How contagious is snuffles

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This topic has 4sd replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 2 years, 5 months ago by mia.

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- 09/02/2023 at 11:51 AM
  LeoBunny
  Participant
  8 posts
  Hey guys! I’m devastated to say that my senior rabbit passed away two days ago from a severe case of chronic snuffles. I am assuming it was pasteurella multocide, however my vet never confirmed that completely. It broke my heart and I am already looking to get another bun as I am very saddened by not having a bunny in my life. However, I do know that snuffles is very contagious. I want there to be zero chance of this new rabbit contracting it. I plan on getting new food/water dishes, new litter boxes, and new toys. However, I plan on keeping the pen and the mat (unless you guys think it’s unsafe). I am unsure how long the bacteria can live without a host, so any advice at all would be much appreciated. Thank you so much!
- 09/02/2023 at 12:08 PM
  Bam
  Moderator
  17025 posts
  It is believed that most, if not all, rabbits have pasteurella multocida in their nasal cavity, but only some rabbits get sick from these bacteria. (There are however several strains of this bacteria and some strains are more likely to cause disease than others). Most buns’ immune defense manages to keep the bacteria from multiplying so much that they start to cause trouble.
  
  Individuals with a weakened immune defense can’t always keep the pasteurella in check. It can be very young rabbits, rabbits that were weaned too young, obv rabbits that are kept in an unsanitary and/or stressful environment (like in bunny mills), rabbits that already have some other disease or rabbits that simply are weakened by old age. There’s also a strong suspicion that some rabbits can have a genetic flaw that makes them susceptible to snuffles, much like some dogs have a genetic flaw that makes them unable to keep demodex mites in check.
  
  I think you’ll be fine if you clean everything – run bowls and bottles in the dishwasher or soak in hot water with a dish washer tablet, then rinse thoroughly -obviously 🤪, mashine wash fabrics and soft toys, scrub out the pen with chlorine bleach or Virkon S (I prefer Virkon S because its odourless and doesn’t stain plus its safe for animals). Floors can be washed and then sprayed with Virkon S that you let dry (no rinsing, no wiping).
- 09/02/2023 at 6:51 PM
  LBJ10
  Moderator
  17214 posts
  Yes, I wouldn’t be too concerned. Just clean anything that you’re going to reuse, but I wouldn’t obsess about it. Most bunnies have Pasteurella. They are exposed at a young age and it becomes part of the microbiome in their sinuses.
- 09/03/2023 at 1:51 AM
  Bam
  Moderator
  17025 posts
  Yes, don’t obsess! What I tried to describe is just normal cleaning in prep for a new bun or buns. I use Virkon bc its readily available here where horses are common as “pets”, but it could be overkill.
- 09/03/2023 at 2:11 PM
  mia
  Participant
  617 posts
  Very close bonded buns can have somebun with it, while others of the group are perfectly fine. There really isn’t any need to do anything special, especially with time between, other than everybun should feel safe (who’s this otherbun’s smell that’s all over).
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