myxi

My 2yr old English lop has just caught myxi. He had the combined vaccine and is not due for his booster until july13th. It's not the nodular form unfortunately but the nasty kind. His eyes are swollen and his ears feel heavy with fluid. He has been given baytril and metacam and has been eating greens and herbs. Has anyone experienced this with their vaccinated rabbits. A couple of years ago my fully vaccinated French lop caught the nodular kind and recovered well. What are the chances of recovery do you think when it's not nodular in a vaccinated rabbit. His breathing is quite noisy. So hard to know what to do. Any advice please as I feel completely gutted for him. X

How horrible. I don't have any experience of this happening but think a few people here have. Hope someone sees your post and can give some advice/info. Fingers crossed.

Oh I am really sorry I have no first hand experience with treating Myxomatosis in a vaccinated Rabbit but I would assume that as well as the antibiotics and anti-inflammatories he may need nebulising, either with saline, F10 solution or even another antibiotic. A mucolytic such as Bisolvon could also be beneficial to thin out the mucus secretions.

Given that he's an EL his ears are no doubt very painful. It may help to apply a cool compress to them several times a day to help relieve the heat and inflammation.

What is his poo like ? If he is not eating much he may require additional syringe feeds to insure his GI tract keeps ticking over, the last thing he needs is secondary gut stasis.

Do you have him indoors ? A relatively high atmospheric temperature is supposed to increase survival chances.

Are his eyes sore ? Sometimes an antibiotic eye treatment is necessary- eg Fucithalmic.

Fluid therapy could also be required.

Perhaps your Vet could call the vaccine manufacturers. They may have some details of survival rates of Rabbits who have contracted 'full blown' Myxomatosis despite being vaccinated. Your Vet needs to contact them any way to report what has happened in your Rabbit's case.

I really hope your Rabbit can pull through xx

Thanks for your reply. Yes the worst ear is warm. His eyes are puffy and I have been bathing them regularly to remove small amount of discharge so they don't close. He did not give me any eye ointment which I will ask for tomorrow. I got the impression he did not hold out much hope. He offered to keep him and give him treatment there. But they have no 24 hour cover { close at 7pm} and preferred to look after him myself whilst he was eating ok. I have been syringing him extra water and soaking his veg. I phoned yesterday to ask about bisolvin as I had read some buns had it to thin mucous but he was off for the weekend and his cover had never heard of it. He is supposed to be phoning me tomorrow. I was surprised he did not mention about
reporting it to the vaccine people as I was amazed it was not just the nodular type he had, seen as he was still covered with his vaccine. But the vet said sometimes it just does not take on a rabbit. I am just hoping that his friend who is also vaccinated has got cover. Sickening as their shed has fly screen and they have insect killing machine. Just can't protect them when they are in the garden though unfortunately. Thanks for any advice. X

bluelop said:

Thanks for your reply. Yes the worst ear is warm. His eyes are puffy and I have been bathing them regularly to remove small amount of discharge so they don't close. He did not give me any eye ointment which I will ask for tomorrow. I got the impression he did not hold out much hope. He offered to keep him and give him treatment there. But they have no 24 hour cover { close at 7pm} and preferred to look after him myself whilst he was eating ok. I have been syringing him extra water and soaking his veg. I phoned yesterday to ask about bisolvin as I had read some buns had it to thin mucous but he was off for the weekend and his cover had never heard of it. He is supposed to be phoning me tomorrow. I was surprised he did not mention about
reporting it to the vaccine people as I was amazed it was not just the nodular type he had, seen as he was still covered with his vaccine. But the vet said sometimes it just does not take on a rabbit. I am just hoping that his friend who is also vaccinated has got cover. Sickening as their shed has fly screen and they have insect killing machine. Just can't protect them when they are in the garden though unfortunately. Thanks for any advice. X

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You've done everything possible to try to protect them. None of us can do more than that. Sadly on very rare occasions a particular Rabbit will not produce an adequate immune response to the vaccine, thus they remain vulnerable

bluelop said:

Thanks for your reply. Yes the worst ear is warm. His eyes are puffy and I have been bathing them regularly to remove small amount of discharge so they don't close. He did not give me any eye ointment which I will ask for tomorrow. I got the impression he did not hold out much hope. He offered to keep him and give him treatment there. But they have no 24 hour cover { close at 7pm} and preferred to look after him myself whilst he was eating ok. I have been syringing him extra water and soaking his veg. I phoned yesterday to ask about bisolvin as I had read some buns had it to thin mucous but he was off for the weekend and his cover had never heard of it. He is supposed to be phoning me tomorrow. I was surprised he did not mention about
reporting it to the vaccine people as I was amazed it was not just the nodular type he had, seen as he was still covered with his vaccine. But the vet said sometimes it just does not take on a rabbit. I am just hoping that his friend who is also vaccinated has got cover. Sickening as their shed has fly screen and they have insect killing machine. Just can't protect them when they are in the garden though unfortunately. Thanks for any advice. X

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I'm so very sorry to read your post.

It sounds like for the moment (until you see the vet again) you're doing everything you possibly can for him.

As well as Bisolven, he will need to be on Metacam continuing. I don't know if your vet has given you enough for a fairly high dose for now and the foreseeable future?

A nebuliser and some F10 to use in it would be a good idea. I realise it's Sunday evening and not possible to get these things if you don't already have them. This would help if you can get them ..

You may want to have a read here in case anything helps:

http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/s...rsing-a-vaccinated-myxi-rabbit&highlight=myxi

Also, you could contact Parsnipbun by private message as she has come across myxi several times, though not sure if non-nodular.

Wishing you all the very best of luck xx

bluelop said:

I was surprised he did not mention about reporting it to the vaccine

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If your Vet wont contact the vaccine manufacturers to report the 'adverse incident' I would do so yourself. You'll need the date the vaccine was given and the batch number, both should be on your vaccination card. Contact details for the company can be found here:

http://www.msd-animal-health.co.uk/company/email-us.aspx

Thank you so much for the help. As I said last time my french lop had a few nodules and not much else. It was a case of just having him indoors for lots of food, meds and tlc. But poor Barley is much worse. Luckily although he looks sorry for himself he has just had another pile of herbs and green stuff.He has been prescribed 1.5 ml of baytril twice daily and 7kg dose of metacam once a day. I think he weighs about 5kg. His breathing is sometimes noisy then it goes quiet.So not sure if its mucous or just swollen nasal passages as there does not seem to be much discharge coming from his nose. Thanks again for replying as its very worrying watching a poorly bun as you know. You keep thinking you should be doing more but I guess its a case of playing it day by day really.X

bluelop said:

Thank you so much for the help. As I said last time my french lop had a few nodules and not much else. It was a case of just having him indoors for lots of food, meds and tlc. But poor Barley is much worse. Luckily although he looks sorry for himself he has just had another pile of herbs and green stuff.He has been prescribed 1.5 ml of baytril twice daily and 7kg dose of metacam once a day. I think he weighs about 5kg. His breathing is sometimes noisy then it goes quiet.So not sure if its mucous or just swollen nasal passages as there does not seem to be much discharge coming from his nose. Thanks again for replying as its very worrying watching a poorly bun as you know. You keep thinking you should be doing more but I guess its a case of playing it day by day really.X

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You're very welcome for any help!

I'm glad you've had a response from Ros at RWAF. Your vet consulting with a specialist vet (see Parsnipbun's post on the link I gave you earlier) might be a very good idea.

I hope you can get his breathing under control. Yes, playing it day by day is so difficult, but keep going. I'm glad he's still eating really well :thumb:

One last thing. Would you separate from partner or leave them together?

bluelop said:

One last thing. Would you separate from partner or leave them together?

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I would keep them together. I realise it's harder to watch for food input and poo output when they are together, but the stress of being apart may make things worse in the long term.

It's vital to make sure the immune system is working as efficiently as possible. Some people have used Echinacea to boost their rabbits' immune systems, and you can buy an alcohol-free tincture here:

http://www.baldwins.co.uk/baldwins-echinacea-angustifolia-herbal-fluid-extract

Thanks so much.X

bluelop said:

Thanks so much.X

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You're welcome.

I feel for you going through this after having been through something similar a couple of years ago.
Doesn't seem fair on you x

I had to let barley go today. He had not eaten over night and no poos. His breathing was such an effort as his nasal passages were swollen. The vet checked him and his tummy had stopped. I just felt it had got to the stage where he had lost the fight and I felt it was cruel . He just sat hunched with his face in the corner and I knew it was the right decision. Such an awful disease. X

Hugs, I am so sorry..

bluelop said:

I had to let barley go today. He had not eaten over night and no poos. His breathing was such an effort as his nasal passages were swollen. The vet checked him and his tummy had stopped. I just felt it had got to the stage where he had lost the fight and I felt it was cruel . He just sat hunched with his face in the corner and I knew it was the right decision. Such an awful disease. X

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I am so, so sorry to read this

You have tried your best and as you say, he's given up the fight. Too much going on to fight it any more.

Rest in Peace Barley xxx

I'm so sorry. He's not in pain anymore. You did absolutely everything you could do xxx

I am so very sorry that Barley lost his fight against this evil disease. You tried your very best. xx

Sweet dreams brave Barley. xx

bluelop said:

I had to let barley go today. He had not eaten over night and no poos. His breathing was such an effort as his nasal passages were swollen. The vet checked him and his tummy had stopped. I just felt it had got to the stage where he had lost the fight and I felt it was cruel . He just sat hunched with his face in the corner and I knew it was the right decision. Such an awful disease. X

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Oh I am so very sorry

RIP Barley xx

I'm so sorry.
Sleep peacefully Barley.