They have pseudomonas

Just got the results from the vet.

Whilst the bunnies are pretty well in themselves aside from sneezing, this finding is worrying because it's an infection that may well require ongoing antibiotics, is difficult to treat, and is something which humans can catch. (I and a couple of my relatives have health problems so I'm more worried about it than I would have been if I, and likely visitors, were in good health.)

They are going to be tried on azithromycin next week as the engemycin has made no difference - and if the azithromycin doesn't lead to an improvement, it will be injectables. I can't believe I might have to learn to inject a rabbit in the first couple of months of owning one. But hopefully the next lot of meds will work so that won't be necessary.

Does anyone else here have bunnies with pseudomonas?

At least you know whats causing it now so can tailor medications to suit. My respitory bun has been on meds for over 18months but we couldn't get anything to grow on the c&s test so antibiotics were a bit of a guess for us. Try not to worry yet, I know it feels scary but if unfortunately it is a long process medication time will soon become a part of your daily routine and you wont even notice it anymore. Good luck with the new meds.

Hi Vita

We have messaged a bit now on various threads and privately and I know how much those bunnies mean to you.

I am sorry this wasn't the result you were hoping for but it could be a whole lot worse by the sound of it and at least you have a diagnosis, like the previous poster has said aswell. Sorry that doesn't offer you too much comfort.

Does it mean the buns could pass their sneezes (colds) on to you?

I really hope the meds work and you see an improvement.

As my Simba is better I have booked her in to see Aidan on 19th November for vaccinations (a Saturday, as I work full time). Obviously if she becomes very bad before then I will have to take her as an emergency. She has been to Pet Medics A & E in Worsley twice but they are not exotic specialists.

All the vibes in the world for all of you and please keep us updated xxx

Although it is a zoonose and has health implications to people I'd imagine it is very minor unless you are severly immuno compromised. I asked my vet about this in relation to a bunny I have with Ec as was worried about my pregnant sister as technically it make her immune system weaker and was advised that she just omitt from handling said bunny and that I myself stick to stringent quarantine measures (washing hands, change clothes etc). AFAIK pseudomonas would similarly be transmitted by close contact (being sneezed on of coming into contact with surfaces sneezed on for example) so if you stick to the above I'm sure it will be fine.

Thanks for your kind words

I hope Simba stays well now and that you like the vets!

I'm not severely immunocompromised, but
a) I tend to catch almost every respiratory thing going and get it badly unless I make sure to rest loads, keep out of the cold, always get enough sleep etc. Fair enough for a couple of weeks if something's going round, but it does worry me being exposed to something permanently rather than just doing my best to fight something off once.
b) I have a condition that means I get serious adverse reactions to a lot of medicines, so with some things I'm almost in the pre-antibiotic era and have to be really careful.
I always wear gloves for cage cleaning and for any picking-up where they could get scratchy. But I do stroke their fur with bare hands of course. It would be so sad not to.
I'm also researching in case they get aggressive when puberty hits... feeding techniques, separate but adjacent pens etc. With hindsight, I'd have been better with a ready-neutered adult rabbit who's known to be placid and healthy, but I fell in love with these ones and they're here.
Things could work out fine and the bunnies might teach me to worry a little less. I hope so!

The health stuff makes me pretty cautious and zoonoses were one of the reasons I didn't get a pet for so long, and are also one of the reasons I decided not to get a cat (bites more likely to get infected) or some other small animals (hamsters bite more often as a matter of course). Though rabbits have always been one of my favourite animals
It's lovely having the bunnies around and I would hate not to have some rabbity animal company now.

But I do get sneezed on *loads* which worries me a bit. Ada sneezes a lot, and violently and snottily. Bea sneezes a lot less (I only see it once or twice a day) and quite quietly so she isn't really a problem in that respect. I keep finding that I'm tempted just to let Bea out and play with her - but she's kind of a favourite anyway because she's so cute and friendly, and I feel this might not be fair on Ada.

Have you thought about speaking to your doctor and asking them if/what risks there are? I don't know if you can inhale it, I'd guess you'd have to touch the bun, then touch your face sort of thing and if thats the case as long as you wash hands after playing with them it should help reduce any risks. I keep one of those alcohol gels by poorly buns hutches a bit like they have them on every hospital ward but I must admit thats primarily as I have a multi bun houshold and I'm worried about cross contamination, I never even considered my own health.

Pseudomonas is one of those bacteria that are all over the place in the environment anyway - but I would feel more comfortable reducing my exposure levels to it from the rabbits' sneezing. I have a very mild respiratory infection at the moment which is very slightly chesty, and worrying myself silly about a possible connection to the bunnies isn't going to help me get rid of it.

This thread has prompted me to think of a solution which should suit everyone better. Thanks for replying
They are in the hall at the moment, so in the next few days I'm going to sort out another room, with the help of a friend, so there's space to put them somewhere with a door. AND they'll have more space without being in the way of going past. Better feng shui too
It'll be a bit awkward cleaning out the cages when they're upstairs - but perhaps I just need to use a different lining, that can be chucked in a bag and then into the washing machine on a hot wash.

Pseudomonas can cause respiratory infections sometimes, but principally in people with cystic fibrosis. It's more likely to infect wounds and cuts, but again principally in the immunocompromised.

Anyway, they are trying different drugs next week, ones indicated by the C&S test, so hopefully those will be effective and the copious sneezing will stop.