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What to do with a single bun with pasturella

Spacegirl

Mama Doe
I took on a pair of rabbits a few months back who both had pasturella. Unfortunately one of them has died suddenly and now I am not sure what to do with the remaining rabbit. I like to keep all my rabbits in bonded pairs or groups but I don't want to risk passing on pasturella to a healthy rabbit. I would love any experience from anyone that has dealt with this situation.
 
I took on a pair of rabbits a few months back who both had pasturella. Unfortunately one of them has died suddenly and now I am not sure what to do with the remaining rabbit. I like to keep all my rabbits in bonded pairs or groups but I don't want to risk passing on pasturella to a healthy rabbit. I would love any experience from anyone that has dealt with this situation.


Hi there :)

I am sorry to hear of your rabbit passing. In my experience it's not all that common for a healthy rabbit to get pasturella from another rabbit. It's all down to the immune system. Have you thought of giving echinacea to boost the immune system of the other pasturella rabbit? Grief and bereavement (having lost a companion) can also lower the immune system and potentially cause a flare up of symptoms.

How was the pasturella diagnosed and what condition did your bunny die of?
 
Hi there :)

I am sorry to hear of your rabbit passing. In my experience it's not all that common for a healthy rabbit to get pasturella from another rabbit. It's all down to the immune system. Have you thought of giving echinacea to boost the immune system of the other pasturella rabbit? Grief and bereavement (having lost a companion) can also lower the immune system and potentially cause a flare up of symptoms.

How was the pasturella diagnosed and what condition did your bunny die of?

I was fairly sure they had pasturella when I saw them ("adopted" them from the rehoming section of pets@home who told me their vet made no mention of pasturella *sigh*). I took them to my vet who agreed and put them both on a course of antibiotics. Pip - the remaining rabbit - had less symptoms and seemed completely well afterwards. Scampi seemed much improved although made the occasional snorting/sniffing sound but then we found him dead this morning having shown no other symptoms of being unwell.
 
I was fairly sure they had pasturella when I saw them ("adopted" them from the rehoming section of pets@home who told me their vet made no mention of pasturella *sigh*). I took them to my vet who agreed and put them both on a course of antibiotics. Pip - the remaining rabbit - had less symptoms and seemed completely well afterwards. Scampi seemed much improved although made the occasional snorting/sniffing sound but then we found him dead this morning having shown no other symptoms of being unwell.


That's distressing, I'm sorry :(

You don't know the cause of death? Apart from the sniffling, did Scampi seem well until he died?

With unexpected deaths, it's hard to know whether anything has been passed onto the remaining rabbit.

Were the both of them vaccinated for Myxi/VHD1 and also VHD2?
 
Both vaxed but not for VHD2. No other symptoms in Scampi - he had been well and active and eating. I will be keeping a close eye o Pip and obviously wouldn't introduce him to a new rabbit anyone in the immediate future just to make sure he's OK first :)
 
Both vaxed but not for VHD2. No other symptoms in Scampi - he had been well and active and eating. I will be keeping a close eye o Pip and obviously wouldn't introduce him to a new rabbit anyone in the immediate future just to make sure he's OK first :)


I would consider getting him vaccinated (and your others) for VHD2 :)

https://www.harcourt-brown.co.uk/articles/infectious-disease/rabbit-haemorrhagic-disease

https://www.harcourt-brown.co.uk/owners/frequently-asked-questions/FAQRHD


It's very easy to bring it in to your rabbits and can spread like wildfire. One member here lost multiple rabbits :(

Haven't seen you in a long while - are you doing OK otherwise? :wave:
 
I took on a pair of rabbits a few months back who both had pasturella. Unfortunately one of them has died suddenly and now I am not sure what to do with the remaining rabbit. I like to keep all my rabbits in bonded pairs or groups but I don't want to risk passing on pasturella to a healthy rabbit. I would love any experience from anyone that has dealt with this situation.

Hello there, it is a very long time no see !

I am so sorry to hear of your recent loss :cry: I am assuming that both Rabbits were/are fully vaccinated with BOTH Vaccines, Nobivac and Filivac to cover both RHD1 and RHD2 aswell as Myxomatosis ? I ask as 'sudden death' with absolutely no prior symptoms is a classic feature of RHD2. I am not trying to add to your distress, but if Pip has not received the Filivac (the vaccine that offers protection against RHD2 aswell as RHD1) then I would strongly advise you to take her to the Vet today to discuss getting the vaccine done. Even if she does have chronic pasteurella it may still be wise to vaccinate her. Some additional information here :

https://www.harcourt-brown.co.uk/owners/frequently-asked-questions/FAQRHD

Going back to your actual question about introducing another Rabbit to a Rabbit with chronic Pasteurella, in theory this could lead to disease transmission. However, in practice this does not always happen. Given your specific situation I would first arrange to discuss everything in full with a Rabbit Savvy Vet. I would be very reluctant to offer advice regarding Pasteurella or to post links to sources of information about the condition transmission given the fact that you have just had a 'sudden death' of unknown cause . I am sure that it has been a very distressing time for you :cry:

I dont know if you use Trinity Vets in Maidstone (assuming you are still in Kent) but I highly recommend an Exotics Specialist Vet there, Mark Rowland

http://trinityvetcentre.com/

Mark has given me a lot of excellent help and advice. He would be my 'go to' in your situation.

Once again I am so sorry for your recent loss and I hope that you will eventually be able to obtain a Rabbit friend for Pip xx
 
One of the Nottingham city rescues had a pastuerella bun I think (Notts Nibblers or Burrowed Hearts, can't remember which), don't know if that's useful for you?
 
Thanks for the replies.
Yes, I haven't been on here for a while, but still enjoying my rabbits (and guineas, chickens, ducks, tortoise . . . ) :D
I am taking another of my rabbits in for his vaccinations so I will discuss the VHD2 with them and hopefully get that done (I know there was a lot of difficulty getting hold of it last time I asked). I'm still in Kent Jane, no that far from Maidstone in fact and I do find my current vet generally to be very good but I will definitely have the name of that vet in mind if I ever need it - thanks :)
 
Thanks for the replies.
Yes, I haven't been on here for a while, but still enjoying my rabbits (and guineas, chickens, ducks, tortoise . . . ) :D
I am taking another of my rabbits in for his vaccinations so I will discuss the VHD2 with them and hopefully get that done (I know there was a lot of difficulty getting hold of it last time I asked). I'm still in Kent Jane, no that far from Maidstone in fact and I do find my current vet generally to be very good but I will definitely have the name of that vet in mind if I ever need it - thanks :)

Blimey, you sound to have a menagerie there !! Hopefully your Vet is up to speed re RHD2 as the virus is rife and vaccination (Filivac) is the only way to protect our Buns from it.

If you are on FB then you may want to take a look on here

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1744958082388756/
 
Thanks for the replies.
Yes, I haven't been on here for a while, but still enjoying my rabbits (and guineas, chickens, ducks, tortoise . . . ) :D
I am taking another of my rabbits in for his vaccinations so I will discuss the VHD2 with them and hopefully get that done (I know there was a lot of difficulty getting hold of it last time I asked). I'm still in Kent Jane, no that far from Maidstone in fact and I do find my current vet generally to be very good but I will definitely have the name of that vet in mind if I ever need it - thanks :)


You're welcome :)

I see you have your hands full!

If you want to see a map of which vet has the vaccine, there should be some info here:

http://rhd2map.ajltech.co.uk/

Mark at Trinity Vets may have the vaccine and if not, will point you to someone who can obtain it for your rabbits :)
 
I have to agree with Mighty Max that 'snuffles' isn't always passed on. I would also contact local rescue to see if they have a single snuffles rabbit they would be willing to rehome.
 
I have to agree with Mighty Max that 'snuffles' isn't always passed on. I would also contact local rescue to see if they have a single snuffles rabbit they would be willing to rehome.


Sadly the partner passed away from unknown cause :(

I really hope your other rabbits are OK Spacegirl ... and you too x
 
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