Long-term antibiotics

[LBJ10]

Has anyone had any experience with giving antibiotics “long-term”?

Wooly has developed some nasal discharge again. We were hoping it was just his messed up eyelid causing a problem (and maybe it is). The nasal discharge suggests that the bacteria is taking over again. So the vet suggested we give Wooly the antibiotic that seemed to work before for 2 months this time. Has anyone ever had any luck with giving antibiotics long-term like that?

I’m just worried. Could his body start to become “dependent” on the antibiotics. Like the bacteria will just keep coming back unless he’s taking them? I want him to be better. He’s not really sick or anything. He still eats, drinks, poops, and plays. I guess he was a little less playful today, but he was sneezing a lot. The poor thing. I am terrified that this is going to be a chronic problem and it will never go away.

The vet is still reluctant to do a culture, which I understand. I know they are often times not helpful. I’m short on cash too, his medicine cost me $50 today.

[longhairmike]

we had Usako pretty much on antibiodics full time for the last year. keep in mind her lungs were CLEAR in an august x-ray. the cancer that killed her on saturday only appeared during the last 3 months, but i’m sure her immune system already being taxed to the limit allowed it to spread as fast as it did

do you have any antibac eye/nasal drops? did your vet mention possibility of pen-g shots?

[LBJ10]

It is all up in his sinuses. He gets better and then it comes back. We aren’t doing any drops since he is also on Benadryl. That is supposed to help dry things up. Honestly, we don’t know if his eyelid is part of the problem or not. It’s hard to tell. The vet thought perhaps the drainage was being obstructed a little bit, allowing bacteria to overgrow. That may not be what is really happening though. They said they couldn’t fix his eyelid though, so I guess there’s no way to see if that would solve the problem.

No mention of pen-g. Would that be the drastic next step?

Poor thing, he isn’t that old. He’s only 3. You wouldn’t think something like this would be a problem at his age.

[Dobby]

Personally, I would ask for the culture. I know it’s pricey but it could save money in the long run because it might tell you the most effective antibiotic to use. But I am always very hesitant to use antibiotics if I don’t know what actually needs to be treated. I know not everyone feels that way.

[LBJ10]

I have already gotten the antibiotic. So that part is a done deal. I don’t know. I guess I can give it to him and see what happens once we’re done. If the nasal discharge resurfaces, I can ask again about the culture.

I’m just so worried. All these stories of bunnies dying on here. I scares me. I don’t want him to keep getting worse. I was hoping someone has had a good experience with this where their bunny made a full recovery in the end. =(

[tanlover14]

Hey LBJ, not sure if you remember but Simba has a similar issue. I would talk to your vet about doing nasal flushes daily. They’re really not as bad as they sound and they take less than 2 minutes once you stop feeling terrible about it. Simba still has a lot of discharge but it has finally turned from white to clear.

I would definitely NOT do long-term antibiotics. Even if you do know the problem. It can cause them to become immune and will eventually (most likely) not work as the bacteria (if thats what it is) will become resistant. I would do less extensive measures to see if it helps. We are also getting a purifier in our room for him. I’ll let you know if this helps at all. Long-term antibiotics are not acceptable to me personally unless it’s measures that need to be taken to help them pass peacefully because there IS NO OTHER treatment.

[Dobby]

Just found this. Sounds like it might be relevant to all three of our guys…

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Rabbits-703/2011/8/rabbit-recurring-nasal-discharge.htm

[tanlover14]

HHAHAHAH. Dobby that is the SAME exact article I talked about with my vet

[LBJ10]

Should I do the round of antibiotics then? He has already been taking them for a few days. When I said long-term antibiotics, I didn’t mean forever. The vet thought perhaps he would need to take them for up to 2 months, then stop and see what happens.

Hmm, I thought about trying a nasal flush. Problem is, I don’t know how I would do them by myself. Wooly absolutely does not want anything touching his mouth. He will fight and fight and he is so difficult to restraint. Even the vet has had trouble keeping him still. And no, it has nothing to do with a tooth problem. He got a very thorough dental exam and the vet said his teeth were the best teeth they had seen in a long time.

[Sarita]

I would do as the vet advises. Sometimes it can take quite a bit longer for antibiotics to work.

[LBJ10]

Have you heard of that working before Sarita? A rabbit taking them, getting better, taking them again for a longer period of time, and then finally beating it?

[Sarita]

I have heard of many people who have had their rabbits on antibiotics for a month before they worked but not 2 months however I would not hesitate to try that if my vet advised it. I know that many times I have had my rabbits on one antibiotic and then switched when that did not work and that makes it a four week course.

I do wonder if you might have some success on pen-g shots as well that LHM suggested.

[LBJ10]

Alright, I will see how things go. I will talk to the vet about the pen-g and nasal flushing if there doesn’t seem to be improvement. Like I said, it is worrying. I trust the vet though. They have always done a good job.

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