Pasteurella Multocida

[Andi]

 
http://www.rabbitnetwork.org/articles/past.shtml

http://www.lbah.com/rabbits/pasteurella.htm

http://www.rabbit.org/care/pasteurella.html

http://www.animalpetsandfriends.com…Flu-/10254

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Rabbits-703/Pasteurella.htm

http://www.celebratingrabbits.com/s…rella.html
 

Pasteurella refers to a genus of various species of bacteria, some of which may be part of your rabbit’s normal flora. Concerns arise with Pasteurella multocida (P. multocida) because it can cause a variety of diseases (referred to generally as pasteurellosis). Although the bacteria can cause abscesses, it is best known in association with respiratory disorders.

 

While P. multocida can have far-reaching health affects, many rabbits have strong immune systems that fight and destroy the bacteria or at least keep it under control so it does not cause disease. In addition, not all strains of P. multocida have serious consequences, and many of the rabbits who exhibit signs of it live to old age. Furthermore, the fact that rabbits receive better veterinary care these days means that the bacterium is often dealt with in the early stage. There are ways to assist your rabbit in maintaining health, some of which are mentioned in this article.
 

 

These are some good links I have found in my research of this illness. I thought i would share them as I think it is good for all us bunny slaves to know.
I am looking to gather more information, so please add any links you feel have a great article about Pasteurella.

I am also interested in knowing about other peoples experiances with it, and treatments if they were needed. Thank you.

 

[BinkyBunny]

That is great Andi! Thanks. I actually will add this to our FAQ section. I know that a few of our members, Wendyzski included, have dealt with this and may have some advice. Hopefully others who have dealt with this as an ongoing challenge will be posting soon.

EDITED TO ADD: Here is a link that Wendyzski had posted.  It’s another good one!  http://www.columbusrabbit.org/newsl…issue1.pdf

[Andi]

Thanks

I read that one, very informative.
I’m surprised no responce from other Bunny owners with carriers of Pasteurella. I have a carrier, and as I read on most likely my entire rabbit family is now a carrier, though just one shows symptoms and has reoccuring outbreaks.

[Sarita]

I imagine that most rabbit owners may not know if their rabbit has this particular bacteria or not unless they have had a culture done. It’s been a very long time since I’ve had a rabbit who culture positive for this but the culture also had quite a few different bacterias that we treated for. I imagine they would only test and treat if the rabbit was symptomatic.

The only treatment I can really remember was the nebulizer with Amakacin although I know we probably did the baytril as well but it was about 8 years ago so I cannot remember the various medications we ended up trying.

[Minty]

Can rabbits infected with pasteurella (and show symptoms) be housed near other healthy rabbits? I am slowly reading through the links to educate myself and there will probably be some info about this but wanted to ask if anyone has any personal experience.

[Minty]

Some of those articles are scary! Makes me fear for the health of my bunnies…

[Andi]

My Vet believes a very high % of rabbits are carriers without showing any sign.
My Carrier that shows signs lives with other bunnies, and all my bunnies interect, if I had known before I ‘may’ not have had him intereact with all the bunnies. Saying that, only two of my other bunnies have showed signs after being in contact with him, both were elderly and had health issues of their own. The two rabbits my carrier lives with are young and healthy and never showen any sign.
So yes, they can show signs and live with another rabbit, and if they had already been living togther, most likely both have it.

I want to know how regularly the tests for this are done? Are they expencive? And in the end with it coming positive really what can you do unless they are having symptoms?
If I get my whole herd tested, what’s the benifit?

[RabbitPam]

I just have one bunny, but I am pretty sure it was for this that my vet asked to do the test on her for it during her first baseline exam last year. It wasn’t required, but she said it would be good to know if she might have it since there were more around the country than there used to be. She does not have it.

[MimzMum]

I have a lop who has recurring nasal issues, but apparently does not have pasturella, despite appearing as if he did. He does test positive for something similar called branhamella, but not one antibiotic we’ve used on him has wiped it out completely. He’s also been xrayed and had tooth filings about every month this year to try and resolve the issue, but nothing…so I think we need to retest. I plan on bonding my three and don’t want them all to be sick.

[wendyzski]

Sorry I’m late!  I’ve been pretty sick myself – had a couple of rounds of lung infections complicated by asthma and then an allergic reaction to my last antibiotic….blech!  I suggested to my doc that I might have snuffles but that I’d bite her if she tested me.

So yes, I have a 5 yr old loppy muttbunny who was diagnosed with pasteurella multocida nearly 2 years ago.  I first took her in when she started sneezing and was starting to act a bit “off” – less social and active.   It proved resistant to several antibiotics.  Chloramphenicol worked okay but her symptoms came back within 2 weeks after stopping treatment.  We finally mostly beat it back with a combo treatment of oral sulfa drugs and nebulized amakacin.  She’s likely to have it chronically the rest of her life.

At this point, every month or so (a bit longer in summertime it seems) she’ll start sneezing a but more than usual.  I don’t bother her for the occasional ‘something in my nosie” sneeze but only if it’s getting worse or if I see bunny-boogers.  Then she gets put in the “stinky-box” – a large rubbermaid tub that I use for her nebulizer treatments.  She gets 2-3 treatments, one every other day, and she’s soon fine.

She is a rescue who was dumped in a city park and then spent nearly a year in the shelter system so who knows where she got it.

Feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions and I don’t turn up on here.  I’m at wendyz @ rcn and it’s a dot-com.

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