Big problem – myxomatosis

[X]

Hello everyone!
I have a serious problem with one of my rabbits.
He has 7 years and he has myxomatosis symptoms for 6 days. Right Now, he has swollen eyelids and discharge both from the eyes and nose. The myxoms are not big but there are on the ears and on the nose and the testicles are seriously swollen too.
However, the rabbit is eating well, he drinks water and is active. I know that the disease is usually lethal and in here the vets cannot help him in any way, unfortunately. I refused to believe that i can’t do something to support his organism, so there are 4 days since i give him daily enroxil (enrofloxacin) + vitamins oral. I also put methylene blue on the affected places.
I found a spray with oxytetracycline hydrocloride and hydrocortisone, do you think is it suitable for him to put on the wounds? I would try It, maybe it has a stronger effect.
Should I do something else for him in order to protect him from other infections? To use some other medicine?
Thank you for your time!

[Bam]

Thank you for trying to save your bun. Myxomatosis have been known to be survived if the bun gets good supportive care. I can understand how no vet would admit him into their clinic though.

If you could get him sub q fluids (the gear can be bought in some countries but not in other), slightly warmed up, that could perhaps help him. We have members that have given sub Q fluids to their buns, if they see the thread they could help instruct you.

I’d not put hydrocortisone on a bun because they’re so super-sensitive to cortisone. It could be ok in this case but you don’t want to risk anything. Fucidine cream can be used on bunny wounds. I don’t suppose your in a country where triple antibiotic ointment is available, but otherwise that’s fine too. For swelling and inflammation and pain Metacam would be good, but that’s prescription only everywhere I’m afraid.

It’s great that he’s eating and drinking. Please keep us updated.

[X]

Thank you very much for your advice!
The most stupid part is that i leave tomorrow for a business trip and the situation is so awful in this moment…
I am going to buy fucidine and put it on the wounds after i dezinfect them with methylene blue.
How many days should i keep the enrofloxacin treatment? Tomorrow i make 5 days.
Unfortunately, the vet pharmacy is closed on sunday. I will go to the human one to get a medicine based on meloxicam instead of buying metacam.
And the sub Q fluids, do they contain glucose? I’m sorry but i don’t know what I need to look for exactly. In here they don’t let you to buy perfusion without having certain permission.

[Sofia]

No clue about anything here, do hope your bun ends up ok ♡♡

[Bam]

I think you should keep up the enroflixacine for quite some time, at least 10-14 days. As you seem aware, a big risk is that the rabbit gets some opportunistic infection that it can’t handle at the same time as the myxo. My bun had 14 days on antibiotics for a lower respiratory infection and there are buns with pasteurella that get even longer courses of antibiotics.

Meloxicam is the substance name, so it’s of course the same thing only tge dosage would be very different for a rabbit. Dosages for a lot of rabbit safe meds can be found here: http://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Common_drug_dosages_for_rabbits

As for fluids, I’ve sent an alert to the other forum leaders. I know that several of them have administered fluids at home. You would need a canula and a (rather big) syringe to distribute it, and in many countries you can’t buy that without a prescription. If the bunny is drinking and the pee looks good (not too dark) fluids is not needed. But it’s good to have the possibility to give it if it’s needed.

[X]

For the I’m with Boo user, thanks for the good vibes, i hope that too but the reality is tough sometimes…

Ok, Bam, I will keep the enrofloxacin for 2 weeks in this case. I’m not allowed to buy canulas in here, just the syringe. However, I am going tomorrow to a human pharmacy and maybe I can get some fluids and a bigger syringe, at least to try. Should I buy Ringer solution for the perfusion? Or just a NaCl one?

[Bunny House]

You need to be careful buying human fluids because the concentration of the fluids is not the same for animals as it is for humans so it can cause cells to swell and burst or shrink and die off. You really need a vet to give you a bag of fluids as the osmosis concentration will be safe for the bun.

[X]

I totally believe you, but I am in a moment when no vet can practically help me. I remember the Ringer doze because I used it this year for my chinchilla. But I want to know if it’s suitable for the bun or not.

[Bam]

Both lactate ringer glucose and saline are used in rabbits, but I regret to say I have no idea about concentration or which type of fluids suits your needs.
http://azeah.com/rabbits/giving-fluids

[X]

I will study this thing until tomorrow and i will see. Thank you again for everything!

[Bam]

This article could perhaps be of help. It says for subacute patients, lactate ringer or 0.9% saline that may include up to 5% dextrose is suitable:
http://www.avianexoticvetcare.com/downloads/Ferret-Rabbit-and-Rodent-Critical-Care-from-SAEPM-1994.pdf

[Bunny House]

I know, you must be so stressed. Have you tried to syringe feed water?

[Q8bunny]

I was trained to administer the sub-q fluids, and had the equipment from my vet in Kuwait, but the solution pack was prescribed specifically for my bun, and I never needed to use them (thank goodness – it was simply part of my first aid kit). So all I can do is send lots of vibes for your brave fighter of a bunny. (((((((((Bun bun)))))))))

[X]

Thank you all for the advice and the good vibes!
The good part is that he is eating and drinking well so I still have hope. For the moment I won’t put him any type of perfusion, he’s stable. I give him daily enroxil + meloxicam + vitamins and we’ll see what the near future brings us.
I’ve also put Fucidin and methylene blue (to dezinfect) on the eruptions.
He eats the best food possible, his favourite one.
I’ll keep you in touch.

[Bunny House]

Be careful of meloxicam for long periods of time as it can cause kidney and liver damage but I’m so glad he’s doing better!

[Sofia]

Any updates?

[Azerane]

Hello, I hope your bun is doing well. I have heard of rabbits pulling through but it is not common, probably because the most common cause of action is not to try and nurse them through it because it is such a terrible illness. Something I was told though was to watch out for pneumonia as a secondary infection once the myxomatosis has nearly run it’s course.

[X]

Myxomatosis is a cruel disease that doesn’t forgive… The rabbit died, unfortunately. Even though he was looking better and he started to breathe normally and he was eating… the eruptions started to calm down also.
But no, he didn’t survive.
And today the other rabbit i had, a lion head, died too. Big loss and hard time, I also had a very unlucky accident with some other 2 of my animals due to some idiot neighbours in the area…
One of the worst weeks possible.

I want to thank you for your advice and good vibes and I hope that your fluffy friends will be healthy and will have a better faith.
Take care of you all!

[Bunny House]

I’m so sorry for your loss. You can always post in rainbow bridge if it helps you feel better.

(((( Binky free little one))))

[LittlePuffyTail]

I’m so very sorry.

((((((Binky Free Bunnies)))))

[Azerane]

I’m very sorry for your loss.

[Q8bunny]

That is so sad to hear…

You are right. Myxo is a cruel disease. (((Binky free, bunbuns.)))

[Sofia]

Devastating news hope you are all right.. So sorry that this happened and hopefully things start to get better for you soon

[Author]

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