Millie - Bacteria in nose.

[Jamesl]

Hi guys,
Millie has two types of bacteria in her nose. She’s always sneezed a lot and been a loud breather however the bacteria is something we’re currently really struggling with. We’ve tried multiple things (on the vets recommendation). She’s had baytril, sulfatrim, metacam, swabs, flushes, X-rays and daily injections from the vets for three weeks before giving up on that. The last option the vet has advised is to refer her to a specialist for CT scans but with her breathing as it is currently to put her under anaesthetic would be extremely high risk and also there isn’t too many other options for medication. She’s happy and otherwise healthy, still playing with Mylo (our other rabbit) eating and drinking but her nose is an issue. We are currently monitoring it at home and I am steaming her daily to help break down the white discharge/snot. Does anyone have any other ideas? Please help. Thanks in advance.

 

[InspectorMorse]

She could have a foreign body stuck in the tissue of a nostril which has caused inflammation and chronic infection. Something like a tiny strand of hay can be the culprit. Without a CT scan this cannot be ruled out, but I totally understand your reluctance to proceed with this due to the associated risks.

I assume the Vet has excluded tooth root elongation from the X-rays taken ? Brachycephalic breeds are very prone to tooth root elongation which goes on to cause nasal and ocular problems. When the X-rays were taken I assume it was done under GA and if so was a deep nasal swab taken to identify the bacteria ?As you have said that there are two involved it sounds as though swabs have been taken and therefore the appropriate antibiotics were given to treat them. Obviously there would be no point in giving an antibiotic that the bacteria are resistant to.

If you are going to try to manage the symptoms then I would ask the Vey about using a mucolytic such as Bisolvon to thin out the mucus making it easier to drain out. Also nebulising the Rabbit can be very beneficial. Some antibiotics can be given by nebuliser. If the nasolacrimal ducts are draining normally then using an antibiotic eye drop such as Tiacil can help to get antibiotics into the nostrils as the drops should drain into the nostrils via the nasolacrimal ducts.

Not sure if these antibiotics have been tried, if the bacteria identified are sensitive to them?

Oxytetracycline
Azithromycin
Depocillin

These links my be useful to take a look at

https://d12geb6i3t2qxg.cloudfront.n.../01/Respiratory-Disease-in-Rabbit-webinar.pdf

https://www.ethosvet.com/blog-post/chronic-nasal-discharge-in-rabbits-not-just-an-antibiotic-issue/

 

[Tiggertime]

Our Tigger has been snuffling recently too (see my thread above for a run down of what's been going on) and has just had a CT scan last week which didn't require him going under anaesthetic. Maybe an option for Millie?