Nursing a vaccinated myxi rabbit

I'm new to the forum and have been going through lots of past posts but none quite cover my situation so I'm hoping that someone out there may have some pearls of wisdom. My gorgeous 10 month old cross Rex/giant bunny has had myxi and is currently still with us. He was vaccinated with the new combined nobivac back in July. He displayed myxi signs very suddenly whilst we were away from home. He was rushed to a very good vet (sadly it's not his usual vet as I cannot seem to find any good rabbit ones where we live) and went straight onto the baytril and metacam.

Contrary to everything I have read about vaccinated rabbits he had a very bad outbreak and his whole head was covered in nodules which slowly scabbed over. In himself he was relatively normal - aside from a couple of days of being a little bit less active he eat, drank, excreted normally and as a big rabbit he eats a lot!

When we came home took him to his regular vet along with the history from the temporary vet. Over the next two weeks the scabs got worse and started coming off in big chunks so back to the vets. Told them I was worried that he had reached a stalemate and needed something stronger. Dose of baytril was increased but metacam decreased as he didn't seem in pain. After another week and a half with more online research on my part, and him starting to struggle more with breathing I went back and asked for penicillin injections as I was concerned that the scabs might be secondary vent infection.

I don't have a very sympathetic vet at the moment. Their view has been to pts. Despite him being vaccinated and despite him being an active rabbit - he even continues to put on weight between every vet visit. They gave him the injection yesterday and so I have stopped the baytril. Vet said he wouldn't last 24hrs. Well it's been over 24hrs and he is no worse. His breathing is still difficult because of the swelling in his nose so I'm going back tomorrow to try to get some bisolvon (saw a thread on here).

Is there anything else I can do? It's been just over 4 weeks now. He stays indoors, has regular olbas oil steams, still eats everything in sight (including the odd cable when we forget to hide them). I'm also giving him plantain and willow as natural pain relief but have no more metacam - should I ask for this - not sure if it can be given after the penicillin. If anyone can suggest anything I would be very grateful!

I should add - he remains with his bonded mate. She is a 5 1/2 year old long haired lop who is a battle axe and (fingers crossed, so far anyway) survives anything. She is also vaccinated and we didn't separate them because the temporary vet said basically if she was going to get it she would have it by now and keeping them together would stop him stressing out. It seems to have been a wise move.

I know the situation may still end up badly - we had to pts our other 5 year old who caught a bad infection. However, that one was a more obvious situation - he very clearly didn't have the strength to get through it. That said the actual act of pts was not as stress free as the vet made out it would (different vet - I moved vets because of the trauma suffered by the first bunny). The new young Rex was a companion for the remaining bunny and he has given her a new lease of life. Really don't want to lose him :-(

Sorry to hear your bun is so poorly. Just bumping up for you, I hope he's better soon xx

I am afraid I have no advice so just bumping this up for you.

Hope he is feeling better soon.

Quick vet update - I'm thinking of reporting them. They have been so utterly useless. Bunny has improved a little overnight - he is still his normal active self but his breathing sounds clearer. Asked the vet for bisolvon. They're response has been to shrug their shoulders and say its myxi - it's inevitable that he'll die and we should put him out of his misery. He's not in misery - he's just breathing heavy and has lots of skin patches where the scabs have come off. All I wanted was something to reduce the swelling in his nose. Have again had to beg for medication. Ridiculous situation of me trawling through vet sources online for info and then getting my so-called vet to just sign the prescription and let me get on with things.

If anyone knows of a good rabbit vet in the Hertford or Harlow area please shout up - companion care seem to be treating him like a low value child's pet who can be replaced and all I ever seem to get is different locum vets each time :-(

Hi my bunny has myxi atm too he's been given baytril and metacam the first week and we have another week in this to see if it will help his secondary infection which is the snuffles, so sounds like your bunny has the snuffles too, like they have a cold? My vet said that if its no better by the next visit he will let me do the injection antibiotics which I think will be a different type. Woodys got a nodule on his eye which has fallen off now and his nose looks awful! Ive noticed more scabs on his head but someone told me on here when they scab up and fall off thats a good thing. I would see if you can find a better vet, mines never once suggested pts. I was just pleased he'd made it to his nxt vet visit! Woody is still eating, drinking and pooing ok. From what I understand the antibiotics are for any secondary infections that might occur, the baytril is for pain and anti inflammatory. Hope your bun gets better soon x

Also, id do a separate post asking for a decent vet, you might get more ppl reply x

No experience with Myxi.

But keep fighting for your rabbit unless he shows you he wants to go.

Sending lots of healing vibes for your rabbit.

My rabbit is fighting myxi, she has been for five weeks now. she is getting better. all that is wrong with her now is one eye still weeping and occasionally a bit of a sniff...

she was on metacam x twice daily (now dropped to once daily) and antibiotic injection... daily...

I have a great vet but he is in Kent I am afraid, I would post a separate thread asking for rabbit savvy vet in your area.

I can recommend an excellent myxi vet - but its a bit of a drive from you

Cambridge Veterinary Group 01223 249331

Ask to see Jilly Pearson or Iain Cope Urgently

As well as Bisolvon you need high doses of metacam still for its anti-inflammatory and also abx for the respiratory - also at tis stage I would recommend having something like Avipro C or High Vit to get vitamins into him. If the nose is blocked you can try spraying a nasal saline spray PAST the nose as he breathes in (NOT up it).

What you also need is a nebuliser and F10 to use in it. The vet can recommend I expect - we have one and it has been miraculous in respiratory and myxi related cases.

Of the 3 myxi cases we have had of vaccinated rabbits over the years we had one survive and was totally fine (lived another 8 years); one survived but died a year later of kidney failure probably related to damage done by myxi; and another who just did not make it despite everything we (and he) did

very best of luck

Another option for vets is the Rabbit Welfare Association list they assess rabbit knowledge before adding a vet to their list: http://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/

How long has he had them now? It's not a quick illness, I think around 4-6 weeks is normal for the cycle so it doesn't sound that outside the norm yet. It's most common for them just to have one or two though, so it might be if he's got lots that's slowing progress down. Have the lump/scabs dropped off yet?

I think it's important to judge on how he's doing, so weight, behaviour, eating habits etc. should help you decide what's best for his welfare.

It can last months if its really hit hard . . . Viola Rose took about 3-4 months;

Thanks so much for the replies. Some great stuff in there that I hadn't read about before.

Am pleased to say we've found a new vet - they are not specialists but at least have experience of myxi and are focused on treatment. He is taking the bolsovon daily and over the weekend was back to his toddler like self of running around the house and getting into mischief. Breathing is still heavy so new vet is seeing him twice this week and working on a plan. Just feel relieved that someone else could see that he isn't ready to give up and even if he stayed as he is he would have a very good quality of life.

5 years ago my rex caught nodular myxie - he was also vaccinated. Same as with your boy he came in and had metacam and baytril - his was quite severe (see pictures) it was really important that he stays on the metacam and tempting to eat - antibiotics for covering infection. Since then he has been quite a snuffly bunny - lost his top incisors as he was only a baby when he had it. He is now snuffly but keeps weight on and loves his wifebun who stayed with him throughout.

[/URL][/IMG]

[/URL][/IMG]

This is the pair today :

[/URL][/IMG]

And mr bob with his little scars:

amaeving said:

5 years ago my rex caught nodular myxie - he was also vaccinated. Same as with your boy he came in and had metacam and baytril - his was quite severe (see pictures) it was really important that he stays on the metacam and tempting to eat - antibiotics for covering infection. Since then he has been quite a snuffly bunny - lost his top incisors as he was only a baby when he had it. He is now snuffly but keeps weight on and loves his wifebun who stayed with him throughout.

[/URL][/IMG]

[/URL][/IMG]

This is the pair today :

[/URL][/IMG]

And mr bob with his little scars:

Click to expand...

OMG poor little man! He has recovered so well!!!! My rex also has myxi and is loosing part of his nose, it looks like your bun has lost some of his too? How does this affect him? Sorry to jump on the thread im just desperate for any info.

He just has scarring around his nose - doesn't affect him at all, he still eats faster than his girl, can still chin all his stuff, the only thing we do have to do is monitor his lungs and if he has bad patch with his snuffles (approx every 6 months or so) gets a couple of days nebulisation. Unless you see photos of how bad he was, you would't know he had been ill 5 yearss ago!

Those before photos look terrible - and very familiar for me. So glad he got through it. The latest on my little one is that we changed vets - he's had far better care from day one. And he has just had his last penicillin injection. He has continued to put on weight - up to 4.5kg now. Bad news is that he has lost his nose. But he should get much of the tissue back and he hardly has any scars on his ears. His eyes are completely back to normal. If it wasn't for the look of his nose you would never know he had been ill - his breathing is back to normal (though louder without his nose!). And to think that companion care vets wouldn't do anything except put him down. Here's proof that there are some lucky ones.

Abbotts Buns said:

Those before photos look terrible - and very familiar for me. So glad he got through it. The latest on my little one is that we changed vets - he's had far better care from day one. And he has just had his last penicillin injection. He has continued to put on weight - up to 4.5kg now. Bad news is that he has lost his nose. But he should get much of the tissue back and he hardly has any scars on his ears. His eyes are completely back to normal. If it wasn't for the look of his nose you would never know he had been ill - his breathing is back to normal (though louder without his nose!). And to think that companion care vets wouldn't do anything except put him down. Here's proof that there are some lucky ones.

Click to expand...

So glad to hear you were able to get better care for your bunny. Woody has also lost his nose but it doesnt even look bad. Weve had our last vet trip tonight too Lucky bunnies hey!

So pleased to hear that he has pulled through