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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.

    You should always consult your vet before following any suggestions for medication or treatment you have read about. The wrong treatment could make your rabbit worse or mean your vet is unable to give the correct treatment because of drug interactions. Even non prescription drugs can do harm if given inappropriately.

    We are very grateful to members who take time to answer other members questions, but please do be clear in your replies that you are sharing personal experience and not giving instructions on what must be done.

    Urgent Medical Advice: If you need, or think you might need, urgent medical advice you should contact a vet. If it is out of working hours phone your vet's normal number and there should be an answer phone message with instructions on what to do.

Fast breathing/odd posture: UD 22/3 Gone to the Bridge

I would say that a few vets listened to Mischief's breathing when I felt it was fast at home and due to the fact that rabbits get stressed at the vets they thought it was fairly normal. But later on started to say his breathing rate was on the fast side which I had been saying all along.

I think it is hard to check their respiratory rate at the vets as it will not be normal but if vet thinks her breathing sounds shallow then possibly that is because her breathing has been faster than usual for a while and has become more of an effort?

It's really good news that she is having an X-ray as will tell you either way if there is an issue. Wishing you the best of luck that you find out what is wrong with her soon. Sending you hoppity vibes xx



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Liz47 said:
The vet has called she's had the X ray already :) She's got no obviously enlarged heart, but does have a small amount of lung edema. She also has small spurs on her bottom teeth, I've given the ok for a dental just in case. She'll start antibiotic and diuretic treatment to start with and we'll have another chat with the vet later.
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Just read your post after sent mine!

That's good news about her heart. Hopefully she will respond quickly to the diuretics and antibiotics. Is she having a course of diuretics? Also what antibiotic has she been prescribed out of interest?xx

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Oh that's good news that they've pinpointed the problem for her!

It's always great to get your regular vet who just gets it all right away.

Sending vibes that the dental and other treatments do the trick for her!

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Thank you :) She's doing well and I'm picking her up at 4.30. I imagine the antibiotic will be baytril and the diuretic furosemide. Not sure how long she should be having it for.
 
Liz47 said:
Thank you :) She's doing well and I'm picking her up at 4.30. I imagine the antibiotic will be baytril and the diuretic furosemide. Not sure how long she should be having it for.
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I only asked about antibiotic as we did find Baytril wasn't strong enough to get rid of Mischief's fluid around the lungs. If that doesn't work for her then Sulfatrim seems to have shifted fluid for Mischief. Fingers crossed the Baytril will work though!

Bet you are looking forward to getting her home! Hope she gets well very soon xx

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twistedtiggerz69 said:
I only asked about antibiotic as we did find Baytril wasn't strong enough to get rid of Mischief's fluid around the lungs. If that doesn't work for her then Sulfatrim seems to have shifted fluid for Mischief. Fingers crossed the Baytril will work though!

Bet you are looking forward to getting her home! Hope she gets well very soon xx

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Thank you, one of my other rabbits recently finished a course of Sulfratim after Baytril didn't do the job. I often find less savvy vets seem to underdose Baytril. I'm waiting to pick her up now as they called me early since she's eaten all her food :) xx
 
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Thank you :) Already you can't see her abdomen moving as she's breathing and her nose movements are much slower. She's drinking and has been nibbling hay and eating recovery plus (just on a plate no need to syringe).I hope things are going to remain more positive now for her :)
 
Liz47 said:
Thank you :) Already you can't see her abdomen moving as she's breathing and her nose movements are much slower. She's drinking and has been nibbling hay and eating recovery plus (just on a plate no need to syringe).I hope things are going to remain more positive now for her :)
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Diuretics can work miracles for lessening symptoms of respiratory distress . I really hope that a long course of abx will get on top of the infection.
 
Thanks all :) She's been loads better, her breathing has looked slightly increased at times but she's binkying when we step over the baby gate as usual and nipping our ankles. She's not eating 100% as before yet. I spoke with the vets again today and once she's finished her course of meds (which are shorter than I'd like) the vet asked if I would still be interested in a referral if she goes downhill again. I'm wondering if I should be considering this or not? I would probably need to get some one else to drive her since it's some distance away, and then I won't be able to go in the car with them due to Covid restrictions.
Hopefully the antibiotics will continue to help, and any obvious heart problem has been ruled out by X ray and the vet said it was a very small amount of fluid on the lungs.
 
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Glad she is feeling better. How long is she having abtibiotics and diuretics for?

Mischief had 2 courses 24 days of Baytril and then 20 days of Sulfatrim and he is on 2nd course of diuretics so will be total of 40 days. Plus he had 2 injections of diuretics before that aswell. He possibly had more fluid on his lungs but obviously we can't compare X-rays to know.

Perhaps they could extend the antibiotics course and diuretics further if needed? Just a thought but I only know what Mischief had and I'm not a vet.

I don't know what others would suggest but I would have thought she is already on the treatment she needs and it just needs time to work? Would it not be stressful to take her to the vets at this stage?

If she does not respond to the treatment then would be something to consider later on maybe?

It's difficult to know what to do for the best isn't it? Maybe see how she gets on first? xxx



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Thank you :) Perhaps I am getting ahead of myself thinking what ifs as she is doing much better. She's had 2 injections of diuretic and a 5 day course, plus 4 injections of baytril and a 10 day course.

Luckily she is not easily stressed, she eats all the time.in the carrier to and at the vets and is fine once at home too. I think that's why it's hard for the vets as she's always so bright and is sat there eating hay at the vets not stressed so they think she looks fine. She's a really bold bunny.
 
Liz47 said:
Thank you :) Perhaps I am getting ahead of myself thinking what ifs as she is doing much better. She's had 2 injections of diuretic and a 5 day course, plus 4 injections of baytril and a 10 day course.

Luckily she is not easily stressed, she eats all the time.in the carrier to and at the vets and is fine once at home too. I think that's why it's hard for the vets as she's always so bright and is sat there eating hay at the vets not stressed so they think she looks fine. She's a really bold bunny.
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Wow! I wish Mischief was as chilled as that!! His breathing goes off the scale as soon as I put him in the carrier!

I only have Mischief's experience to go by so please don't take my advice as gospel. There are a lot of others on here with a wealth of experience compared to me!

I felt the same as you though. I wanted Mischief better straightaway but the diuretics worked over time.

Sending you hoppity vibes for her to get a speedy recovery xx





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I agree with TT69, IME a long course of abx is usually needed for treating LRTIs, 6-8 weeks sometimes. Diuretics may not be needed as an ongoing treatment, but sometimes just at the start of the Acute phase.
Personally, if the Vet you are seeing now will agree to continue Rx the abx and Bigwig is doing well I’d hold off the referral. Your current Vet could always Consult with a Specialist for advice. If the Practice belongs to the RWAF then Dr Richard Saunders, Specialist Vet Advisor can be contacted.
 
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