Update and also need advice

[MarisaAndToby]

Went to the vet today.

She said apart from his runny nose, Toby seems to be a very healthy bunny. Toby is 3.8 lbs (little guy) and had no signs of laboured breathing or matting on his front paws. As I said before, he is eating and drinking normally, and is peeing and pooping normally as well. The nasal discharge is clear and no solids.

BUT. The vet said that the runny nose is either just cause there's something irritating him that he has to get out, or it's pasteurella (albeit a minor case of it right now). She offered me the option of treating it or not, and I chose to get the antibiotics just in case. (The bottle says Chlor Palm Suspension, whatever that means.) I'm all for getting rid of the pasteurella asap considering how stubborn of a bacteria it can be. But she said that the antibiotics themselves can cause diarrhea and also a change of appetite , which could lead to stasis.

I mean, we don't even know for sure that he has pasteurella... I'm hesitant to medicate him for something that isn't for sure, especially considering the possible side effects of the antibiotics. I really don't know what to do, and wanted some suggestions/advice from you guys.

I also went and picked up some oxbow orchard grass hay to see if it was the hay causing it, but if I'm going to start medicating I would like to do it soon. My other concern about medicating is that for the next week I am still working full time hours, and will be gone for lots of the day (10-14 hours), so I wouldn't be able to monitor his condition/side effects very well. If I hold off and wait until next weekend to start, my work hours drop to 8-12, and then I would be home 12-5 and then again at 9, so I would be able to monitor much better.

I'm really really torn at what to do, I just want the best for him and don't really know what that is right now... Do I hold off on treatment and see if it improves on it's own, and if not start antibiotics next week? Or do I bite the bullet and start right away?

 

[Watermelons]

Personally, I would opt for no medication unless you know theres something there. All you need is a antibiotic resistant bunny with an infection later on and nothing will work. Havning never dealt with that issue hopefully somebody else will chime in. But the vet could have done a swab and tested for bacteria. Then you would know if there is an issue, and what would be best to use for it.

Try ruleing out diet and envoronment fisrt.
What is his cage like? What litter are you using?
try switching the hay for a week, just the hay. Then try the litter for a week, just the litter. and in that fassion change 1 thing at a time to try and rule stuff out. Is there anything new at home? Have you bought any new clothes or large items you use or wear around him?

If you do decide to medicate him. LOTS of cilantro! and keep some baby gas meds on hand just incase. But I would personally hold off until you know there is actually something there to treat. Sorry I didnt reply to your other thread. But if even your vet cant find anything its probably an irritant. If you want to worry about pasteurella, try doing a bacterial swab first to make sure thats what it actually is.

 

[MarisaAndToby]

His cage is a big NIC cage with fleece around the upper levels to protect his feet. The fleece was new from the store so it shouldn't have had anything on it really.

Litter is Yesterday's News and I have a plastic grate over that so I don't think that would be it.

I'll try the hay, but right now I have a bit of both in there and he's only eating the timothy right now, all he's done is sniff the orchard grass. Silly rabbit had better be okay...

The vet took a look at the hay that I had in his carrier and she said that it looked like a good quality hay and didn't seem terribly dusty.

I'll tweak some stuff and see if the sneezing gets any better or worse, at least I have the antibiotics if it seems to worsen.


How does pasteurella work anyways? How would it have been contracted, and is it possible that it laid dormant for this long? I mean I've had him for 6 months now, and my understanding is that it could only be contracted through other rabbits. He hasn't been in contact with other rabbits since I've had him sooo ...?

 

[Watermelons]

Here are a few links for you to read.

Runny Nose

Pasteurella

RespInfections

Another way to try and un-dust hay is to lay a sheet or garbage bag on the ground outside and just shake all your hay out over top, most of the dust is light enough to kind of blow away while you do this, mind you it will make a fair sized mess.

All it takes is something new in the house, try talking to people with severe allergies sometimes all they need is somebody else in their house to buy a new shirt and that sets them off the edge. So a different batch of hay or kibble might be bugging his system.

 

[Nancy McClelland]

ray:

 

[Lucy500]

Bonkers and I are sending hugs and get well vibes to the Tobester

 

[jeanluc_pippen_merry]

Hopefully it's just something irritating him. But i would agree with watermelons in regards to antibiotics Better not to give antibiotics unless you know for sure that he needs it.

 

[MarisaAndToby]

His nose seems to be more wet during the night which makes me think it isn't pasteurella.

I'm watching him extra attentively today, counting sneezes and watching behaviour. Of course because there's the possibility that he's sick I'm honing in on absolutely everything. Ie: Yesterday he was very inactive. Essentially all he did was eat, drink, pee, poo, and lay down. Making me so nervous. My hope is that the lethargy was simple because he was shaken up from the car rides and vet visit. Yesterday I switched his hay to the orchard grass, and today I see that some of his pee (on the plastic grate in his litterbox) is an almost orangey-red. Now I know that can be normal, but I'm freaking out about it cause it's usually a dark yellow/orange. Maybe it's caused by the hay change.

Today's my last day off before I'm back to full time work. I really can't wait to go to part time hours at this point considering what's going on with my boy.

Thank you all for your help, concern, opinions, and well wishes. :hearts

 

[JimD]

Pasteurella is something that all rabbits carry. It usually doesn't flare up unless there's an underlying issue effecting their immune system.

I also agree with holding off on the antibiotics until you can get a culture if necessary.

It really sounds like an allergy thing...as others have posted.



One of my buns is allergic to dusty hay, dusty pellets, dust in the air, litter dust, cheesy TV commercials.......and probably other rabbits :confused2:

I found a farm that ships me very good quality hay that is virtually dust and chaff free.
Before that, I use to shake out his hay and lightly mist it with a spray bottle (gotta be careful to remove damp hay before it molds). I also gave him hay cubes as an alternative for a while.

I also sift his pellets and give them to him in a shallow dish so he doesn't have to stick his whole face in to eat.

I keep the bun room as clean as possible. I run a big HEPA filter 24/7.

I use wood pellets (WOODY PET !!! :bunnydancefor litter. Best invention since duct tape!!


ray:

 

[Korr_and_Sophie]

MarisaAndToby wrote:

Ie: Yesterday he was very inactive. Essentially all he did was eat, drink, pee, poo, and lay down.

It was pretty hot here yesterday and I think it was also hot around where you are. Rabbits do tend to lay around more when it is hot and not want to do as much. I think we all have lazy days and rabbits do to. So along with the stress of the vet visits and what else is going on, he may have just needed a day off to rest and relax. Of course, if he wasn't eating, drinking, peeing and pooping and sitting in a way that shows he is uncomfortable, then you may need to worry more.

 

[JimD]

Korr_and_Sophie wrote:

It was pretty hot here yesterday and I think it was also hot around where you are. Rabbits do tend to lay around more when it is hot and not want to do as much. I think we all have lazy days and rabbits do to.

If it's been warm by you, that could also attribute to the wet nosey.
Respiration is one of the major ways a bun keeps themselves cool. It can also result in moisture around the muzzle.

 

[Bunnylova4eva]

Just thought I'd throw my 2cents in, but I'd pretty much agree with the others. I've had to deal with runny nosed bunnies (jelly and Charlie) and neither time did the antibiotics we tried work. Just made them both immune to meds. I wouldn't do it unless you know for sure.

Also, allergies might be an issue~I"m actually wondering if that's not something my Ripley's been dealing with. I've heard alot that clear discharge is more likely allergies or whatever.

 

[MiniLopHop]

Becky had runny eyes for close to a year. Pastuerella was confirmed with a culture and the vet had her on 4 different antibiotics (oral and eye drops). She was healthy other than the wet face.

I ended up deciding to boost her imune system rather than fighting with drugs any more. I use Perfect Food myself and decided to try it for her (vet said it looked good).

http://www.gardenoflife.com/ProductsforLife/SUPPLEMENTS/FoundationalNutrition/PerfectFood/tabid/654/Default.aspx

I sprinkle 1/2 a capsule on her breakfast and she just eats it with her pellets. There's also berry flavored powder.

It took about two days, but her face has been dry since.

Best of luck ray: