Runny Nose

[Misx0]

Hi,

I have another vet appointment booked for tomorrow morning, but I just wanted your thoughts on Charlee’s condition(upper resp. infection).

Background: Charlee had her first vet appointment around 8 weeks old in March, and everything was good. After that she did sneeze very rarely with no other symptoms-so I thought maybe she was sniffing some dust or something(she was always a little itchy, but the vet did not find any fleas or ear mites).

A little over 2 weeks ago I noticed Charlee had a clear-runny nose, appeared to be from both sides and was sneezing more-but no other symptoms(eating lots, drinking lots, lots of energy and pooping mounds). I booked a vet appointment for as soon as I could take her, the gave her trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole she’s been on it for almost 2 weeks(was suppose to be on it for 2 weeks, given twice daily) and I’m not really seeing much improvement. The runny nose or sneezing has never been consist and there are times where its not there and she seems fine/better but you’ll look later and its there again. You mite hear 4 or so sneezes a row a day or just one that’s it, but if your really close to her you can hear her breathing through her nose-not like she cant breathe just like a sniffing noise but its kind of consist-that has been the only thing “new/worse” since her last visit and that may have even improved the slightest bit.

I thought she should have responded a little to an antibiotic, even if it didn’t fix the infection..is that not correct in rabbits?
Is there something else that may be causing this that isn’t an infection?

I’ve done some research on the topic, but I’m still iffy on how rabbits are suppose to respond to antibiotics :S

[Sarita]

I would suggest a culture and sensitivity test to see what type of bacteria might be causing this and what type of antibiotics it is most sensitive to, if any.

[Misx0]

That’s what I thought the vet would have done in the beginning to find out what bacteria is hanging out in Charlee’s nose but she made it out like she doesn’t do that for rabbits. I just came back from the vet and I got a new antibiotic, banana flavoured enrofloxacin so I hope Charlee likes it better and responds to it! If she doesn’t I may look into another vet(I think there is only one other rabbit vet in my area). I hope this does fix it though, I’d really like to get her spayed. The vet also told me to cut back on Charlee’s pellets, I thought baby buns were suppose to get unlimited pellets until around 7months-1year because they are growing, but maybe I was wrong-she gained weight in the last 2 weeks anyway, shes now 2.69kg-haha maybe she is getting a little hefty

[Misx0]

I actually just found another vet that does house calls(as well as working out of a animal hospital), I emailed her to find out if she treats rabbits because that would be great. Charlee gets extremely stressed when I try to take her to the vet and then sulks in her condo when I bring her home, it would be great if the vet could come to her!

[Sarita]

That would be great but generally the mobile vets see cats and dogs only and does mainly vaccinations and stuff…

[Misx0]

The vet got back to me, she does treat rabbits. She refers to my current vet for surgeries and xrays and such though, since the animal hospital she works out of(though the 2 animal hospitals are owned by the same people) does not actual treat exotics. Its a nice option to have available if for some reason I can’t take Charlee to the animal hospital or such. She actually charges less than my current vet for an exam. So, if I think I need a second opinion on Charlee’s condition, I always have that option. She will take any samples she needs when she comes and have them tested so I would not need to bring Charlee into the animal hospital. I hoping Charlee responds to her new antibiotic though!

[Sarita]

How cool…I’m so jealous you have that option!

[Author]

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