Baytril causing GI stasis

[smith_jackie]

Okay, so my rabbit Monsoon is a 3 yr. old Flemish Giant. About 3 months ago, I took him to our vet for an upper respiratory infection. She started him on an antibiotic (I don’t remember the name of it exactly). He was okay when he was on it, but as soon as he was off, the sneeze started back up. So from there, we did a culture and it came back as a staph infection. We were put on 2.8 mL of baytril twice a day. After only 1 dose of that, he stopped eating and had diarrhea so we rushed him to the vet and he was treated for stasis. 

After he was all done and doing better, the vet wanted to start him up on baytril again. This time, we cut the dose down. First we did 1.4 mL once a day. Once he did fine with that, we did 1.4 mL twice a day. After 3 doses, he is back in stasis. 

Has anybody else had this problem with baytril? The vet keeps telling me she doesn’t know what is causing the stasis (because it could be stress, or from the infection) but it seems to me like the baytril is the thing causing it? His diet has never changed in the past 2.5 years I’ve had him and he lounges around my apartment all day so I can’t imagine him being stressed out.

If anyone has ever had this problem before, please let me know! I want his staph infection to get better, but I hate seeing him in stasis so much.

[Sarita]

Baytril is safe for rabbits however I imagine that some rabbits can be sensitive to it. I would however continue to give him the baytril if that is what the vet is advising – stopping and starting it again is not going to help with the infection and could make it worse. And in the meantime call and ask the vet is there is perhaps another rabbit safe antibiotic that will treat the staph infection since they did a culture and sensitivity test.

[smith_jackie]

Well, stopping and starting it is what I’m worried about and that’s basically what happened. Every time he goes into stasis, we stop it. So I had to go to the vet today to get some stasis meds and I asked about the baytril, and they told me to stop it. They also told me that there isn’t any other medication that can help the staph infection. Which means, once he’s out of stasis, they’ll want me to start up the baytril again and I’m thinking he will most likely go into stasis again. I just don’t want the one medication that can help the infection to become resistant because we keep stopping and starting. Do you know about how long it takes for a bunny to become resistant to a medication? Or does it depend on the bacteria?

[Sarita]

I have no idea – I think that would be a question for the vet though…

[Sarita]

Also can you continue it while syringe feeding and giving him the stasis meds? I would ask that as well. It’s probably what I would do myself anyway…but that is just me and what I would feel most comfortable doing which is why I would ask the vet that as well.

[smith_jackie]

Well, that’s what I was hoping to do. But the tech I spoke to said to just stop the baytril completely. Neither of my doctors was there today. So the doctor that the tech asked didn’t really know what was going on with my rabbit. I think I’ll just call tomorrow and try and talk to one of the doctors that knows about his case. 

[Sarita]

I agree, best to talk to the vet ;~)

[tobyluv]

When giving antibiotics to a rabbit, it’s also a good idea to give them a probiotic, like Bene-Bac. Maybe that would be helpful for Monsoon. Bene-Bac helps to keep their GI flora at a normal level. I hope that Monsoon will be better soon.

[jerseygirl]

Posted By smith_jackie on 7/11/2014 4:14 PM
Well, stopping and starting it is what I’m worried about and that’s basically what happened. Every time he goes into stasis, we stop it. So I had to go to the vet today to get some stasis meds and I asked about the baytril, and they told me to stop it. They also told me that there isn’t any other medication that can help the staph infection.Which means, once he’s out of stasis, they’ll want me to start up the baytril again and I’m thinking he will most likely go into stasis again. I just don’t want the one medication that can help the infection to become resistant because we keep stopping and starting. Do you know about how long it takes for a bunny to become resistant to a medication? Or does it depend on the bacteria?

That seems odd. Was a med sensitivity test done with the culture?
Bactrim and Chloramphenicol are supposed to be useful in treating Staph in rabbits.
If they want to stick with Baytril, what about the injectable form as an alternative?

[smith_jackie]

He was getting Bene-Bac, probiotic sprinkled on his food everyday, and the oxbow digestive support hay tablets to help, but….nontheless, he went into stasis again.

I’m not sure if a sensitivity test was done. At least there wasn’t one done to my knowledge. They did tell me there was other rabbit safe medication that they could use but they said that those usually cause even more GI problems. So I’m not really sure if he’d react the same way to those? Or if he’s just sensitive to the Baytril. I guess I should call and ask about the sensitivity test.

[Sarita]

I thought you mentioned a culture which should have a sensitivity test as well.

[smith_jackie]

I did a culture. Does it always have a sensitivity test along with it?

[Sarita]

That is my understanding – here is an article that I suggest you read on cultures:

http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/culture.html

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