Baytril - How fast will it work???

Long story short;

Went to vet told them about our current financial difficulties = Vets answer "Put her down"

I have a 4 year old Blue French Giant called Gerti, she has recently developed breathing problems. Her pattern is long and laboured with grunting/squeaking thrown in for good measure. When you listen to her chest it sounds like her lungs are having trouble inflating and "sticky". She is eating well and taking fluid, stool is as usual. We took her to our local vets last night where we we told to put her down after we explained our current personal financial difficulties... After much negotiation we managed to persuade them to give her some Baytrill and we bought home 10ml to give Gerti 2ml per day orally... (This to me doesn't seem very long and the doseage in my opinion is low, 2ml a day) Which leads me to my question, how fast will baytril work? When should we start to see positive results?

As I type, Gerti is in with me and her breathing has got louder after two doses of Baytrill, one injection last night and one dose this morning orally.... I've opened the french doors slightly so Gerti can get some fresh air and she's sat there infront of the opening....

The vet we have is very unhelpful as she knows we currently don't have any money.

My question is, is there anything else I can to help Gerti clear her airways and breathe easier??? We've put all our eggs in one baskets hoping that it's an infection but I don't know what to do or where to turn, I really don't want to lose her.

I didnt want to just read and run, but I have a bun with snuffles Benji, and he is constantly on and off baytril and septrin for his chest etc. His chest can get very bad, and has trouble clearing his airways. Some people on here use a nebuliser, and use he baytril through that, however I havent used one as of yet so cannot really comment.

Bisolvon helps benji get the mucus up and out, and clears his chest.

Has your bun Gerti been diagnosed with snuffles?

Your vet does not sound very supporive. If I were you I would seek a second opinion.

Sorry I cannot be of any more help x

Putting the bunny down at this stage certainly doesn't seem like a good idea to be. 2ml of baytril does sound a lot to me, my bun is on 0.5ml twice a day for snuffles.

Definitely seek help from a new vet, this one sounds useless xxx

We have people on this forum nursing their rabbits through so much, please dont listen to this vet about P.T.S.

When ever ben has baytril he only has 0.3 ml twice a day, so 1ml twice a day does sound a fair amount, but the dosage may be due to the size and breed of your bun

Cheers for the above....

I have sought a second opinion and by the sounds of it, if she makes it through until tomorrow night and responds to the baytril then she has upped her survival odds from 1 in 100 to 1 in 10 so fingers crossed but it's killing me hearing her breathe and not being able to help her, have put some albus oil near her to try and clear her airways a little.....

lilgems91 said:

I didnt want to just read and run, but I have a bun with snuffles Benji, and he is constantly on and off baytril and septrin for his chest etc. His chest can get very bad, and has trouble clearing his airways. Some people on here use a nebuliser, and use he baytril through that, however I havent used one as of yet so cannot really comment.

Bisolvon helps benji get the mucus up and out, and clears his chest.

Has your bun Gerti been diagnosed with snuffles?

Your vet does not sound very supporive. If I were you I would seek a second opinion.

Sorry I cannot be of any more help x

Click to expand...

Our vet was more interested in getting us out the door than providing a diagnosis unfortunately....

Definately seek a new vet then if I were you. I have been through the same problem, trying to find a vet which took bens snuffles seriously and not trying to get money out of me.

Which area are you from?

Maybe try putting a post up in "Rabbit Chat" saying your whereabouts and "Rabbit Savvy vet Reccomendations" and see if anyone can point you in the right direction

Did the vet you saw mention snuffles at all?

RabidRabbit said:

Cheers for the above....

I have sought a second opinion and by the sounds of it, if she makes it through until tomorrow night and responds to the baytril then she has upped her survival odds from 1 in 100 to 1 in 10 so fingers crossed but it's killing me hearing her breathe and not being able to help her, have put some albus oil near her to try and clear her airways a little.....

Click to expand...

Thats great news. Has she been diagnosed with anything yet, or are they unsure what is causing the breathing problems? She's not mouth breathing is she?

I know this sounds silly, but steam clears benji's nose, if you go for a shower, take her into the bathroom with you, as she can inhale some and it might help! Just thought I would mention from past experience

Unfortunately, she is mouth breathing and making a horrible croaking noise.... She's getting worse but if she makes it through the night then there's a chance... just need this baytril stuff to start kicking in....

I am afraid to say that mouth breathing is a very poor prognostic sign and it is inadvisable to administer medication orally to a Rabbit who is mouth breathing. They are at a very high risk of aspirating anything given by mouth.

What part of the country are you in ? Could you consult a different Vet ?

Ideally a Rabbit displaying such severe Respiratory Symptoms needs admitting for Intensive Care, including being on Oxygen and receiving all medication via injection.

Is your Rabbit spayed ?

If not then her symptoms may not actually be related to infection at all but to Uterine Adenocarcinoma (uterine cancer that has spread to the lungs)

Another possibility is Pneumonic Myxomatosis if she has not been vaccinated within the last 6 months.

If you could give a rough idea of your geographical location then maybe someone on here could suggest a Vet who may be a little more empathetic to your situation and be able to provide more appropriate treatment than just Baytril.

Alternatively maybe you are eligible to seek Vet treatment from the RSPCA/PDSA/Blue Cross ?

It's a very good sign that she's eating and pooping normally

Baytril often doesn't work very quickly on respiratory infections, so you may need to keep her on it for at least a few weeks (2ml per day sounds about right for a Frenchie).

If money is an issue, there are cheaper and faster acting antibiotics out there which are safe for rabbits.

As Jane says, mouth breathing is not a good sign because it can indicate pneumonia or even something like lung cancer, but you'd usually expect her appetite and behaviour to be affected if that was the case.

Good luck, and hope Gertie improves x

Really got everything crossed for this bun. I would get her to an emergency vet ASAP. Look up vets in your area xxx

Jack's-Jane said:

I am afraid to say that mouth breathing is a very poor prognostic sign and it is inadvisable to administer medication orally to a Rabbit who is mouth breathing. They are at a very high risk of aspirating anything given by mouth.

What part of the country are you in ? Could you consult a different Vet ?

Ideally a Rabbit displaying such severe Respiratory Symptoms needs admitting for Intensive Care, including being on Oxygen and receiving all medication via injection.

Is your Rabbit spayed ?

If not then her symptoms may not actually be related to infection at all but to Uterine Adenocarcinoma (uterine cancer that has spread to the lungs)

Another possibility is Pneumonic Myxomatosis if she has not been vaccinated within the last 6 months.

If you could give a rough idea of your geographical location then maybe someone on here could suggest a Vet who may be a little more empathetic to your situation and be able to provide more appropriate treatment than just Baytril.

Alternatively maybe you are eligible to seek Vet treatment from the RSPCA/PDSA/Blue Cross ?

Click to expand...

We're in Crawley, West Sussex, England

The PDSA have nothing near us

The stress of a journey to the Blue Cross in London would most probably kill her....

RSPCA have said they'll give us a token £30 towards her treatment

No she's intact, the second opinion suggested as much with regard to uterine cancer...

Aww I really feel for you, we have just had exactly the same experiance this weekend, sadly we did not get the outcome we wanted. My vet gave baytril by injection then I did it orally with some Bisolven mixed in which helps to clear the mucus, but I have to agree that sadly mouth breathing aint good for any bunny. Tommy stopped eating/ drinking on Friday night so by the time we had done saturday and sunday at the vets he was in gut statis too. I know its an awfully long way for you but theres a vet in Harrogate called Harcourt Brown I will google the phone number for you, they specialise in buns and may offer some advice over the phone, back in a min.

Right the number is 01423 508 945. Our bill for Tommy with nebulising twice, 3 x baytril injection, bisolven sachet, critical care food, bio lapis for the water and various other drugs was £250, this sadly included pts and cremation. I really do have everything crossed for a positive outcome.

Thanks

I'd just like to say thank you to those of you who've tried to help me today, unfortunately Gerti passed on @ 16:45.....

RIP Gert, ya big fat rabbit you.

I am so so sorry, you must be devastated

Im sure she appreciated all the care you gave her, and how happy her life was with you.

You did what you could to help her, but it was her time. I hope she went peacefully.

Binky free Gert.

xxxxx

Maybe start a thread of the memories you shared together on the "Rainbow Bridge" section of this forum.

I am sorry

Oh no, I'm so sorry Binky free Gerti xx