Echinacea for runny nose

[Miap14]

Hi all, I have two 5 month old girls that have been battling a runny nose. When I first noticed it I took them straight to the vet. She gave them 14 days of Baytril(twice a day) along with a probiotic twice a day. We went back to the vet for a follow up on day 14 and nothing had changed. She then prescribed 10 days of Sulfamethoxazole & Trimethoprim (also twice a day) and still on a probiotic. She also did a culture which she said came back with normal respiratory flora and very rare gram positive cocci which she said could be rare since they are on the antibiotic and it is probably going away. I also cultured it at work and it grew a rare Staph Aureus which is probably the cocci they found. We are set to go back in 3 days for a follow up. Throughout the whole time they have eaten fine, played the same, still drinking. Nothing seems to be any different than before they had runny noses except I have heard them sneeze just a couple times.

My questions are:

1. Can a rabbit have a viral infection since it doesn’t seem to be bacterial?

2. Can this be caused by something else in their living environment?

3. Does anyone have experience with Echinacea and how much to give? I have read this can be very effective for runny noses. They each weigh about 1 pound.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I’m at a loss

[Q8bunny]

I feed my bun echinacea at least once a week to boost his immune system. He had a runny nose/sneezies and I feel the Baytril didn’t really make a difference until my dad told me to try also giving him echi. Since then: no reoccurrences. It doesn’t harm them in any way, so fresh, dried (like for tea, for instance) or tablets (just aim for oganic to avoid fillers as much as possible).

[vanessa]

https://riseandshinerabbitry.com/2012/06/09/medicinal-herbs-for-rabbits/
They use “4 capsules” in a gallon of drinking water.

Oxbow Natural Science Immune support includes 9mg of goldenseal per hay tablet, and recommends 1/2 tab;et per day for bunnies 1/4 to 1lb, 1 tab let for 1-4lb, and 2 tablets for 4+lb.

I use their immune support tablets for my E.C. bunny. Sometimes I make the tablets myself, and I give him 36mg per day – of the echinacea/goldenseal capsules. My bunny weigs 4.4lb.

I haven’t found a dose for rabbits. Not even the human doses are standard. Medical forums have doses for immune support, cold attack, and all sorts of purposes. So honestly – I take the dose for immune support for humans, X-mg for a 180lb male, divide by 180, and multiply by my rabbit’s weight, to scale down the “regular” human dose, to the appropriate amount for my bunny’s weight.

This same bunny has weepy eyes. Copnstantly. I tried antibiotics, different hay, air cleaner,hepa filter, allergy medicine, and the est thing was his pal grooming his eye, and second best, me grooming his eye. The cozier they are, the more she grooms his face, the better his eyes loo. When she “slacks” in her groomng duties, his weepiness becomes evident. He has his teeth filed twice a year, so I honestly don’t know wha tcauses it. Just that grooming helps tremendousely.

[jerseygirl]

1. Can a rabbit have a viral infection since it doesn’t seem to be bacterial?

If not bacterial, it would more likely be fungal or environmental, IMO. Bacterial infection can be stubborn though. Often they require a minimum of 4 weeks on antibiotics. Sometimes in a dual antibiotics or more then one mode of delivery. i.e. Injected and oral or nebulised. From what Im reading, that species of bacteria is often is found in upper resp. tract. Did you find it in numbers that would indicate it causing disease?
btw, very cool you were able to culture this yourself!!

2. Can this be caused by something else in their living environment?

Often wood products can cause runny noses for some rabbits. Particularly dusty hay may trigger some resp. ailments too though you’d likely see more sneezing with that.

Mold, either in hay/feed or household in general.
Ive even heard of a rabbit being sensitive to carpet. It was causing some sneezing. Whether it was a protectant used on the carpet or the fibre itself, I don’t know.
Room deodorisers could cause some resp. distress for some also.

3. Does anyone have experience with Echinacea and how much to give? I have read this can be very effective for runny noses. They each weigh about 1 pound

I don’t know of any particular dosages. Ive read of owners sprinkling some of the contents of a capsule over their rabbits food, or adding the liquid version to the water. There’s also grapefruit seed extract that might be worth a go.

[Miap14]

Thank you all for taking the time to respond! Y’all are full of great information! I bought some Echinacea tablets but I’ve been so scared to try them. I think I’m going to start them though. I feel better after reading your responses. I keep thinking it may be an allergy and the vet mentioned this too, so we will discuss that when we go back.

Jerseygirl: I read the same thing about Staph and respiratory tracts. It wasn’t a large amount but I was unsure about the amount that would cause disease in bunnies since I always test human samples. According to the vet Staph aureus causes more problems to humans than in bunnies. She didn’t seem very concerned but I was because I know the harm it does to humans lol I just took her word for it! It’s very convenient being able to test at my work! the culture they took seemed to have more normal flora so the staph may be going away with the antibiotics they are on!

[jerseygirl]

If it is S. Aureus causing symptoms, chloramphenicol is another antibiotic that may be effective against it. Thought the 2 they’ve been on should have been also.. If you saw zero change in symptoms, Im with you in thinking it’s a not bacterial cause.

[Author]

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