Snorting (UPDATE: 9/6/13)

[LBJ10]

As you know, Wooly had a URI. The vet said we had caught it early and sent us home with some antibiotics. We finished the antibiotics, although sometimes I wasn’t sure how much actually made it into his mouth. Especially toward the end when he had become wise me. Since the antibiotics were finished, Wooly has not let me groom him. He thinks I’m going to give him medicine again. *sigh* I imagine I will get him sooner or later. He’s just holding a grudge right now.

Anyway, every once in awhile, he will make a snort sound. It is almost as if there is something still in his sinuses. I have noticed that he does it when I bring them their salad. He will sniff it, let out a little snort, and then start eating. I have also heard him sneeze a couple of times. Keep in mind that there is no nasal discharge at all. His nose is dry. He is otherwise acting normal. Should I be worried? Or could it just be some “leftover” congestion that will continue to clear up?

[jerseygirl]

If you saw the antibiotics helped before, I’d consider
seeing if you can pick up a repeat and do another round. (Sorry Wooly!)
Infectious agents can get trapped in pockets in the nasal passages and be bit stubborn to clear up.

[LBJ10]

His nose stopped running after the antibiotics, so yeah they helped.

[LBJ10]

Hmm, I wonder if there is a shot the vet could give him. I will have to call tomorrow and ask what they recommend. I just worry I wouldn’t be able to get a whole new round of antibiotics in his mouth. He was squirming so much toward the end and actually spitting it back out.

[LBJ10]

Okay, so I’m going to try giving him some more antibiotics orally first. Oh dear. This isn’t going to be fun. Any ideas on how to hold him still? I try to burrito him myself, but he still wiggles somehow when I try getting the medicine in his mouth. Maybe I could “sit” on him? LOL

Once he realizes he is being medicated, he will refuse to be caught too. I thought about setting up a “hospital” cage for him (a small one that he can’t hide from me in), but then he wouldn’t be with Leopold. Thoughts?

[LBJ10]

Hmm, sure is quiet around here.

Anyway, “sitting” on him seemed to work pretty good. I got some in his mouth. Not sure how well it will continue to work though. Any ideas on how to keep him “handy”? Once he is wise to me, he will do anything to avoid being caught.

[manic_muncher]

I think setting up a hospital cage is a good idea. At least then you wouldn’t be stressing yourself (or Wooly!) by having to hunt him down. Maybe set it up right beside Leopold, where they can still see each other? Perhaps even passing things back and forth with their scent on it for soothing each other?

[jerseygirl]

If its baytril, there is injectable kind but then you’d be having to jab him!

Not sure what you meant by sitting on him lol but there’s that technique Elrohwen has mentioned a few times. Sit on your knees facing the wall and secure bun between them. Syringe into side of mouth.

I often sit in chair and bring my legs up so they’re secured between my chest and legs. I can hold head steady enough to give meds this way. Most recent with Jersey, I found she fought less after frequent meds. I guess I gave off a no-nonsense vibe after a while. And she learnt the sooner it’s fine, the sooner she’d get a treat and pets. Even got some tooth purrs from her after!!

ETA: covering their eyes sometimes helps.

[Elrohwen]

Jersey beat me to it – I was just going to mention sitting on him. lol Well, not really sitting on him, but sort of. The bonus is that you don’t have to pick them up and take them to a new area, just grab hold of them once.

To keep him from spitting it out, make sure you get the syringe far enough back, and go very slowly. If he stops licking and chewing for a second, stop, because he’s probably just letting it fill up his mouth. If he’s chewing/licking, then it’s going down.

[Baxter n Boos Mom]

My buns hate to be picked up – and take off when they sense I’m going to pick them up. So I’ve started using an Xpen to block their getaway paths….then move the Xpen again, as they corner themselves. Once they’re cornered, they give up pretty easily.

I used a dropper to feed my bun medicine when he had gas – and noticed he bit a whole in the dropper 🙂 He now realizes that it tastes sweet – so doesn’t fight me as much. Such a naughty bun.

[LBJ10]

Yes, that is what I have been doing. He tries to back up, but then finds himself at the end of the line (where my feet are). I will keep trying this for now and if it becomes difficult to get him, I will break out the “hospital” cage.

[LBJ10]

UPDATE:

We were at the vet AGAIN today. I think the vet is just as frustrated as I am. I now have a different antibiotic to use. You only give it once per day instead of twice. It is still oral though.
We are also going to add some children’s benedryl to the water to help dry up his sinuses. The vet said it was okay if Leopold drank the water too.
Leopold still seems fine, no sign of a runny nose or sneezing.

[tanlover14]

I just had to comment….

You said he was randomly snorting just before he’d eat? So odd, Simba did this right before he flew into a URI also…. But when I mentioned this weird odd snorting noise to everyone around me, they all thought I was being overly cautious! If he’s still doing it I would still be concerned, LBJ! A month after I began noticing the noise we came out to him sneezing with mucous all over his nose. I knew right then I was never going to go back on my own gut about these things!

[LBJ10]

He was snorting when he was sniffing his food, yes. Since I originally posted this thread, he was getting better with using the same antibiotic as the first time. This had started to get worse again though, so the vet has now given me a different antibiotic. *sigh* Wooly is really going to hate me for a long time after all of this nonsense.

I agree tanlover, you need to go with your gut a lot of the time. Or at the very least, overly worry and take them to the vet. LOL

[tanlover14]

Sending lots of vibes for you both! Sick buns are so stressful!

[LBJ10]

Thanks! I’m hoping he will get better this time. It worries me, I don’t want him to progress to something worse. Right now, the vet says it is still just in his sinuses. She couldn’t hear anything in his lungs and his ears look okay.

Question about the Benadryl. I pre-mixed it with water in a pitcher. I’m keeping it in the refrigerator. Is this okay? I want to be able to do refills without having to mix it up all the time.

[jerseygirl]

What about asking vet about a flush? That might help remove build up or if there’s an obstruction maybe(????)

[LBJ10]

Hmm, I hadn’t thought of that. I suppose I can call and ask if he doesn’t sound better by Monday.

[tanlover14]

Oh yeah, definitely ask about a flush. When they flushed Nora’s nose a ton of gunk came flying right out they said.

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