Snuffles Question

[kaylyne28]

I’ve posted a little bit about my bun on here but I’ll give a quick recap. I adopted Ellie, my 10-12 week old mini lop in early November, and since I noticed that she was sneezing an awful lot. So I switched her hay and even soaked it to see if that would help, which I found out quite soon that it didn’t. I took her to the vet and she did just a physical exam on her and said that Ellie likely has pastuerella, which scared me being that I’m a first time bunny owner…The vet also flushed her ears with saline and a bunch of gunky stuff came out.

 I’m treating her with 0.2ml Baytril 2x daily and we’re on day 5. Her sneezing fits are reducing but she still has them and her nose is running an awful lot. She’s also sleeping a bit more than usual, but her appetite and poops look normal. Is it normal that she’s sleeping a bit more or should I be concerned? I’m also going out of the country for a few days and I’m terrified of leaving her with a pet sitter in case she worsens to add to my “mommy-guilt”. Should I be giving Ellie an immune support supplement in the mean time? My vet clinic isn’t open until tomorrow so I’m just quite nervous.

[Yilina]

Hi @kaylyne28,

Drugs/antibiotics have effects on people and so do in rabbits. I don’t have experience with pastuerella but I have read that, when rabbits need to take antibiotics, they should get some kind of immune supplement or vitamins to balance the effects. Maybe that’s why she is sleeping more? Anyway, I would take her to the about this.

Hugs,

[kaylyne28]

Update: No answer yet from my vet. I think I might start her on some Oxbow Immune Support…though I don’t know how much it’ll help seeing as she’s already sick…

[Yilina]

I hope she/he (the vet) will get back to you soon! I am not very much for self-medication, though, especially in such a young and sick bunny.

[kaylyne28]

Well I feel so guilty because she’s not getting better even with the antibiotics 2x a day. She’s still eating and pooping normally. She’s going to the vet tomorrow again so I’m keeping my finger crossed.

I’m just so frustrated and feel so guilty because it seems like the meds are doing nothing to help her and I just want her to feel better.

[Yilina]

Oh, sweetie! I am so sorry, I understand how you feel, it is frustrating to see someone suffering and not being able to do anything to relief that pain. I am sure the vet will know what to do. After all, antibiotics take a while to work and possibly it is all normal. Is it a vet specialised in exotics (rabbits)?

Hugs!

[kaylyne28]

Yes my vet has 20+ years of experience with exotics so hopefully she’ll be able to work out a plan of action to treat poor Ellie’s symptoms and if not I’ll get a 2nd opinion. Ellie’s on day 8/10 of .20ml Baytril (compounded oral) and there’s been Little to no improvement. Tonight she was so covered in boogers that I had to take a comb and get the matts it was making out which she did not enjoy.

Ellie still seems in good spirits and loves binkying and snuggles so I can rest assured knowing that she’s still living a happy life.

[12345ABCDE]

Don’t feel guilty, you’re doing everything you can! Sometimes it just takes a bit of time to find the right treatment so keep your spirits up, it will get better!

[VivaLaBunz]

Hello Kaylyne,

You are doing everything right. You are doing more than most people would with a sick bunny, most would not treat them at all and let them suffer it out. Luckily the people on this forum are much more compassionate such as yourself, which always makes me very happy to see. I have no experience with pastuerella, however there are a few bunnies at work who have been very sneezy with runny noses. During treatment their noses got much runnier – which you would think that means the sickness is getting worse – but really I think this means that all of the bacteria and build-up is finally being expelled out. They will sleep more because the medicine does make them a little tired. It is good to feed a pro-biotic an hour after the antibiotic dosage but actually rabbits tolerate antibiotics quite well and may not even need the probiotic as long as they are eating and drinking normally.

[kaylyne28]

I should have clarified a bit about the booger situation lol. Ellie had clear-white discharge before treatment and just yesterday I noticed huge yellowish mucus all over her face and paws.

Thank you all for your reassurance. With never having had experience with buns before I just feel like I need that reassurance to give her the best life I possibly can.

Ellie’s got an appt in a couple hours so I’ll ask my vet if she recccomends any additional supplements (immune booster or probiotic) but Ellie is definitely still acting totally normal apart from her sad little sneezing fits, massive amounts of boogers and sleeping a lot more. Are there any other questions I should be asking my vet that are of dire importance or that would be valuable??

[Kim]

Kay,

There is a lot of information out there on the bacterium. Follow your vets advice.

I just went through this with my bunny. I want to give you a few safety tips…

Always wash hands and sanitize after handling bunny to prevent disease spreading.

It can go into remission, it may return in the future.

keep his cage especially clean, including food and water dishes and any toys and blankets, sanitize if you can

Do Not handle bunny and have face to face contact, snuffles can be transferred to humans,

I know it sounds odd,,, but its true…I did just that without knowing, and ended up with pneumonia caused by the pastuerella bacterium..

Most of that sounds like conman sense and it is and you maybe doing it but its still good to be safe

[LittlePuffyTail]

How did the vet apt. go?

[kaylyne28]

It went pretty well. The infection is isolated to her ears and single nasal cavity now and she’s still able to breathe through it. The vet took swabs of the discharge in her ears and nose and looked at it under the microscope. She confirmed Pasteurella. No probiotics or immune support needed at this point.

3 weeks of 0.2ml Baytril oral 2x daily and Baytril ear drops 2x daily (which are stupidly expensive!!! Eep). My vet will call me every 4 days to check on Ellie and address any concerns I may have which I thought was awfully nice. They’ll also do a recheck and take swabs again on Boxing Day (Dec. 26th).
(ETA): I do keep her cage very clean and I wash everything down with antibacterial soap every 2ish days. Should I toss anything that can’t be washed? (Bendy bridge, wooden toys, etc)

[Kim]

I remember reading somewhere that they maybe able to be cleaned with vinegar, it may take a few days to dry out completely being wood and Ellie may not want to play with them afterwards. I have not personally tried it.

Glad to hear you keep her cage clean.. Most bunny owners do.

[Yilina]

That’s great, sweetie, you both are lucky to have such attentive and professional vet! She is good hands and you are doing everything possible, let us know how she is feeling in the next days .

 

Hugs,

Elena

[kaylyne28]

Update!! Ellie is doing a bit better. I’ve been keeping up with the antibiotics and ear drops 2x daily. She was really good for my pet sitter so that makes me feel a bit less guilty about leaving while she’s sick. She still has a LOT of nasal discharge though… it’s no longer yellow and has turned back to a white/clear but my goodness she’s just a boogery mess!

[kaylyne28]

Snuffles ?!?!? Well my vet isn’t so sure anymore?? She took swabs again and sent them off to the University animal hospital for testing. Ellie really only improved ever so slightly while on the baytril and now that we’ve stopped the antibiotics she’s back to being just as bad as she was before.

I’m just praying that we can get this under control It just absolutely breaks my heart to see her sneezing fits and wheezing and know that I can’t do anything about it except for wait for the results to come back.

[Yilina]

Poor baby! Sending healing vibes to her!

[kaylyne28]

So after hearing back from the vet college, Ellie definitely has Pasteurella and the Baytril isn’t even remotely helping. So tomorrow we’re off to the vet yet again and my vet wants to try penicillin injections…. I just wish my poor baby bun wasn’t so poorly

I want her to live a long happy life and it pains me that she might not get to have it if we can’t get this under control

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