out there and what is there, it’s the same words just in different places. I read the Merck manual and I feel I am not any further ahead. Also, not much information is based towards rabbits: just a general catch all or for gerbils. Or horses.
  
  I’ve come across that 90% of cases are fatal but these are in rabbits kept in laboratories. I know they don’t receive love or care. So worried.
- 07/25/2013 at 8:34 AM
  Beka27
  Participant
  16016 posts
  This link is saying that there is no way to determine if a rabbit has Tyzzer’s Disease, except at necropsy. It does quote the 90% fatality that you mentioned.
  http://rabbitinfocenter.8m.com/dir.html
  
  This is a pretty long article about the disease: http://www.criver.com/sitecollectiondocuments/rm_rm_r_tyzzers_disease.pdf
  
  You may have already read both of these.
  
  What kind of other tests did the vet do, and what showed up in the blood work that pointed to Tyzzer’s disease?
  
  What did the vet give you in terms of antibiotic treatment?
- 07/25/2013 at 8:46 AM
  Sarita
  Participant
  18851 posts
  I’m curious as Beka is as how your vet determined the Tyzzer’s disease…
- 07/25/2013 at 10:44 AM
  BelarusianBunny
  Participant
  81 posts
  Hi, thank you both for the replies.
  
  The Tyzzer’s came back “positive” on a round a blood work. The blood work was sent away and all we know is that on the results, it showed positive. I know that he vet said most causes are found in necropsy. There was a listing of diseases that they tested for (strange that Pasturella came back negative when that is the most common one on the list… along with the e.cuniculi) and it stated either positive/negative beside the disease/infection. Previously, from the same round of work, we had general blood work (cell count, liver function, etc..) and the only thing off was his blood cell count.
  
  In terms of treatment, we were told to finish off the Baytril we have. The e.cuniculi is not being treated because the vet said the rabbit is immunocompromised and the medications for that might not be well for his liver.
  
  I am not shocked about the e.cuniculi. I know that it would come back positive but the vet made a big deal about it. (I mean, not in the case of treating of it but rather gosh, this is a bad thing to have.) The vet scared us. I can believe that there is e.cuniculi but definitely, I am having a hard time accepting the Tyzzer’s. My rabbit does not have diarrhea, his coat is very well maintained… I am so confused.
- 07/25/2013 at 10:53 AM
  Beka27
  Participant
  16016 posts
  Just reading a bit about this this morning, it looks life you’d want to try a tetracycline med.
  
  Have you considered bring a second opinion? Ask if the test results can be sent to another vet to look over.
- 07/25/2013 at 12:39 PM
  BelarusianBunny
  Participant
  81 posts
  I’ve put in a call for the records. I’d like a second opinion too. But again, it’s a waiting game. Wait, wait, wait.
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