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  • 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.

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Advice please

Clarekg

Young Bun
My husband bought home a wild rabbit with myxomatosis, i did tell him it was stupid and we should get the poor thing put to sleep as i wouldn't be able to make it better. Well long story shorter I have now had Acorn, (I know I shouldn't have named her!) for a month and she seems to be improving. I bathe her eyes, nose, mouth and genitals, one of her eyes is now open her breathing has improved and she has gained weight. She is eating and drinking well and she seems to like a little cuddle after I bathe her eyes etc. I know she is not out of the woods yet so any advice would be greatly appreciated, also should I try to handle her and pet her or should I try not to handle her unless I have to for treatment. Thanks for reading.
 
Welcome to the forum :wave:

Has the rabbit seen a vet? She will need to see one I believe for antibiotics to prevent secondary infection and other treatments such as pain medication as myxomatosis will be very painful.

As for handling, what are your plans for her if she recovers? I'm not sure she will be able to be released again if you have been handling her even just for treatment, especially as she will have been in captivity for a long time whilst recovering although some one else may be able to give you more advise about that.

I will ask for your thread to be moved to a different section as well as not many people view this section of the forum so you can get more replies.
 
Update: called widlife sanctuary today as local vets were not able to help me and recommend I call the wildlife people.wildlife people also couldn't help me with antibiotics or pain relief and said just to carry on with what I am doing, If she relapses they would be able to pts. Just wondered if anyone could recommend any alternative therapy that might help with her with her eyes and nose etc. Her breathing is much improved but she does get a little bit snuffly sometimes.
 
Update: called widlife sanctuary today as local vets were not able to help me and recommend I call the wildlife people.wildlife people also couldn't help me with antibiotics or pain relief and said just to carry on with what I am doing, If she relapses they would be able to pts. Just wondered if anyone could recommend any alternative therapy that might help with her with her eyes and nose etc. Her breathing is much improved but she does get a little bit snuffly sometimes.
Is there a reason that neither the vets or wildlife sanctuary couldn't prescribe antibiotics or pain relief? I feel like it's really odd that they would continue to let the bunny just live on with myxi, especially seeing as it does really need to be treated medically...

It's excellent that she does seem to be improving slightly though, and well done you for taking her in! [emoji4]
 
The vets said the couldn't prescribe without seeing the rabbit but they didn't want me to take her into the surgery and to call rescue. Rescue didn't want me to take her there as they have rabbits on site, the vet from sanctuary said that she couldn't come to me because she has pet bunnys herself and didn't want to take the risk. She advised me to look online for baytril and if I could get it she would give me the dosages info, but I can't buy it without a prescription from a vet back to square one. I just don't understand why they can see the rabbit to pts but not to give a prescription.
 
If I were you I really would try a different vets. Vets must treat many different types of animals with different types of contagious diseases and must have procedures to deal with this situation.

It sounds as though the little one is doing extremely well in your care. I have nursed one of my rabbits (vaccinated) who had nodular myx and it is difficult as well as distressing. To give her the best possible chance she will need antibiotic cover to ward off any secondary respiratory infection and also her symptoms will be very painful and so she needs painkillers.

Wishing you the very best of luck.
 
i would also recommend contacting a rabbit savvy/exotics vet aswell because she really needs to have treatment. whereabouts are you? hopefully someone can recommend a good place to try :)
 
The vets said the couldn't prescribe without seeing the rabbit but they didn't want me to take her into the surgery and to call rescue. Rescue didn't want me to take her there as they have rabbits on site, the vet from sanctuary said that she couldn't come to me because she has pet bunnys herself and didn't want to take the risk. She advised me to look online for baytril and if I could get it she would give me the dosages info, but I can't buy it without a prescription from a vet back to square one. I just don't understand why they can see the rabbit to pts but not to give a prescription.
That is awful that they have turned down treatment for the bunny just because it is a contagious illness. I understand that this does bring risks but as Omi said, they should have procedures to deal with this type of problem. Would they deny a rabbit treatment if it had been your pet for many years? Probably not. I agree with Omi and would look for a different vet that will treat her as it's quite possible that she will pass away without proper treatment.
 
Hi again,

I understand vets may be cautious about having a rabbit with myxi in their surgery but I would have thought they would be able to deal with it, I've done work experience at various vets and have seen cases of myxi come in and they still see them so you could perhaps you could post your location and people may be able to suggest a rabbit savvy vet for you to visit? Also for my degree I am currently working with a wildlife sanctuary and they have a separate block for rabbits with myxi so they don't infect the others so I would be disappointed in the sanctuary you've contacted and I feel for you, you are doing your best and doing well in caring for the rabbit.

I hope she continues to do well and you find a vet/sanctuary which will see her and prescribe the medication, good luck.
 
Hi again,

I understand vets may be cautious about having a rabbit with myxi in their surgery but I would have thought they would be able to deal with it, I've done work experience at various vets and have seen cases of myxi come in and they still see them so you could perhaps you could post your location and people may be able to suggest a rabbit savvy vet for you to visit? Also for my degree I am currently working with a wildlife sanctuary and they have a separate block for rabbits with myxi so they don't infect the others so I would be disappointed in the sanctuary you've contacted and I feel for you, you are doing your best and doing well in caring for the rabbit.

I hope she continues to do well and you find a vet/sanctuary which will see her and prescribe the medication, good luck.

This is good to know Liz :)

Your course sounds really interesting, as well x
 
I am in Northamptonshire if anyone can recommend anywhere. She has been a lot more lively today and her eyes are so much better. Thanks to everyone for the advise and support 😷🐇🐰👯
 
Hi, I know Swindon is quite far from you, but I know vets now would probably be look at your bunny, they quite often have wildie's come in & other bunnies with highly contagious infections, but they have a whole separate unit to prevent anything spreading. But I'm sure their must be other specialist vets closer willing to help x

Also I live an hour away from them & they are brilliant at putting up prescriptions for me & speaking to other local vets to provide the medication to save me travelling constantly. Xx
 
Put a few drops of hydrogen peroxide in the rabbits water if you use a bowl. I'm talking about 6 per cent food grade if possible, which you can get on the internet. Or alternatively go to the chemists and get some that you use for cuts (Not hair bleach !!). You could use a tea bag that has been immersed in water on the rabbits eyes and you could use black cumin seed and/or sea buckthorn on the mouth and nose. You could try a little black cumin seed oil in the mouth using a pipette. I have used these things on my rabbit who had multiple infections from attacks from other rabbits. I rescued this rabbit when I saw the state it was in. Its recovering well.
 
Update: called widlife sanctuary today as local vets were not able to help me and recommend I call the wildlife people.wildlife people also couldn't help me with antibiotics or pain relief and said just to carry on with what I am doing, If she relapses they would be able to pts. Just wondered if anyone could recommend any alternative therapy that might help with her with her eyes and nose etc. Her breathing is much improved but she does get a little bit snuffly sometimes.

Clarekg alternatives: here is my e mail Johnson.stanley62@yahoo.com
 
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