DURAPEN dosing questions?

[Hemond’sbunnies]

hello!
I am new to breeding. I am doing at home care, so please don’t suggest a vet, as bringing every rabbit to the vet when they are sick is not reasonable when breeding. For other breeders out there, I have a rabbit sneezing with discharge. He is quarantined. Others have been exposed so no sense in culling. Nobody else has showed symptoms. Wondering If an allergy turned into an infection. I am going to try durapen (fast acting penicillin). Wondering if anyone has dosing information and HOW LONG/ duration I should be giving It to him. 2.5 lb mini Rex

 

[majorv]

I understand your situation as we bred and showed rabbits for 8 years. If the discharge is anything other than clear then you know that only a culture test will show whether it’s the dreaded pasteurella or not.

We’ve always used the regular procaine pen g, but from what I found for Durapen 300,000 IU the dosage for 5lbs is .3mL given SQ, so you would give half that.

 

[Hemond’sbunnies]

How long did you give It for? I figure if It is Pasteurella someone else would be showing symptoms. Not sure. Going to try treating first as I don’t want to cull

 

[majorv]

Evidently you give it based on what your treating. One other source says .1cc per 2lbs for first dose and then .1cc per 4lbs afterward every other day for at least 7 days. You should probably give a probiotic with it to prevent gut issues.

 

[Hemond’sbunnies]

Yes using bene-bac! I’ve read so many different dosing information. Some say to give for a few days after you notice symptoms are gone. Only have done one dose so far.

 

[majorv]

Definitely don’t stop when symptoms stop or it will become resistant. If this doesn’t work you might consider a culture test before culling.

 

[Hemond’sbunnies]

Can the sinus drainage get worse to get the infection out? I noticed more drainage after two shots than I’ve seen ever. But sneezing is almost gone. Wondering if the infection is making its way out?

 

[majorv]

It can get temporarily worse before getting better. Watch the discharge color and amount