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Sneezing and discharge

kelliott4

New Kit
Hello, I got my two English rabbits from Pets at home in January and they have been sneezing the entire time.
It keeps seeming to get better before starting up again but it's never completely gone.
They have sneezing fits, white discharge from the nose and make a noise I can only liken to a quack.
I've taken them to the vets 4-5 times and given medicine which doesn't really help. I can't afford to keep taking them when it's not helping plus they find it all so stressful.
They're still eating and their poo is normal.
I'm just feeling at a loss and don't know what to do. Has anyone else experienced this?
They're indoor rabbits and have no straw in their enclosure.
 
Hello, I got my two English rabbits from Pets at home in January and they have been sneezing the entire time.
It keeps seeming to get better before starting up again but it's never completely gone.
They have sneezing fits, white discharge from the nose and make a noise I can only liken to a quack.
I've taken them to the vets 4-5 times and given medicine which doesn't really help. I can't afford to keep taking them when it's not helping plus they find it all so stressful.
They're still eating and their poo is normal.
I'm just feeling at a loss and don't know what to do. Has anyone else experienced this?
They're indoor rabbits and have no straw in their enclosure.

I presume they have hay?
What 'medicine' are you given, and what course length?
 
Yes they have hay in a rack connected to the cage. I can't remember the names, the last one was banana flavoured and meant for children. Both sets of medicine have been for 2 weeks, twice a day.
 
Yes they have hay in a rack connected to the cage. I can't remember the names, the last one was banana flavoured and meant for children. Both sets of medicine have been for 2 weeks, twice a day.

I expect the first one was an antibiotic called 'Baytril' and the second one an antibiotic called 'Septrin'

Unfortunately upper respiratory tract problems occur frequently in Rabbits who come from Pet Shops, especially the chain of stores you mention it seems.

Did you see any improvement at all when they were on either antibiotic. It is often the case that treatment needs to continue for several weeks, not just 2. Alternatively the Vet could take deep nasal swabs from both Rabbits (sedation likely to be required to get a deep enough swab). This could then be sent off to a Vet Lab for culture and sensitivities testing to try to identify the exact bacteria involved and the most suitable type of antibiotic to treat the Rabbits with. Although in my experience C+S testing for URTI is not always that helpful, results can be misleading.

There are other antibiotics a Vet can prescribe, preferably given by subcutaneous injection. Depocillin being one type These too may be needed for several weeks. It can sometimes be helpful to nebulise a Rabbit with an URTI

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Either saline, F10 solution of antibiotics can be given via a nebuliser

A medication to thin out the nasal secretions-a mucolytic- may also be useful-eg Bisolvon. This is a powder that can be given with food

URTI can be a real challenge to treat and perseverance is needed. If you have doubts about how 'Rabbit Savvy' your current Vet is then you could always request a referral to an Exotics specialist. It may be costly at first, but not as costly as going back to the same Vet time and time again when the treatment they are giving is not working and they are unable to suggest anything else.

If you say what area of the country you are in we may be able to recommend a 'Rabbit Savvy' Vet for you to consult.
 
Yes they have hay in a rack connected to the cage. I can't remember the names, the last one was banana flavoured and meant for children. Both sets of medicine have been for 2 weeks, twice a day.

If you have seen absolutely no improvement then either change the antibiotic or change your vet perhaps?

There are other antibiotics to try, for example oxytetracycline or Duphapen.

Where are you based? Maybe someone can give you advice on finding a vet who is really good with rabbits. That way you'll probably end up spending less time and money on treatments that are 'hit and miss'.
 
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