Bacterial Infection

[Jack and Noggin]

We adopted Jack from a rescue organization about 2 weeks ago. He never seemed quite right to me but I thought maybe it was the stress of the relocation. He’s very smart and happy and enjoys being right there with you – no matter what you are doing. But he has these times where he’ll just hunch into his bunny ball, with his eyes half closed, and zone out. I thought, maybe he was elderly, his moods seemed a lot like an old bunny, rather than a 2 year old. Then I started noticing a little white discharge from his nose and made a vet appointment. Turns out, he has a bacterial infection caused by clostridium. He’s very bloated and, though he’s eating a bunch and pooping, the vet said he’s in GI distress. 

The vet gave him fluids under the skin on his back and also sent me home with three antibiotics to give orally twice a day, one antibiotic to drip in his eyes twice per day and an anti-inflammatory to give orally once per day. He also needs to have Oxbow critical care formula 3 times per day (30-40 cc’s eat time) for the next 4-5 days to flush his system. 

I’ve never had a sick bunny – ever. And I’ve had bunnies all my life. Does this all seem normal? I went to a great rabbit vet (recommended by the house rabbit society) so I trust him but, is this GI upset and gunky nose from stress, or genetics or was this something he’s had for a while? I have no idea and neither does the vet. 

I guess I’m kind of like WTH ’cause I brought Jack in for a runny nose and that wasn’t even what the vet was most concerned about. But Jack eats – A LOT. He LOVES his hay. He drinks water and gobbles up his pellets. Finding out that he has raging internal upset was fairly surprising. 

I guess, moreover, I just want some confirmation that he’ll be okay and all this treatment is normal. And if there is anything else that I can do for him. 

[Sarita]

Yes very normal. Clostridium is very painful and I’ve had a rabbit diagnosed with this – how he got it I don’t know…

[Jack and Noggin]

Is there anything I should do for Noggin (Jack’s girlfriend) or the rest of the family so that we don’t get it as well?

[Sarita]

No, I would not worry – it’s not contagious.

[jerseygirl]

{{{Vibes}}} for Jack!

It’s great he’s eating well. You might have success with the critical care by mixing it thickly and giving in a bowl. Or is it only for if he stops eating?

What antibiotics were given?
I hope he’s cooperative taking his meds. Good luck!

[Jack and Noggin]

It totally can be contagious. The bacteria is a spore that spreads like crazy – it’s just it doesn’t typically make people (or animals) sick unless they took a course of antibiotics or they have a weakened immune system, are elderly or are stressed. The spore is spread through fecal to oral contact so bunnies that munch on hay in the litter box together would get the bacteria as well. As long as there is no cause for it to flourish, the bunny would be fine usually.

Funny thing, I had c. diff when I was 17. I was crazy sick. I called my dad tonight to tell him about Jack and he told me that was the same bacterial infection I had. It was pretty awful and I took a long time to recover but I’ve never had issues again, hopefully the same will go for Jack.

I’m supposed to do the 30-40 cc’s of critical care three times per day along with his normal pellets and hay. I guess the vet wants to super change Jack’s system and flush out the bacteria.

I’ll have to look in the morning and see what the antibiotics are called. I don’t have them handy right now.

[Author]

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