Sick Bunny

[candice c]

Hi, I have a baby bunny named Tia that is about  months old and is very active and is growing fast.

The issue is that she apparently had the snuffles and I was given a sulpha antibiotic.  She did not improve on that antibiotic, so then they switched her to the strongest one that they had, now this has gone on for about  weeks of her on medicine.

She has sores all over her nose and has a white discharge that looks like pus.  The sores are large and have taken up both sides of the top of her nose.  They look very sore and are hard and crusted with debris.  She is still sneezing and cleaning her nose, she also breaths very loudly because i think it is blocking her ability to breath normally.  The vets do not know what is going on and they said they would have to research the issue.  I have thought that maybe she has some type of bacterium, or perhasp she has syphllis sores.

Just wondering if anyone has thoughts on what this could be, or what i could do at home to help her.

[BinkyBunny]

Welcome!  (now your entered into the drawing twice)

I am so sorry about what’s happening to your bunny.   Obviously what I say cannot supersede an experienced vet’s advice,
but I can tell you that my first bunny, Forrest,(he was a baby too) had syphilis, aka: vent disease. 
And had similar symptoms, the sores with pus, the scabbing.  But it was not so bad that it blocked breathing, but I can see where it could if it spread to inside.

Check your bunny’s genitals.  I know with Forrest it was on both.   Usually it’s on both areas because of a bunny’s cleaning
routine.

They treated him with three injections spread throughout a few weeks.

But before they diagnosed it as syphilis, the same thing happened with my
vet,  and he was rabbit savvy too,  so after researching, and I found
out about syphilis, I brought it to his attention, and it was like a light bulb
went on, and he agreed that it could be it. 

Well, the shots worked and it went away!

So, I have NO idea if that is what is wrong with your bunny, but it would be
worth mentioning to your vet.  Please keep us updated as I also would like to know what they come up with, and I wish the best for your bunny.

[Deleted User]

Oh dear, I am very sorry to hear about that! This a great site with a ton of medical info:

http://homepage.mac.com/mattocks/morfz/rabrefs.html#syphilis

They have a link to pictures:

http://homepage.mac.com/exoticdvm/mammal/PhotoAlbum72.html

 They also list treatments so I would suggest printing it out and taking it to the vet too. Maybe they can do a phone consult as well with one of the vets that wrote the articles.

[candice c]

Thanks for your advice, I brought up the idea of syphilis, and he was not sure at the time, but i will bring it up to him again.
I’ll keep you posted

[Anita Stark]

Hi Candice

How is Tia doing?  I hope all turned out well. 

Please let us know.

[BinkyBunny]

Yes, we definitely want to know how he’s doing. (Thanks Anistark!)  I’ve been curious and hopeful that he is getting better.

[Author]

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