PLEASE HELP unwell bunny :(

[OliveJacquier]

Hiya I joined this forum i need some desperate advice!

My little girl Olive has a big red swollen nose!
since we got her she has sneezed alot this was about 2 and a half months ago, we thought she may just have allergies because she is always energetic and seems happy. We went to the vet but they werent too sure what is was as they didnt really specialized in rabbits they gave us anti biotic cream which we have been applying 3 times a day for 3 days now and it has shown no improvement please send your ideas on what it may be and what we could do! Im trying to get her into a rabbit specialist but they are quite booked up!

Besides her big red swollen nose she seems completely normal eats alot and likes to get right under your feet and follow you everywhere please help!

 

[Bunnylova4eva]

First off, rabbits are much too commonly misdiagnosed with "allergies" when really there is a chronic infection going on. Usually this is either caused by Pasturella, Bordatella, or something similar. First off, you need to get in with a rabbit savvy vet. Your bunny will probably need a good antibiotic. Some people try nebulizing these bunnies to help them out. Antibiotic cream will probably not do a thing. She'll need to be on an antibioitic for a while probably as these respiratory infections can be very stubborn. Keep her in a cool (not too cool of coarse) environment-just one where she won't be overheating and have extra trobule breathing. Here's a good article: http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/sneezing.html
Here are some Australia rabbit recommended vets: http://www.rabbitsonline.net/f21/australia-12014/

 

[ladysown]

pictures might help...

 

[whitelop]

Could you post a picture of your rabbits nose? That might help people to see what the problem is better, based on the visual symptoms.
I think your best bet would be to try desperately to get the rabbit into the rabbit savvy vet.

But to me and I am no medical expert, it sounds like pasteurella. Here is a link from the library that is filled with other links and information on pasteurella.
http://www.rabbitsonline.net/f22/pasteurella-10455/

I hope that helps, but a vet would be able to help you better.

 

[Nancy McClelland]

Need to find a rabbit savvy vet ASAP

 

[LakeCondo]

While waiting to see the rabbit-savy vet, I'd try to boost the immune system. According to Rabbit Health in the 21st Century, giving astragalus root powder or golenseal root powder boost th immune system. I hope there's a health food store where you can get them. Probiotics might help, too.

 

[tonyshuman]

Merged two threads into one.

 

[tonyshuman]

Not sure what you mean by big, red, and swollen, but please check this link on myxi, which is present in Australia and cannot be vaccinated for there. It is nearly always fatal but if treated quickly there is a chance. This only applies if the swollen, red nose has been present for a couple of days or less.
http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Skin_diseases/Viral_diseases/Myxo/Myxo.htm
http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Skin_diseases/Viral_diseases/Nod_myx/Nodular_myxo.htm

It wasn't clear to me from your post if she has had the swollen nose for the whole time you have had her, or if that's a recent development. It sounds like you took her to the vet for sneezing, not a swollen nose. Is that correct?

Whatever the cause, it needs to be seen quickly. Is it a bump on her nose that protrudes, or is it her normal nose that is just runny and red? A topical antibiotic cream will not help--she needs system (oral or injected) antibiotics. It could be an upper respiratory infection, usually caused by bacteria as others have said. If it is actually a protruding bump, and it's not myxi, it is probably an abscess or cyst. This is a pocket of infection or liquid. The roots of the teeth or a bite wound can easily get infected and form into an abscess if not treated.

Nose like this?
http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Eye_diseases/Tof_case/Tof_en.htm
http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Respiratory/Bacterial/URI.htm

Abscesses are quite scary looking and I don't want to link you to pictures of them unless you think that is what's going on.

 

[OliveJacquier]

Here are some photos.

Thanks for your replies!
Booked into vet tomorrow so fingers crossed.