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Mimi Snuffles- U/D I think the humidifier helped!.

G

Gemmapookie

Wise Old Thumper
So a couple of weeks ago I noticed Mimi was sneezing more than usual and her nose was a bit wet (no white discharge so far.)

The vet examined her thoroughly and said that her lungs, ears and throat are clear and there is an infection in her nasal passages.

She had a week of Marbocyl and it seemed to clear it up, then 3 days later she started sneezing again although nowhere near as much. I went back to the vets and got another week of Marbocyl and he also gave me some Fradexam eye drops, with the explaination that they would run down into her nasal passages.

A week later and she seemed good again and wasnt sneezing atall. But last night, again 3 days after stopping the antibiotics, I heard her sneeze twice :cry:

Im not really sure where to go from here. Do those of you with snuffle buns have your buns on antibiotics all the time or just if they have a flare up? This is all new to me .

Im going away in a weeks time so Im worried about leaving her :(
 
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You ideally need a long course of antibiotics. Talk to your vet about keeping her on for two weeks after symptoms stop. If you catch it early she should only need to go on antibiotics when it flares up.
 
Jenova said:
You ideally need a long course of antibiotics. Talk to your vet about keeping her on for two weeks after symptoms stop. If you catch it early she should only need to go on antibiotics when it flares up.
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Thanks Jenova :wave:

I'll go in and have a chat with him today.
 
Absolutely, longer courses make all the difference. :)
Was there sensitivity testing on the bacteria to see which abx would be most effective? If not sometimes you have to go through a few. It takes about 2 weeks from the end of using one antibiotic before you can test again.
Also perhaps something to help keep the gut flora growing well would help bunny's tummy not feel wonky. :)
Sending vibes to dear Mimi ((((((((healing vibes)))))))) xxxx
 
MimzMum said:
Absolutely, longer courses make all the difference. :)
Was there sensitivity testing on the bacteria to see which abx would be most effective? If not sometimes you have to go through a few. It takes about 2 weeks from the end of using one antibiotic before you can test again.
Also perhaps something to help keep the gut flora growing well would help bunny's tummy not feel wonky. :)
Sending vibes to dear Mimi ((((((((healing vibes)))))))) xxxx
Click to expand...

Thankyou, we have been using probiotics in her water to keep her tum happy :)

Argh, Im so worried about leaving her now. Having to leave my bunny sitters to medicate her would be a nightmare :cry:
 
So we went back to the vet today. He doesnt want to give her any more antibiotics incase it upsets her stomach. My vet is always SUPER cautious about over medicating (very frustrating sometimes!)
He thinks its a long term problem that we will have to manage for the rest of her life. He told me to get some Eucalyptus and put a few drops in some hot water next to where she sleeps (but obviously so that they cant reach it.) She sleeps under my bed so that should be enough cover. We're to try this for a week and see if it helps, if she gets any worse in the mean time Im to take her back.
It has just occured to me that the family I work for have a humidifier which we use when the kids have a cold. If I could borrow it do you think it might help to set it up in Mimis room over night, with a drop of the Eucalyptus in it?
Thanks in advance for the advice :wave:
 
Does she still have an active infection? If she still has an infection she really needs antibiotics.

When Bluebell was younger we used to just treat his infections as and when he had them.

As he got older they became more frequent, scar tissue built up and eventually he just couldn't fight them off and was on permanent meds. He was on antibiotics daily for years.

You could ask your vet to carry out a culture and sensitivity test that would tell you what antibiotics would be appropriate as there are lots of different infections and not all antibiotics are effective at fighting all of them.

I'm not a fan of Eucalyptus for rabbits, I don't know why I just feel their noses are so sensitive it must be very overpowering for them.
 
Amy104 said:
Does she still have an active infection? If she still has an infection she really needs antibiotics.

When Bluebell was younger we used to just treat his infections as and when he had them.

As he got older they became more frequent, scar tissue built up and eventually he just couldn't fight them off and was on permanent meds. He was on antibiotics daily for years.

You could ask your vet to carry out a culture and sensitivity test that would tell you what antibiotics would be appropriate as there are lots of different infections and not all antibiotics are effective at fighting all of them.

I'm not a fan of Eucalyptus for rabbits, I don't know why I just feel their noses are so sensitive it must be very overpowering for them.
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Thankyou :wave:

Im not sure but I would think that the infection is still active as shes sneezing?

I think I want a second opinion, especially if this is to be on going. Theres a rabbit specialist vet thats an hours drive away. Ive been reluctant to take her because of the stress it will cause her, but I think its necessary now.
Unfortunately it will have to wait until I get back from the UK though as I just dont have time before I go.
Argh, hate leaving her like this :cry:
 
Do you have someone you can rely on looking after her whilst you are away, I know it is stressful leaving them when they are poorly but if you have someone you trust looking after her who can take her back to the vet if necessary it will give you some peace of mind.

A steamy bathroom can help shift excess mucus and make her breath easier, but I agree a second opinion seems necessary as personally I would want her on a longer course of antibiotics if there is still an active infection.
 
So do you think using a humidifier in her room for a few hours a day might help? Im slightly confused because having read the snuffle bunny thread i think the general concensus is that humidity ca make snuffles worse, but then some people use steam to help clear their passages as you say :?

I have 2 very good trusted friends caring for them while Im away, and my vets is a 2 min drive away if theres an emergency. If she becomes very sick though I just wont go, I couldnt :(

I will definitely seek a second opinion from the Rabbit specialist vets then. I totally agree that she needs more antibiotics. Unfortunately trying to convince my vet of this is like pulling teeth :roll:

Thanks for your advice :wave:
 
I would go to the specialist as they can prescribe different drugs. Doughnut has been given veraflox as an antibiotic but I can't get that from my vets, maybe he will recommend something more specific for you which will help more. Doughnut doesn't have sniffles though so I'm not saying verfalox is the right one for mimi, just giving an example that the vets would give a general antibiotic whereas a specialist who has more knowledge knows what one is best!

I have no idea about humidifiers but good luck.
 
cpayne said:
I would go to the specialist as they can prescribe different drugs. Doughnut has been given veraflox as an antibiotic but I can't get that from my vets, maybe he will recommend something more specific for you which will help more. Doughnut doesn't have sniffles though so I'm not saying verfalox is the right one for mimi, just giving an example that the vets would give a general antibiotic whereas a specialist who has more knowledge knows what one is best!

I have no idea about humidifiers but good luck.
Click to expand...

Thankyou :wave:
 
I honestly don't know but I doubt there is harm in trying.

We only used the steam with Bluebell for short periods. I think because it wasn't a constant exposure that it did what it needed to do (breaking down the mucus) but didn't have the adverse affects that hot days had on him. Remember every healthy buns are very sensitive on hot days, so its no wonder that it affects poorly buns adversly.

Eventually we bought a nebuliser and it improved his quality of life imensly, best investment I ever made.
 
Amy104 said:
I honestly don't know but I doubt there is harm in trying.

We only used the steam with Bluebell for short periods. I think because it wasn't a constant exposure that it did what it needed to do (breaking down the mucus) but didn't have the adverse affects that hot days had on him. Remember every healthy buns are very sensitive on hot days, so its no wonder that it affects poorly buns adversly.

Eventually we bought a nebuliser and it improved his quality of life imensly, best investment I ever made.
Click to expand...

Yes I will definitely look into getting a nebuliser in the future :(

I think I will try the humidifier with a drop of Eucalyptus for an hour or so a day and see how it goes. If I do it in my bathroom I can then put her back in to her bedroom afterwards so as shes not sitting in the humidity.

Poor Mimi :( Im reeling a bit from the realisation I have a snuffle bun and it will probably now be a constant worry :(
 
With your sister medicating could you get the antibiotics in Mimi by putting it on a bit of food. I can't syringe Doughnut as she's a wriggler and hates being picked up. I put her three medicines on a tiny bit of weetabix. She thinks it's a treat and begs for it. Maybe try this so your sister can easily do it then.

About over medicating I wouldn't worry. Doughnut has sometimes been on 3 different things and recently had septrin which is an antibiotic twice a day for a month. I guess if the infection hasn't gone totally it will keep coming back if the antibiotics are stopped.

Anyway I'm sure a specialist will get Mimi back on track. I am constantly monitoring Doughnut. Sometimes illnesses take a while to go but you will get there.
 
Thanks again :wave:

Its actually 2 good friends I have looking after them. I can sometimes tempt her to take her meds in some mashed up banana, but as she is such a nervous bun I really dont think she'd take it off anyone but me and OH.

I cant take her to the specialist until I get back anyway as the parents of the kids I look after are going away so I'll have the kids 24/7 so I'll be working pretty much constantly. I just have to hope that the Eucalyptus and humidifier treatments help her until I get back.

Shes not breathing heavily or rapidly, nor is her breathing audible. She just sneezes occasionally and her nose is a bit damp, although the discharge is clear.

Im really worried about going though to be honest. Im really not sure what to do :cry:
 
I have no experience with snuffles. I wonder if you could call the specialist saying you are planning on coming and book an appointment, but just ask if they think it's OK to leave it. I have to call my specialist once a week, don't normally get to talk to him but the receptionist passes the message on about how she is doing and then she calls back later to advise if the medicine needs changing or anything else. I then go and see him once a month.

Maybe if your vet prescribes some more antibiotics it will put your mind at rest as she shouldn't deteriorate then.


Sorry not much help but I know what you mean. I don't want to go on holiday now for at least a year til Doughnut is med free. Well I'm hoping she will be as when I had to leave her overnight for an emergency she deteriorated and this all started 3 weeks after her being in a bunnery. I can't say anything happened there as I just don't know but I just don't want to leave her now for a long time!
 
cpayne said:
I have no experience with snuffles. I wonder if you could call the specialist saying you are planning on coming and book an appointment, but just ask if they think it's OK to leave it. I have to call my specialist once a week, don't normally get to talk to him but the receptionist passes the message on about how she is doing and then she calls back later to advise if the medicine needs changing or anything else. I then go and see him once a month.

Maybe if your vet prescribes some more antibiotics it will put your mind at rest as she shouldn't deteriorate then.


Sorry not much help but I know what you mean. I don't want to go on holiday now for at least a year til Doughnut is med free. Well I'm hoping she will be as when I had to leave her overnight for an emergency she deteriorated and this all started 3 weeks after her being in a bunnery. I can't say anything happened there as I just don't know but I just don't want to leave her now for a long time!
Click to expand...

Its auwful isnt it. Im only going back for a music festival and to see my family, but Ive spent sooooo much money on the trip, what with festival tickets, flights, transfers for both me and OH etc. This really could not have some at a worse time. I just know Im going to be so worried about her for the whole time :cry:
 
Poor Mimi Im reeling a bit from the realisation I have a snuffle bun and it will probably now be a constant worry
Click to expand...

You wont always feel worried. You'll soon adjust and learn what is normal and what is not, when they are just having a bad day or if they need to see a vet. Sometimes it can be emotionally draining but other times you'll just get on with it. Meds become part of your routine, it just becomes a way of living and you don't really dwell on it.

Of course I wish Bluebell had been healthy, but there was something about the bond we developed probably because of the ups and downs we shared between us that I don't think I'll ever get from another rabbit.

The best thing for you both is find a vet you trust who will work with you not against you and find yourself someone to watch her when you aren't there who you feel will do as good a job as you would yourself. Sometimes you need a break to balance everything out so you don't feel like you're sinking, you can't do that if you are worrying the whole time.

The first time I left Bluebell I was a mess, but he was fine without me, and each time it got that little bit easier. When I came back I was recharged and ready to start the fight all over again.
 
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