RIP-Myxomatosis and/or Conjunctivitis

[shinji2004]

My male (not de-sexed) is quite ill. He has gunk coming out of the eye, and cant/will not open the eye lids and all the fur around his eyes is matted. He was a quite energetic bunny and should try to run away/play in the cage when I would come to pick him up, now he just sits there next two his water bottle all day and night(I dont think he even goes to the inside of his hutch, hes an outdoor bunny) and now is not really repond to his usally petting. A first I though his was becuase his mate died 3 weeks ago and he was just depresed and I dont think he has been cleaning him self as well.

He is not really eating(I have seen him nibbling but there have only been 4-5 pellets in this bowl the last week. Though he still is drinking since there is urine in his bowl.

I think he is also now partly or full blind since when I refill the water bottle he drags his face along the cage to find the tip(I have some times push water out of it so he knows where it is)

I took him to the vet last Friday and they said he would only have about 24-48 hours to live, but he is still alive now. The vet metioned that he might have Conjunctivitis , but after some investegation of the symtions I think he has Myxomatosis.

Is there anything I can do to treat the Conjunctivitis/Myxomatosis? If not is there anything I can do to make him more confuable, ie stuff in water to give him abit more energy, hand feeding, bath ect. Or is that two crule and should I get him put down?

Thanks

 

[aurora369]

I'm not an expert and have never had to deal with it personally...

But it sounds like it could be a nasty eye infection. I would be wanting the vet to take a culture of the pus to find out which antibiotic would be most effective.

Many eye infections are caused by toot roots growing up and pushing on the tear ducts. So a head x-ray is very useful to see if any teeth need to be pulled.

I'm sure more people will be along shortly with more information.

Also, where are you located? Different countries have access to different medication. And if a member is near by, then we may be able to recommend a good vet for you to work with.

--Dawn

 

[shinji2004]

Melbourne Aust

 

[Flashy]

Is your bun vaccinated against myxi? I don't think they do vaccinations over there?

If it's myxi and your bun is not vaccinated then the kindest thing to do is have your bun put to sleep because he won't be able to beat the illness. The illness can only be beaten (and even then not always) if the bun is vaccinated and with the right care to help them through it.

However, if there is a chance it is something else then it may be worth going all out for treating that because you lose nothing by trying. Just pay attention to your buns needs and what you think is in the best for him.

What medication is he on?

 

[shinji2004]

We was vaccinted when he was 1 but not since then.

He is no on any though Mum is a Nurse and she had someeye cream with we have been putting on.

As I said I vent to the Vet last Friday and they said he was near death, so I brought him home so that he could pass away in his hutch, but he is still alive now and drink and eating a tiny weany bit

 

[Flashy]

I wonder if it's worth trying some stronger anti-biotics. The eye cream is obviously not helping enough so it might be worth looking for something else that might help. I would also wonder if he might need something like Metacam to help him with the pain he will be feeling.

Also, are you syringing him fluids? Has he had anything like Sub Q injections?

Is he indoors? I really would suggest being indoors would be beneficial. With vaccinated myxi bunnies it has been found that being indoors, in a warmer climate can help them potentially recover (again, with the right support treatment).

I'm not sure how old he is but the vaccinations lasts for 6 months to a year, so anytime after that he won't be covered for it.

I have known bunnies die from myxi, and know of people who have lost them, or battled to keep them and failed, and sometimes allowing them to die a natural death is not necessarily in their best interests. I know of a young boy whose bunnies were in such a state that he did the best he could to humanely kill them himself because they were so very distressed and he couldn't bear to leave them like that, or to take them 15 minutes down the road to the vets. I'm not saying have him PTS now or anything, only you can make that decision, but I would really hate for you to get to a point where you wish you had had him PTS but by then it's too late and he is agony, maybe screaming, things like that. I just think with something that is potentially going to be fatal anyway (which is it very likely to be if this is myxi), it is always worth keeping that in mind, that's all.

 

[Flashy]

Sorry if my post is a bit horrific. I wonder if it's worth getting a culture done on his eye discharge so you can work out if it's an eye infection or myxi. A lot of buns with myxi get infections at different parts of their body, so that wouldn't be a definitive result, but it might help you find the right medication to beat the eye infection (If it is that) which would maybe then allow you to work out if it's myxi behind the eye infection or not.

 

[Maureen Las]

I live in the Midwest US we have not encountered myxi over here in this area .; Flashy is very knowledgeable about it and I ,sad as it is, I agree the bun should not be left to suffer if it is actually myxi without a current vaccinations
If you are not sure about the diagnosis you could get a second opinion but if you are going to allow him to go on for awhile you need to be more aggressive in keeping him comfortable.
he would need syringe feeding of fluid and food and ; bringing him in the house is a good idea so that you can watch him carefully and make him more comfortable. Possibly there is another medication that would help his eye also.

What did his mate die from? Was it also the same thing?

 

[tonyshuman]

I would think if it were an eye infection it might be best to move to an oral antibiotic since the eye salve isn't helping. I agree that if you think it is just an eye thing, you should get a dental x-ray to check out the tooth roots. There are many treatments that can be given for conjunctivitis, but if the infection spreads to the brain, the prognosis isn't as good. Bicillin (PenG Procaine) is also a good injectible antibiotic that I think one of our members (Randy) has used on serious eye infections.

If you really do think it is myxi, it is probably best to put him to sleep. There is no cure as far as I know, I'm sorry.

 

[shinji2004]

Just like to tell you that I found him dead this morning. He was stretched out so I assume that he passed away in his sleep

 

[Flashy]

Aw, I'm sorry.

Binky Free Bunny.

 

[Maureen Las]

I am so sorry that you lost him but if it was myxi that is inevitable.
I am so sorry !!!!

 

[shinji2004]

Yea, It was most lieky Myxi, My father is from the bush and yea he thinks it Myxi too, though should it not take 3-5 days not 2-3weeks? Or would the fact that he was vaccicanted when he was 1 (3-4 years ago) slowed it down?

 

[tonyshuman]

Oh no. I'm so sorry. The vaccine does slow the progress of the disease. At least he went peacefully. I'm so glad we don't have to deal with that terrible illness here. RIP Charrie.

 

[AngelnSnuffy]

I am so very sorry for your loss.

RIP ink iris::tears2:


I'm sorry, I added RIP to the topic so folks will be aware and not add anything further for advise. Thank you for posting this. I know you are hurting right now and we're here for you. I know how it hurts.