Myxomatosis - Nodular?

Poor girl

Is she also having a DAILY Non Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory such as Metacam ?

The nodules will be painful as they erupt, especially the ones near her eyes and on her lips

Details about the Myxoma Virus, including details of how it is spread can be found here

http://wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/S/00dis/viral/Myxomatosis.htm

Have your other Rabbits now been vaccinated ?

Not on any metacams - my vet doesnt want me to try and get her through - i have spoken to another vet who will help give supportive care so i will get some on Monday. Is there anything i can give readily available in mean time , or any natural supplements that you know of?

With my other rabbits 1 is under a year and had jabs 6 months ago. Smurphs bonded rabbit homer hasnt had any booster since april 2010 aswell - the vet advised that as he may already have it in his system as they had been living in a large hutch together than the vaccine may make him really ill? The vet advised to wait a month before giving any vacine to either of the other two incase they immune system is already under attack

Can you contact the other Vet and obtain some Metacam before Monday ?

Also, would the other Vet prescribe Fucithalmic for her eyes, aswell as the Lacrilube. All the Lacrilube will do is keep the eyes moist. Fucithalmic contains an antibiotic.

Personally I think it is absolutely essential for her to have some Metacam before Monday. She may also develop a high temperature which would be likely to make her stop eating. Metacam would control any fever should it occur.

Just spoke to emergency vet and he said to only give metacam if she is in pain - which he said if she was shed not be eating and be grumpy

He said to contact him if i saw a change in behavioiur between now and monday

Smurphbiggleshomer said:

Just spoke to emergency vet and he said to only give metacam if she is in pain - which he said if she was shed not be eating and be grumpy

He said to contact him if i saw a change in behavioiur between now and monday

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But what about treating the *inflammation* the nodules are causing ????????????????????????????????????

I am sorry, but I have to beg to differ with the Vet with regards to witholding administering Metacam. Pain or not (and as a prey animal Rabbits *hide pain*) there is obviously *a lot* of inflammation

I am not a Vet, but in a similar situation I would be advocating strongly for my Rabbit as I truly believe Metacam is essential. Would a human expect not to be given some sort of NSAID if they had large nodules erupting all over their face, in and near their eyes and mouth ?

Poor Bun.
I would go to another vet for a second opinion, like jacks-jane says she needs painkillers (metacam).

oh no poor you and Smurphy

I cant really help I have no experience with Myxi (thank god) but it might be worth PMing Parsnipbun I know she is quite experienced with it and has nursed a few bunnies through Myxi - or maybe search for her previous posts on it xx

Sunday AM - 6 days since nodules appeared - maybe 10 days since intial infection (during the hot spell in UK we think - End of Sept)

Smurphy still in normal spirit - had a treat of basil during breakfast with her vitamin c. Still drinking and toilet as normal.

No more swellings and eyes no worse. No sign of any snuffles - does anyone know at what stage snuffles come, if they come? Do they always come? (vet warned if she gets respratory problems then she may be affected for life?)

Am going back to another vet, though this ones says NSAIDs dont work on nodules (my previous vet said if shes not in pain why use pain killers?)- and he says that there are so many different things you could do, but really it all depends on rabbits immunity- if she was in pain we'd know about it. Not sure why the vets are so funny about painkillers as humans take them all the time?

It was nice to talk to a vet who had known of several rabbits to survive - though he says that the rabbits will fight it off themselves - and all i can do is keep her clean and dry, eating, and watch out for secondary infections. Im waiting to see on this one, i like to think it might be true! He said the nodules and eye swelling are very common - but also recoverable from!

He was saying the nodules them selves are not painful at this stage, but will become painful around 14 - 19 when they get black and crusty (i looked up some other threads so i've seen a few examples). Maybe then she will get some painkillers (tuesday in theory) He was saying that the virus dies after 14 days of infection - so maybe only a couple more days until she can concentrate on healing rather than fighting virus.

Push for the metacam. It is important. I really hope bunny comes through this x

New vet will give metacam - but not until Monday as he isnt in and emergency vet wont give while shes 'not in pain'

Smurphbiggleshomer said:

New vet will give metacam - but not until Monday as he isnt in and emergency vet wont give while shes 'not in pain'

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This may sound a bit bad, but I think I would tell the vet that she was sitting hunched and had started to refuse food, just to get the metacam. Sorry, maybe that's just me. I'd rather have it on hand to cover all eventualities.

If you search for Tinsels posts, you'll see that she has a bun with myxi at the moment, and she has had other buns as well over time. Tinsel keeps her buns together as normal. Might be good to PM her for some support.

Good idea - i never even thought to fib a little- im just so proud thats she 100% her self - devouring food, shes so full of beans today! Atleast if i get it to take home i can read the guidelines and judge it by her behaviour. Sure if i had lumps on my face id be a bit down in the dumps - better keep her away from any mirrors!

Smurphbiggleshomer said:

Good idea - i never even thought to fib a little- im just so proud thats she 100% her self - devouring food, shes so full of beans today! Atleast if i get it to take home i can read the guidelines and judge it by her behaviour. Sure if i had lumps on my face id be a bit down in the dumps - better keep her away from any mirrors!

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I shouldn't encourage you to tell lies really, oops. :shock:

I hope she continues in this vein and gets better soon x

Jack's-Jane said:

But what about treating the *inflammation* the nodules are causing ????????????????????????????????????

I am sorry, but I have to beg to differ with the Vet with regards to witholding administering Metacam. Pain or not (and as a prey animal Rabbits *hide pain*) there is obviously *a lot* of inflammation

I am not a Vet, but in a similar situation I would be advocating strongly for my Rabbit as I truly believe Metacam is essential. Would a human expect not to be given some sort of NSAID if they had large nodules erupting all over their face, in and near their eyes and mouth ?

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I agree with Jacks Jane - and I know my vet would give fucithalmic (eye ointment), viscotears/lacrilube, an antibiotic for me to give at home, and metacam (definitely).

Poor little bun I see you're in North Yorkshire? Could you get to the rabbit specialist, FHB, in Harrogate? They really are the best! Sending lots of vibes for Smurphy xx

Im 40 minutes from Harrogate so i will give them a call first thing tomorrow! thanks for the recommendation!

Smurphbiggleshomer said:

Im 40 minutes from Harrogate so i will give them a call first thing tomorrow! thanks for the recommendation!

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That's great! Can't find a website, but the details are here in case you need them. Good luck xx

Monday Morning - Im changing vets! - day 10-13 since catching nodular myxi


CHilling in garden before vets at 11am

Had rung a couple of rabbit specialist vets - who advise that most rabbits with nodual myxi and have previous had vaccines usually survive with TLC - avoiding secondary infections, and they would not normally PTS due to a few skin bumps. They recommended speaking to my own vet and explain that although she may look bad, if she not showing any other signs on pain then likely hood is, its just the skin affected. She should be kept warm, with anti inflamatorys and anti biotics.

She basically went nuts - and if another vets advises treatment then take her to another vet! why should she have to medicate a dying rabbit and prolong its suffering! Then pretty much turfed me out.

Luckily i have two homes, one north, one south, and near to my southern home is a good rabbit vet who said he will help with supportive treatment of any secondary symptoms. As he had known of a rabbits to survive nodular myxi.

Whilst i appreciate my old vet has never seen a rabbit recover from mxyi - i also wonder if this is because she encourages PTS at first signs. Why would you put a rabbit down with lumps on face if theres a good chance they can survive? is there not update every few years about mxyi so vets can be aware that survival is possible? Do vets not talk to each other - or do any research - There is plenty of infomation about nodular mxyi after vacine around. I just dont understand how one vet wants to PTS, other vets think survival is likely! One vet i rung wasnt in, but his collegue asked what i was ringing about, and in 30 seconds he checked his vet website and found info saying pet rabbits can recover with TLC - why couldnt my vet spare 30 seconds to check too?

We are on day 10-13 (depending on when got bitten by a mosi more than likely) and we still have a really happy, healthy, eating drinking rabbits. Only signs of myxi is two big lumps on face, and puffy eyes - her eyes and chest for checked today, and no signs of any damage. Vet thinks she is thin, but she weighs the same as she did 3 years ago...... Any tips on food to fatten rabbits up?


Rabbit after vet - with her fresh greens bowl near by!


Full of beans running around house

One thing vet did do is print out her medical history - which showed up that within the vitamin c drops is baytrill, so shes has been on 2 different types of antibiotics! Nice of them to read her history before administering more drugs - so shes had engecymin and bayrill at same time for 5 days.

Shes now got metacam 1.5mg/ml - 10ml bottle, to have once a day dose for a 10kg dog (shes a 3.5kg rabbit)- vet wasnt happy about this saying it could cause other complications? But couldnt really argue whther it was good or not because shes never treated a rabbit with mxyi - just PTS usually.

Medication and treatment:
1ml abidec drops - contains baytrill 10% - twice daily
injection of engecymin once every 3 days
larilube eye lubricant - vet wont give any thing else as her eyes arent infected
Washing and bathing eyes with warm camolmile tea as often as needed - not producing any mucus - but the larilube makes her eyes greasy around eye ball.
Being kept inside - sleepingin dog crate during night, roaming house and sofas during day

Food:
As much as she likes:
spinach
rocket
dandelion leaves
willow bark to chew
super excel pellets
excel forage - dried hay stuff
fresh water - bowl and bottle - still using both

Any hints and tips, im all ears!

ps. Vet recommended in Harrogate is on holiday for another 8 days

Smurphbiggleshomer said:

ps. Vet recommended in Harrogate is on holiday for another 8 days

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Oh no! Typical eh? Good vets shouldn't be allowed holidays! :lol:

Glad you've found a good one down south. So are you getting the info from the good vet and still seeing the old vet for the treatment? It does sound like the old vet is being a bit difficult... As long as they keep prescribing the drugs though they'll do for now!

I don't understand why some vets aren't willing to accept they don't know everything and spend some time researching and keeping up to date...

Glad Smurphy is still doing well xx