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Back from vets with Simba

F

Fayelou

Alpha Buck
Hi all

Well, I have been to the vets with Simba this morning. It wasn't the vets I wanted to go to, but one she has been to twice before (though she has now seen a total of 3 vets there). I don't think they are very rabbit savvy but I couldn't wait for her to go to the other one, as te rabbit savvy vet wasn't working today.

The vet today listened to her chest and said her lungs were "crackly" and prescribed 3 weeks of baytril. 0.5ml twice a day and 0.1ml of metacam once a day. I asked the vet to check her teeth after being told on here that could be the problem.

She said that it is a respiratory infection and not to do with teeth, said her teeth were fine at a glance but they couldn't see properly unless putting her under anasthetic and that would be dangerous with her being snotty and sneezy.

She said that if this doesn't work, the only other option is penicillin by injection 5 once a day for five days and that would come with a big risk.

Simba is as usual eating, drinking and weeing etc and seems fine other than loads of snot and sneezes.

What do you all think :(
 
Fayelou said:
Hi all

Well, I have been to the vets with Simba this morning. It wasn't the vets I wanted to go to, but one she has been to twice before (though she has now seen a total of 3 vets there). I don't think they are very rabbit savvy but I couldn't wait for her to go to the other one, as te rabbit savvy vet wasn't working today.

The vet today listened to her chest and said her lungs were "crackly" and prescribed 3 weeks of baytril. 0.5ml twice a day and 0.1ml of metacam once a day. I asked the vet to check her teeth after being told on here that could be the problem.

She said that it is a respiratory infection and not to do with teeth, said her teeth were fine at a glance but they couldn't see properly unless putting her under anasthetic and that would be dangerous with her being snotty and sneezy.

She said that if this doesn't work, the only other option is penicillin by injection 5 once a day for five days and that would come with a big risk.

Simba is as usual eating, drinking and weeing etc and seems fine other than loads of snot and sneezes.

What do you all think :(
Click to expand...

That is illogical to prescribe the same antibiotic when bacteria have just had a nice little interval of a few days to become resistant to it. A human doctor wouldn't do that.

There are other antibiotics that can be used in rabbits - if they are the right ones for the infection - before trying injectables, but a lot of vets won't stock them. (I've been advised this by Ashleigh when I asked if they could fax repeat prescriptions to the vet down the road from me to save me travelling to pick stuff up.)

Obviously I am biased and could be basing too much on my personal experiences, but I would take her to a vet that is better with rabbits in the hope of heading off greater problems and higher bills in the future.

It sounds like Ashleigh was hard for you to travel to. Could you have a look for other vets that are near your home or work, give them a call and ask if they have any exotics or rabbits specialists?
 
Hi Vita

Ashleighs isn't hard to get to really, it's just my boyfriend is in the army and only home at weekends to drive there as I don't have a car.

The baytril did seem to help when she had 10 days of it before, maybe she does need a longer course?

I didn't go to Ashleighs as there were no rabbit specialists working today, so with that in mind I thought it would be best to go to the one I went to last time who aren't rabbit specialists rather than go to a whole new one with no notes who aren't rabbit specialsts?

She is booked in to see Aiden next Saturday anyway, so maybe I should still take her there? I just didn't want to wait to take her somewhere as her sneezing has been so bad.

Yes I agree, I thought there would be more options? It sounded like they would give up on her easily and why should you give up on a bun who is oterwise happy and has a good quality of life?
 
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The following is what I would do, but it seems only right to re-print part the caveat at the top of the page: you are sharing personal experience and not giving instructions on what must be done. Whilst I've done a lot of reading, I've only had rabbits for a short time.

And only you know how flexible you can be with your budget, and how flexible and friendly your employer might be with accommodating early morning or evening vet appointments.

I would call Ashleighs or another rabbit specialist practice soon and tell them you need to speak to a vet ... Ask what would they want you to do re. continuing the Baytril given that it looks like she needs a C&S test soon. (The rabbit needs to be off antibiotics for at least 10 days before the tests can be done usefully.) I don't know if they would want to see the rabbit for a separate appointment before doing the test - they might well do. I also don't know if they can do a C&S test & x ray at a weekend. You could also use that appointment to ask about the Bisolvon that others have mentioned.
 
The vet I saw today said se wanted to see Simba again in 3 weeks. I would rather take her to a rabbit savvy vet in 3 weeks. Obviously if I see an improvement, I won't hesitate to take her back next weekend if she is still bad.

I will do everything I can for her, I don't have a massive budget really but I did realise vet treatment may be needed before I got Simba so I have enough if stuck. I have taken out Pet Plan now but I doubt that will cover her. Pets at home gave me back the money for her first 2 vet visits as I only got her in August.

I just want to do everything I can to help her. I really hope the baytril works this time.

I was quite concerned she said her lungs were crackly, previously the vet said they were ok :(:(
 
She had a little carrot when she came back, and has had some baytril and metacam but she is just lying in her cage with her head down at the moment. I really hope she is just tired
 
That must be worrying. Hopefully she will perk up soon and is just hiding because she didn't like it at the vets.

& I hope some more experienced posters will be along with some more advice for you.
 
Thanks for your input as always Vita, how are your two now? Hope they are responding well to treatment.

Yes, she is very sneezy and quiet this afternoon, probably worn out from it all poor little thing. She has a nice fresh bed and her teddy with her xx
 
Ada seems to be getting slowly better. She still sneezes, but more softly and the fits are shorter. But I saw Beatrix sneeze four times yesterday, which is a record (she's never sneezed much). The vets said it's unlikely to be the same problem as the bacteria discovered in Ada are not often transmitted directly. Glad we're getting somewhere with A anyway.
 
She said that if this doesn't work, the only other option is penicillin by injection 5 once a day for five days and that would come with a big risk.

Simba is as usual eating, drinking and weeing etc and seems fine other than loads of snot and sneezes.

What do you all think :([/QUOTE]

my vet said the same thing to me about the penicillin
 
125.jpg


She is just lying like this
 
Oh gosh, the poor little thing!

If you're really worried, maybe post something in Rabbit Chat and someone who's more of an old hand may see it.

If one of mine was like that for half a day I'd be looking at getting to the vet tomorrow morning and quite possibly earlier, but I possibly worry too much.

Also, are those woodshavings under the hay? They're not good for buns with respiratory infections... just more bedding hay is better
 
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Yes, never normally use them but the other half put some in without knowing. He just put a bit in the corner where she wees.

She actually isn;t sneezing very much at all at the moment. Just sat or laid down. Maybe she is just tired, going to give it maybe 3 hours and then think about taking her back as an emergency, just don't want to stress her going back and forth and course more unrest.

I will remove the shavings when she comes out again, just don't think she would be too happy with me right now if I moved her
 
Just went to the loo and came back and she is on the sofa with me now, she had jumped up! so pleased. She is stretched out on my knee now. Have some cuddles then going to empty out the sawdust.

She just did a single horrid sneeze, but hope the baytril kicks in. She is in the living room with me all night and i will be taking her next to my bed tonight too.

She seems very lazy today, hope she picks up later
 
Update...not going five mins without sneezing.

She is only a baby. 6 months old. I don't want to lose her.

When will the baytril kick in :(
 
So sorry to hear this :(

These would seem to be the options:
- go to Ashleighs and ask if they can see her as an emergency (they are open 10-11am)
- take her to the PetMedics emergency vets
- just wait
- see if anyone on here has any other ideas for home treatment (maybe update the thread title - by editing your first post - to something like She's worse- advice / help please)

I think a non rabbit specialist vet who works with rabbit specialist vets (and indeed have one as their boss / partner) would be better than one from a generic cat-and-dog practice, but that's just my opinion / assumption.
 
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She is actually hopping about this morning and still eating, drinking, pooing and acting bunny like. Glad she isn't just laid down.

I am definitely going to give Ashleighs a ring, I didn;t know they were open today. I dont think Pet Medics would do any more for her as they prescribed meds yesterday and don't want to give her the stress of another car journey (and it would be a taxi today) unless I really need to.

It is so hard to know what to do for the best!
 
Update...Simba going no more than 5 mins without sneezing

Hi

I have phoned Ashleighs vets today and they said they have rabbit specialist on tomorrow, so I have made an appointment for after work.

She was booked in for next Saturday anyway, so I am in all day today and will monitor her and if I see no improvement I will take her tomorrow evening. I am just hesitant to take her unless I really need to as she really isn't a fan of car journies and don't want to stress her out unless needed
 
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