• Forum/Server Upgrade If you are reading this you have made it to the upgraded forum. Posts made on the old forum after 26th October 2023 have not been transfered. Everything else should be here. If you find any issues please let us know.
  • Please Note - Medical Advice

    Please keep in mind that posts on this forum are from members of the public sharing personal opinions. It is not a replacement for qualified medical advice from a veterinarian. Many illnesses share similar symptoms but require different treatments. A medical exam is necessary for an accurate diagnosis, without which appropriate treatment cannot be given.

    You should always consult your vet before following any suggestions for medication or treatment you have read about. The wrong treatment could make your rabbit worse or mean your vet is unable to give the correct treatment because of drug interactions. Even non prescription drugs can do harm if given inappropriately.

    We are very grateful to members who take time to answer other members questions, but please do be clear in your replies that you are sharing personal experience and not giving instructions on what must be done.

    Urgent Medical Advice: If you need, or think you might need, urgent medical advice you should contact a vet. If it is out of working hours phone your vet's normal number and there should be an answer phone message with instructions on what to do.

Ongoing Respiratory Problems?

Bloomfrost

New Kit
Frost is a 4/5 month old male single unneutered Lionhead bun (Planning to get him neutered at some point after he's recovered). As for the moment he's staying in a Pet store cage at night and in the day he's a free roaming bun. He's fed on a diet of Science Selective Junior Pellets, Meadow Hay, and veggies (etc). His bedding is Wilkos Pet Woodshavings (as I was recommended to use), and he has multiple toys (and is frequently seen to, and a little cuddle monster). He was brought home from a local pet store and was previously in contact with other Rabbits at the front of the store, until moved to the back only a day or so before I bought him (I was never given a reason).

On bringing him home I noticed immediately he had a runny nose, but nothing else. He ate like a pig (no offence to pigs here, but he was very hungry), and when I felt him I could feel his backbone was very prominent. He's always been very outgoing and inquisitive, so it wasn't hard at all to get him used to humans and seemed to warm up to us pretty quickly (which was good, considering I thought he was sick, so I did have to hold him at times). I took him to the vets on the third day of owning him (for the first two days, I was keeping track and seeing if he improved at all, which he didn't).

His first vet visit was with a veterinary service who apparently offered care to all animals, but as I saw, they were mostly specialising in cats and dogs (I looked in the area for either an exotic vet or a small animal one and found none in reach). The woman was generally careful with him and performed a check up (which included her studying his nose, feeling his body, listening to his heart, and taking his temperature), she stated at the end that he had a suspected respiratory infection and that he'd need antibiotics. She didn't prescribe anything else, or mention what I could do at home, etc. All she stated was that he'd need to come back for another injection, and it would have to be regular until the symptoms stopped. Instead I left feeling a little hopeless.

Well, the symptoms persisted for the next three appointments (and has been very costly), and I have to admit, all he was being given was an injection and I was given no other advice. On around the third appointment there was a new vet helping us with him, and she gave slightly more knowledge than the other woman. She stated it would take over three or more injections to fix him up, and it would be best to continue on time. I asked what could be causing the infection and she stated it was being in contact with other Rabbits which gave it him. There wasn't much more I could say, so all I have been doing is keeping eyes on him and taking him back for regular appointments. It's been over five injections now, and I have to admit it's getting a little silly. I feel like I'm going on a wild goose chase, and I think I'm going to have go back for a sixth appointment now (which I definitely wasn't planning for). With the holidays, having to keep up with work (and other pets), It really is stressful. I've barely owned him for long and the poor mite has been ushered in and out of the house, I can't imagine how terrifying it is for him.

So far, his symptoms is mostly nose related. He's eating fine these days, still thin and leaping for food when he can, but his nose is showing a lot of discharge and he does frequently sneeze. As for the moment I can't think of any other real problems with him. Is anyone knowledgeable on this area, and if so, is there anything I can do for him? It's been hard fitting in the time to do extra research, and some answers are actually quite contradictory on the internet (so I have no clue of what he has wrong).
 
Last edited:
Poor little guy :(

Do you know what are in these injections? It does sound like an unusual treatment plan to me. For a respiratory infection I would expect the vet to give a course of baytril which the owner can give orally at home without the need for so many vet visits. If the baytril is ineffective then normally they move onto other antibiotics such as septrin which can also be given orally by the owner at home.

I would only expect injections in a case of severe snuffles after several oral antibiotics have failed and the vet has moved onto penicillin or similar which cannot be given to rabbits orally and therefore injections are the only option. To be honest though I would expect a swab and other diagnostics to be carried out before that stage though!

It might be worth getting rid of the shavings. Even dust extracted ones are dusty and if the shavings are pine then when mixed with the ammonia in pee can release phenols which can irritate a buns respiratory system. There are other options such as Fitch and megazorb which are both horse beddings and available online or at many horse stores (though I find megazorb quite dusty too) other options are back to nature litter and carefresh which whilst expensive are available in most petshops so are easier to get. Plus they come in smaller bags if you wanted to see if a change in bedding helped him at all. Or any paper based cat litter is good (has to be non clumping) and make sure your bun doesn't think it's food!!!

Hope he feels better soon!
 
Poor little guy :(

Do you know what are in these injections? It does sound like an unusual treatment plan to me. For a respiratory infection I would expect the vet to give a course of baytril which the owner can give orally at home without the need for so many vet visits. If the baytril is ineffective then normally they move onto other antibiotics such as septrin which can also be given orally by the owner at home.

I would only expect injections in a case of severe snuffles after several oral antibiotics have failed and the vet has moved onto penicillin or similar which cannot be given to rabbits orally and therefore injections are the only option. To be honest though I would expect a swab and other diagnostics to be carried out before that stage though!

It might be worth getting rid of the shavings. Even dust extracted ones are dusty and if the shavings are pine then when mixed with the ammonia in pee can release phenols which can irritate a buns respiratory system. There are other options such as Fitch and megazorb which are both horse beddings and available online or at many horse stores (though I find megazorb quite dusty too) other options are back to nature litter and carefresh which whilst expensive are available in most petshops so are easier to get. Plus they come in smaller bags if you wanted to see if a change in bedding helped him at all. Or any paper based cat litter is good (has to be non clumping) and make sure your bun doesn't think it's food!!!

Hope he feels better soon!

Thank you for your reply :).

Unfortunately, I wasn't told what they were prescribing him, as it was only administered at the veterinary clinic itself and was never clarified. The first time it was given, after the check up, she briefly explained it was a respiratory infection (or from what she suspected), and explained she'd give him an injection that would hopefully clear it up (without clarifying). If the symptoms persisted, he was to come back in the following days to have another administered. The appointments continued, and the next vet we actually saw must of already assumed that we understood what was happening, when in reality we were clueless :?. She gave a different story and explained it would take from three to four injections to clear up the infection, of course, when we went back for number five she then explained it was always best to do an extra one just to be sure it clears up.

He's still active, binkies, flops, etc. Though I am worried It's progressively getting worse (I've heard the sneezing myself more often that not, along with his nose being constantly wet and gunky, which has to be wiped and cleaned but later returns the next day).

Thanks for the warning on the bedding- I must've completely lost my track of mind on the bedding (I named the wrong one). He's currently on Home and Bargains Snowflake Animal Bedding (linked here). It does definitely smell like pine- though Is it alright if I ask on expanding on what the dangers are of it (or, what effects it has and how it affects the rabbit)? I'll be changing the bedding soon, as even I don't entirely like the shavings (after looking into fitch, it doesn't look too bad at all).
 
Last edited:
Sorry to hear that your Bunny is having ongoing problems. It sounds as though he developed the symptoms whilst at the Pet Shop, hence they isolated him and frankly they have broken the law by then selling him to you. However, we'll leave that issue for now and focus on trying to get your Bunny better.

I would suggest trying to locate a 'Rabbit Savvy' Vet. It can prove to be very unhelpful (and expensive) to stick with a Vet/Vet Practice who just seem to dole out antibiotics without giving any real explanation as to what may be going on. Unfortunately 'Snuffles' is a very common problem for Pet Shop Rabbits. It is because 'Snuffles' can be triggered by over-crowded and stressful environments (ie a Pet Shop). Baby Rabbits in Pet Shops really do get a poor deal as they are usually from intensively bred 'stock' (think Puppy Mills) and taken away from their mother at 6-8 weeks and transported by van to a Pet Shop. Then there is all the hustle and bustle of being in a retail environment for days or weeks on end.

Treating Snuffles can involve a multifaceted approach and the treatment often needs to go on for weeks, sometimes even months. Treatments usually include a systemic antibiotic, a non steroidal anti-inflammatory (to address inflammation in the respiratory tract), ensuring that the nasolacrimal ducts are clear and possibly giving an antibiotic eye drop which would also drain into the nasal passages via the nasolacrimal ducts (if not blocked). If there is a lot of thick mucus then a mucolytic such as Bisolvon can be given to thin out the mucus secretions allowing them to drain more easily. Nebulising can also be beneficial in some cases, or steam inhalations. Put simply treatment needs to include ensuring good 'drainage' of mucus, eradicating the bacteria and addressing any inflammation within the respiratory tract. Throughout treatment it is especially important to ensure that the Rabbit has optimum nutrition to keep their GI tract functioning well. A prebiotic such as Avipro can be useful to give. Some Vets are happy for complimentary treatments to be given such as Ecinachea to help boost the immune system. It is always important to discuss any complimentary treatments you want to give with the Vet caring for your Rabbit.

Good luck, 'Snuffles' can be a real pain to get under control, but dont give up hope as it is possible for things to improve a lot even if there is not a 100% cure.
 
Re your question about shavings - these can cause respiratory problems, also they can give off toxic fumes which could result in liver disease. Try to use newspaper and hay and try to keep his environment as dust/smoke free as possible. I hope you can get your bunny on the road to recovery.
 
Sorry to hear that your Bunny is having ongoing problems. It sounds as though he developed the symptoms whilst at the Pet Shop, hence they isolated him and frankly they have broken the law by then selling him to you. However, we'll leave that issue for now and focus on trying to get your Bunny better.

I would suggest trying to locate a 'Rabbit Savvy' Vet. It can prove to be very unhelpful (and expensive) to stick with a Vet/Vet Practice who just seem to dole out antibiotics without giving any real explanation as to what may be going on. Unfortunately 'Snuffles' is a very common problem for Pet Shop Rabbits. It is because 'Snuffles' can be triggered by over-crowded and stressful environments (ie a Pet Shop). Baby Rabbits in Pet Shops really do get a poor deal as they are usually from intensively bred 'stock' (think Puppy Mills) and taken away from their mother at 6-8 weeks and transported by van to a Pet Shop. Then there is all the hustle and bustle of being in a retail environment for days or weeks on end.

Treating Snuffles can involve a multifaceted approach and the treatment often needs to go on for weeks, sometimes even months. Treatments usually include a systemic antibiotic, a non steroidal anti-inflammatory (to address inflammation in the respiratory tract), ensuring that the nasolacrimal ducts are clear and possibly giving an antibiotic eye drop which would also drain into the nasal passages via the nasolacrimal ducts (if not blocked). If there is a lot of thick mucus then a mucolytic such as Bisolvon can be given to thin out the mucus secretions allowing them to drain more easily. Nebulising can also be beneficial in some cases, or steam inhalations. Put simply treatment needs to include ensuring good 'drainage' of mucus, eradicating the bacteria and addressing any inflammation within the respiratory tract. Throughout treatment it is especially important to ensure that the Rabbit has optimum nutrition to keep their GI tract functioning well. A prebiotic such as Avipro can be useful to give. Some Vets are happy for complimentary treatments to be given such as Ecinachea to help boost the immune system. It is always important to discuss any complimentary treatments you want to give with the Vet caring for your Rabbit.

Good luck, 'Snuffles' can be a real pain to get under control, but dont give up hope as it is possible for things to improve a lot even if there is not a 100% cure.

Thank you for your reply. :)

Unfortunately I don't know of any nearby vets that specialise in animals such as Rabbits, the most I can get is obscure veterinary clinics that don't offer nearly as much as the one Frost is going to. If I could take him to one- I definitely would. The pet store itself are willing to refund the money (but aren't taking any part in his condition), so I can only count that as one blessing (although it will be hectic driving back and forth again).

Just now I managed to find the receipts, and luckily they told us what the vet would not. What he's currently getting is the Alamycin LA Injection (100ml), which has been injected over five times now. As you said it's snuffles, can you expand on what it does to the Rabbit itself (and if it's fatal or severely dangerous if left)? I'm worried this will be an ongoing problem and he won't ever fully recover (as you said, no 100% cure)? And, if it's something he's unable to fully ever be free of, will he be having to go to vet appointments/taking medication for the rest of his years? Sadly, I'm really not knowledgeable in the health section of care. Also, speaking away from the vet- is there anything I could do at home (safely), that could possibly help him? He's a healthy Rabbit, eats like crazy, energetic, his urine and feces are completely normal. It's just his nose which is the issue (and the sneezing the sneezing that comes with it).
 
Last edited:
Thank you for your reply. :)

Unfortunately I don't know of any nearby vets that specialise in animals such as Rabbits, the most I can get is obscure veterinary clinics that don't offer nearly as much as the one Frost is going to. If I could take him to one- I definitely would. The pet store itself are willing to refund the money (but aren't taking any part in his condition), so I can only count that as one blessing (although it will be hectic driving back and forth again).

Just now I managed to find the receipts, and luckily they told us what the vet would not. What he's currently getting is the Alamycin LA Injection (100ml), which has been injected over five times now. As you said it's snuffles, can you expand on what it does to the Rabbit itself (and if it's fatal or severely dangerous if left)? I'm worried this will be an ongoing problem and he won't ever fully recover (as you said, no 100% cure)? And, if it's something he's unable to fully ever be free of, will he be having to go to vet appointments/taking medication for the rest of his years? Sadly, I'm really not knowledgeable in the health section of care. Also, speaking away from the vet- is there anything I could do at home (safely), that could possibly help him? He's a healthy Rabbit, eats like crazy, energetic, his urine and feces are completely normal. It's just his nose which is the issue (and the sneezing the sneezing that comes with it).

Are you in the UK ?
 
Thank you for your reply. :)

Unfortunately I don't know of any nearby vets that specialise in animals such as Rabbits, the most I can get is obscure veterinary clinics that don't offer nearly as much as the one Frost is going to. If I could take him to one- I definitely would. The pet store itself are willing to refund the money (but aren't taking any part in his condition), so I can only count that as one blessing (although it will be hectic driving back and forth again).

Just now I managed to find the receipts, and luckily they told us what the vet would not. What he's currently getting is the Alamycin LA Injection (100ml), which has been injected over five times now. As you said it's snuffles, can you expand on what it does to the Rabbit itself (and if it's fatal or severely dangerous if left)? I'm worried this will be an ongoing problem and he won't ever fully recover (as you said, no 100% cure)? And, if it's something he's unable to fully ever be free of, will he be having to go to vet appointments/taking medication for the rest of his years? Sadly, I'm really not knowledgeable in the health section of care. Also, speaking away from the vet- is there anything I could do at home (safely), that could possibly help him? He's a healthy Rabbit, eats like crazy, energetic, his urine and feces are completely normal. It's just his nose which is the issue (and the sneezing the sneezing that comes with it).

Poor you, I'm sorry you and your little one have had all this stress at the beginning of your relationship together.

The antibiotic prescribed and injected by your vet is certainly active against Pasturella, which is the bacterium involved in a lot of cases of Rabbit 'Snuffles'. It's usually administered intramuscularly - directly into the muscle tissue, otherwise it would be simple for your vet to show you how it's done.

It's worth consulting your vet and ask what you can do yourself in the way of injections, treatments etc, so you don't have to make so many visits. Besides being very expensive for you, it's hard on the little chap too.

Good luck xx
 
Cheshire area ? If so Molly Varga is an excellent Rabbit Vet

http://www.cheshirepet.co.uk/?team-member=molly-varga

Or Aidan Raftery in Manchester

http://ashleigh-veterinary-centre.com/staff-by-departments/veterinary-surgeons/

Just thinking that if you could find a Vet who is Rabbit savvy and in whom you can have confidence it might be more helpful to you in the longterm.

Unfortunately neither are in reach. :(
We've organised an appointment over in preston to get him seen to by another vet, and we're hoping they are 'Rabbit Savvy'. If not- there's no other real options. He'll be going on sunday, so we'll see if we can get some answers there. I'm really stressing if this is long term (meaning he can't fully recover). Do you know how long this will take, and what course of action I should take? He's still getting injections- though will this even help him? It seems to be doing nothing.
 
Last edited:
Unfortunately neither are in reach. :(
We've organised an appointment over in preston to get him seen to by another vet, and we're hoping they are 'Rabbit Savvy'. If not- there's no other real options. He'll be going on sunday, so we'll see if we can get some answers there. I'm really stressing if this is long term (meaning he can't fully recover). Do you know how long this will take, and what course of action I should take? He's still getting injections- though will this even help him? It seems to be doing nothing.

Whether the antibiotic injections help or not really depends on if the bacteria are sensitive to the antibiotic used. As I think I mentioned in a previous post, treatment for 'Snuffles' can be a big challenge and it is often the case that treatment needs to be ongoing for several months. I do hope that the Vet you are due to see on Sunday is 'Rabbit Savvy' and that you can then start to feel more confident in any advice/treatment given.
 
Whether the antibiotic injections help or not really depends on if the bacteria are sensitive to the antibiotic used. As I think I mentioned in a previous post, treatment for 'Snuffles' can be a big challenge and it is often the case that treatment needs to be ongoing for several months. I do hope that the Vet you are due to see on Sunday is 'Rabbit Savvy' and that you can then start to feel more confident in any advice/treatment given.

Thankyou,
Just a small update, I went back to the pet store he was bought in today and I actually met a new employe who seemed quite knowledgable. They originally offered to pay for vet appointments, so I went to return in the recits and get a refund. I got into a chat with a woman who said they originally they had a case of snuffles, and usually the Rabbits would've been put into the back (away from adoption), to be given time to recover (although never specified if that had happened in the past or if any Rabbits were affected). I explained the only symptom he had was discharge from his nose, sneezing and nothing else. She began talking about beddings, that it might be he's allergic- so she ended up into talking me into buying a large bag of Bio-Catolet cat litter (which she said was safe and would be a great substitute). So far the litter itself seems fine enough, though I'm just checking up on here if it's safe?
He'll be on his way to the vets tomorrow, and I'm going to be asking some 'in depth' questions, hoping to get answers. x
 
Back
Top