Anyone know immune-boosting meds for buns?

[Bunny House]

Hey,
So penelope(lop) always get ear infections and UTIs. She doesn’t eat anything with calcium to cause the UTIs and she’s always had low white counts so we are thinking of doing an immunosuppressant to help get her immune system up so she can not get those infections so often. We’ve looked at everything in her diet and nothing causes the UTIs and then we’ll, she’s a lop so she gets really bad ear infections. The only way to slow down the infections is to remove the ear canals but even that won’t completely stop them. We will do multiple ear flushes a week for the rest of her life to try and keep the infections down but has anyone used immunosuppressants before? I’ve tried doing some research and the vet( very busy) is trying to do some too.
Poor thing is always in pain.

[Wick & Fable]

I’m sorry to hear about your struggles.

What is the logic behind finding immunosuppressants? To force her body to try and strengthen the immine system? Usually we talk about immuno-boosting drugs to help fight against infections. Immunosupression is usually used to purposely “chill” the system so it’s more accepting of necessary foreign bodies, like a new organ or implant.

That being said, I don’t know of any for rabbits and do not have experience unfortunately. In terms of immuno-boosting, a varied diet adds general exposure to diversity which can boost immune system bacterially and possibly psychologically. I’ll let you know if I find anything else!

The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.

[Wick & Fable]

Has she ever gotten an x-ray or more general health checks? Sometimes immune systems can be chronically suppressed due to an underlying condition. We had a user in the past whose rabbit was plagued with bacterial fur loss, despite treatment. It was later found there was a tumor on the liver, constantly straining the immune system and therefore making it a reoccurring problem.

The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.

[Bunny House]

I thought it was immunodepressent… my bad.

Oh yeah, she’s had the works done on her. Ever since I first got her she was low on white so I think it’s something genetic so we want to try and help her so she doesn’t get sick all the time.

Huh, that’s interesting about the liver situation. Maybe she has a low functioning bone marrow since that’s what makes the white cells…. good idea! I’ll mention it to the vet and see if that sparks any idea.thank you! Keep me updated if you find anything else wick, please!

[jerseygirl]

There are rabbit safe herbs/herb products that could boost the immune system.
Echinacea, the flower as is. Or for more potency use a powder or liquid tonic.
The 2 buns that I want to have this actually eat the powder that I take out if a capsule. It comes out compacted like a pellet.

Rosehips or rosehip powder. I have the powder and give it to the dog and rabbits.

Probiotics for the gut which will aid the overall health.

In the book “Rabbit health on the 21st century” it suggests the herb uva ursi being suitable for urinary health. This is also known as bearberry.
I once found bearberry tea and give just the leaves to the rabbits. I also brewed the tea and gave that once cooled.
I cannot say if it helped or not.

What do you use to flush her ears? Is it wax build up she gets?
I know LPT had a lot of issues with Bindi’s ears so she may have some suggestions there.

I’d personally add a bit of grapefruit seed extract (GSE) to the wash.

I don’t know if any medications that would aid the white cell count. Hopefully your vet will find something.
Was she ever treated with panacur (fenbendazole), oxybendazole or albendazole ?

[Bunny House]

Thank you Jerseygirl! I will look into those things and see what the vet says but I might get her started on them this weekend.

She wasn’t treated with any of those meds. Do those lower the immune system? I know those are for EC.

As for the flush, I haven’t used it yet, I will need to get a prescription for it but it’s for the wax buildup which leads to her ears getting swollen shut with bacteria since they can’t air out like normal buns can.

I’m gonna get her ears packed with some meds tonight(something like tkt or something since she already has some ear infection developing)

[LBJ10]

For the ears, would an ear wash work? I’ve used Oti-Clens for Wooly before… and Leopold too. Wooly doesn’t really get ear infections, his one ear just doesn’t drain right so it will fill with wax. The vet will always clean it out whenever he is there for an appointment.

I have also used Otomax, which does contain a steroid (also has an antibiotic and an antifungal in it). As you know, steroids should be used with caution in rabbits. Topical steroids are not as bad, but they still have the potential to prolong healing. Personally, I have never had any issues with topical steroids. Wooly has used Otomax and steroid eye drops in the past.

[Bunny House]

LBJ10 I haven’t heard of those meds before for the ears. I know as soon as her infection “clears” up it come right back. So basically it’s never gone.

I’ll look into Oti-clens and see what she says about it. Penelope tends to have fungus grow in her ears too so it’s harder to treat since it’s resilient. We’ve don’t TMS before and it worked but it was a steroid, but it was topical. And the bacteria she has doesnt die with Enro and pen g doesn’t work either. But I know the ear infections stay in the ear and don’t spread so topical meds are the safest I think to go with.
Thank you for the help!

[jerseygirl]

Fun fact: Oti-clens has simethicone in it! I just looked it up. I guess that help lubricate stuff and get wax out.

[jerseygirl]

Posted By Bunny House on 9/14/2018 11:59 AM

Thank you Jerseygirl! I will look into those things and see what the vet says but I might get her started on them this weekend.

She wasn’t treated with any of those meds. Do those lower the immune system? I know those are for EC.

As for the flush, I haven’t used it yet, I will need to get a prescription for it but it’s for the wax buildup which leads to her ears getting swollen shut with bacteria since they can’t air out like normal buns can.

I’m gonna get her ears packed with some meds tonight(something like tkt or something since she already has some ear infection developing)

Sorry, I forgot to answer your question. There is a caution in using that family of meds, but fenbendazole is regarded as the safest. It’s when used for prolonged length of time that can cause some more serious side effects like bone marrow supression. It is why for EC, the dose range is limited to 28 days. Some vets will do a blood check even 2 weeks in to check there are no adverse effects

ETA: I was just skim-reading over article on pasteurellosis and the was big emphasis on lowering environmental stress to keep immune healthy. It also touched on inappropriate foods that can interfere with normal digestive system, causes bodily stress and stress leads to immune suppression. Carbs, starchy foods, yogurt, grains. It mentioned seeds and nuts too. (Ive been feeding one of mine almonds  Im going to stop that).

Vet interview for article prescribes these immune-boosting aids:

The most common herbal tinctures I prescribe for immune boosting are plantain and echinacea. Supplements include the fatty-acid supplement red palm fruit oil, vitamins made for rabbits, and DMG (N, N dimethylglycine). If the disease has affected organs, I frequently prescribe the Chinese herb rehmannia for kidney involvement or milk thistle for liver involvement.  

source: http://www.houserabbitga.com/pasteurella-rabbits

​

The red palm fruit oil triggered a memory. I remember seeing something about it as part of a vet journal article. Maybe your vet could find out more?

[Q8bunny]

I’ve had very good results with echinacea (fresh or dry or powdered out of tea bags and mooshed into a bit of banana).

I’ve also used dandelion, elderflower, and goldenseal in the past. But echinacea is my go-to near daily supplement.

[Bunny House]

Jerseygirl, huh imagine that! Never knew simethicone could be used for something else!
And she does have pasturella since she always had a wet nose and get the sneezes periodically, sometimes itl be better but she will always have it. I know her diet is all veggies and hay but I’ll look into bad foods for pasturella buns.

I will definitely see if my vet can look at that article and see what she thinks! I will start all the buns on the items you mentioned previously and see if they even like them haha. Thank you so much!!

Q8bunny, I will definitely try and find echinacea near me! Thank you!

[jerseygirl]

Oh I didn’t realise she had pasteurella symptoms! I had just looked at that article because those rabbits often need the supportive care to help prevent flare-ups. You will hopefully find a lot of useful information in the link then. : )

[Bunny House]

I totally forget to mention it in the original post, so I’m glad you mentioned it!

[LBJ10]

Yes, the Oti-Clens contains simethicone. It also contains ingredients that help dry things out inside the ear. This is good because bacteria and fungus like moist conditions. You just have to be careful not to get it in the eyes because it can burn. I’ve had fairly good luck with it though. Basically you just put a few drops inside the ear, massage it, and then stuff comes out when bunny shakes their head afterward. The vet has even experimented with mixing an antibiotic right into the bottle (usually Baytril).

The Otomax has helped a lot with swelling. I don’t know if you have that issue. When Wooly has his ear cleaned by the vet, he will often have swelling afterward. The Otomax makes it so things don’t swell after the cleaning.

[Bunny House]

LBJ10, yeah she really needs something to dry out those floppy ears. You get Otomax from the vet right? Penelope has a lot of swelling all the time from the infection, her right one is still swollen shut after months of treatment so she deaf in one ear:

[LBJ10]

Yes, it comes from the vet.

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