Suspected snuffles, please help :(

I would really appreciate some opinions as this is my first time writing on the forum but having read it before I know there are some very caring and knowledgeable rabbit owners on here.

I have a female lion head rabbit who is nearly 9 years old. She has had earmites in the past and I suspected recurrent infestation as she was occasionally shaking her head and scratching. Took her to (a non rabbit savvy ) vet who prescribed surolan ear drops as he suspected very slight ear mite infestation of the right ear.

Anyway, more seriously, since then she has been sneezing a lot and generally appaearing unwell, she generally doesn't run about much (despite having the run of the garden) but has been hunched and occasionally grinding her teeth (yikes.) With the sneezing and the fact that she does have slight matting inside her front paws I am suspecting snuffles (having done some research.) SHe's still eating/drinking/pooping normally. Thing is I suspect this has come about from the stress of the vet visit and ear drops (???) So I'm reluctant to cause her MORE stress in her relatively old age!

I'm away at uni most of the time unfortunately and am going to struggle to get her back to the vets soon... but if I urgently need to of course I will. I understand that there is no cure for snuffles and that A/Bs may keep it under control only... I'm so confused as to what to do

Please help, what would you do if it was your rabbit??

Sounds similar to Mischa. The ear shaking may be a symptom of an ear infection which can also be related to snuffles. Mischa had an ear infection, snuffles and conjuctivitus, all caused by the same thing and all flared up at the same time. In winter.

He was on a course of abx, my vet went straight for the stronger abx, injectable penicillin, rather than trying Baytril which many vets give first as it's the only licensed abx for rabbits. And now he's fine.

What area are you in? Maybe we can recommend you a rabbit savvy vet?

both bisc and matt have respiratory problems. there are different treatments available and i would take your bunny to a rabbit savvy vet and let them advise you. sometimes it can take a while to make them stable but there are lots of options of medications and treatments to try so definitely see the rabbit savvy vet and take it from there.

Hello and welcome to the forum. You do need to get bunny to the vets as snuffles can lead to a lower respiratory infection which can be very dangerous to a bunny if not treated quickly.

The vet should be prescribing some antibiotics, metacam aniflammatory. I've had a couple of bunnies with snuffles and it does sound very similar and can be bought on by stress.

Which vets do you go to, is this Oxfordshire vets if so I am from Oxfordshire and could advise you of some vets which are good.

Thank you so much for your quick replies.

I think I'll get her to the vets on Monday. Yes I'm in Oxfordshire (Bicester.) There are 2 vets in Bicester, I've never specifically asked to see a rabbit specialist but will ring on Mon to both vets and see if they have one.

Poor Elsa. What is everyone's experience of older rabbits? She's a single bunny which is unfortunate (I got her when I was 11, I now would always get a neutered bonded pair!) but she's very quiet these days, she used to run and jump and binky all the time, now she can still get about when she needs to (she easily runs up and down the ramp to her hutch) but she generally sits in one or two spots in the graden and never ventures much further than her hutch! Has anyone experienced an 8+ year old rabbit still binkying? I wish she still did!

I think if you can get her on a long course of antibiotics early on you might be able to stop the snuffles. Then it's all about keeping her comfortable and stress free.

If it's oral antibiotics give it to her on her favourite food to avoid stress. And ask about painkillers. Ear infections can be painful of course. Good luck.