Myxomatosis day 7 for Sooty

[Karen lr]

Hi everyone
So have a sick bunny Sooty with this awful disease..I have 2 brother boosters due in aug so bit late one bunny started last Monday noticed eye swelling never in a million years thought it would be Myxomatosis how nieve and stupid am I! Complicated story in that one rabbit was at one vets one at another now both at the better vets .Dennis has been checked twice in this time period vet said we should go for giving his booster so we did and he is still fine
But his poor brother is not so good. swelling eyes are bad ..but not so red now. A couple of the little nodules to the left of the eye socket no pus or weeping from eyes or nose
But has now gone off his food and does have breathing issues in that if you get up close you can hear a sound like if a human got dust up there nose and blew it out every now and then there is a louder snort
Vet one put him on antibiotic and reumcam. Vet two doesn't really like the antibiotics but went with it although now after 7 days I feel he should come off them because he's not eating and possible stasis new vet has given metcam ( different branding same drug)
In the evenings we stand him in his carrier in the bathroom with steam from shower lavender and thyme from our garden and baby olbus oil and a couple of ecchinacea drops put in the bath
In the day I've dragged my facial steamer near to their bunny shed and sit there playing calming music while the steam fills their home
He's also on crical car food syringed I check him every 15 mins he's not hunched laid out long in his house that's the way he always lays
Have I missed anything anything else anyone can advise. Our vets is a hospital 24 /7 good for advice too should I let him continue to fight or is it time to say goodbye ,

 

[Omi]

Hello
I'm so sorry that you are dealing with Myxomatosis. I have successfully nursed a vaccinated bunny with this and it is really so distressing. I have a couple of links for you. The first is from Frances Harcourt Brown.

Treatment of rabbits with myxomatosis — Frances Harcourt-Brown

www.harcourt-brown.co.uk

It describes the optimum way of nursing such rabbits. I note her view is that a bunny who will not eat by themselves, should be euthanised. I can only say that my bunny didn't eat for quite a while and I syringe-fed him during that time. I would very much consider all aspects affecting the quality of life for the rabbit before deciding on this, but only you are able to judge when he's had enough. The article does show some quite distressing photos of rabbits while recovering. You might find you would rather not click on these. Just to add also, I kept my bunny with his buddies in their outdoor shed, considering that moving him indoors would probably be stressful for him. I think it also depends on the time of year. Our event was around this time of year. You could maybe think of a way to ensure that they are warm in their shed, particularly at night.
I have searched for my thread about my bunny, Yan, but can only find a reference to it within this thread, (especially post 6)

Myxomatosis in vaccinated rabbit- chances of survival?

Hey there, So a few weeks ago both of our rabbits contracted myxomatosis, one a week before the other. They were both vaccinated and have never been sick before this. The vet gave us antibiotics to prevent secondary infections and we gave that to them for a week. The rabbit who got it first is...

forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk

It is a fact that bunnies with myxomatosis will usually die from a secondary, usually respiratory, infection, not the virus itself. I would advise you NOT to stop the antibiotics for this reason. I don't know which antibiotics you have been prescribed. My bunny had a long course of Penicillin injections (needs to be injections as rabbits must not have oral Penicillin), which you can administer at home. You might want to discuss which antibiotic Sooty should be on to give him the best chance.
I would continue to syringe feed, while also offering him small amounts of his favourite foods. Be careful while syringe-feeding as Sooty has breathing difficulties and give very small amounts.
Sending you loads of vibes and also for Sooty. I hope that Dennis remains fine.

 

[Karen lr]

Hello
I'm so sorry that you are dealing with Myxomatosis. I have successfully nursed a vaccinated bunny with this and it is really so distressing. I have a couple of links for you. The first is from Frances Harcourt Brown.

Treatment of rabbits with myxomatosis — Frances Harcourt-Brown

www.harcourt-brown.co.uk

It describes the optimum way of nursing such rabbits. I note her view is that a bunny who will not eat by themselves, should be euthanised. I can only say that my bunny didn't eat for quite a while and I syringe-fed him during that time. I would very much consider all aspects affecting the quality of life for the rabbit before deciding on this, but only you are able to judge when he's had enough. The article does show some quite distressing photos of rabbits while recovering. You might find you would rather not click on these. Just to add also, I kept my bunny with his buddies in their outdoor shed, considering that moving him indoors would probably be stressful for him. I think it also depends on the time of year. Our event was around this time of year. You could maybe think of a way to ensure that they are warm in their shed, particularly at night.
I have searched for my thread about my bunny, Yan, but can only find a reference to it within this thread, (especially post 6)

Myxomatosis in vaccinated rabbit- chances of survival?

Hey there, So a few weeks ago both of our rabbits contracted myxomatosis, one a week before the other. They were both vaccinated and have never been sick before this. The vet gave us antibiotics to prevent secondary infections and we gave that to them for a week. The rabbit who got it first is...

forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk

It is a fact that bunnies with myxomatosis will usually die from a secondary, usually respiratory, infection, not the virus itself. I would advise you NOT to stop the antibiotics for this reason. I don't know which antibiotics you have been prescribed. My bunny had a long course of Penicillin injections (needs to be injections as rabbits must not have oral Penicillin), which you can administer at home. You might want to discuss which antibiotic Sooty should be on to give him the best chance.
I would continue to syringe feed, while also offering him small amounts of his favourite foods. Be careful while syringe-feeding as Sooty has breathing difficulties and give very small amounts.
Sending you loads of vibes and also for Sooty. I hope that Dennis remains fine.

Thank you for your reply I made the decision not to separate Sooty from Dennis because of their bond .their house is a big shedl and it has a cover over to protect it from the rain...I was worried that the antibiotics would cause stasis it's something called enrocare? I'm exhausted having to deal with my mum who not long ago had a diagnosis of dementia and my elderly father has been in hospital after a fall .they say it comes in threes don't they sooty is such a sweetheart it's such a difficult call I've noticed he snogg d out clear liquid about an HR ago after the bath steam dont know whether that's good or bad. And I'm wondering if that lady says once they stop eating it's game over never been quite as stressed

 

[Omi]

My bunny was quite poorly for quite a while and had stopped eating. I do think that each case needs to be judged on what the rabbits is like overall.
I meant to also say in my previous post that Sooty will have some immunity from his previous vaccination if it was overdue by a very small amount. Not the same as if he had had the vaccination when it was due, but also better than an unvaccinated rabbit ie immunity doesn't just stop completely after 12 months.
I have no experience with Enrocare. I have usually been given Penicillin injections for stubborn infections with good results. Maybe discuss the antibiotic with your vet.

 

[Karen lr]

My bunny was quite poorly for quite a while and had stopped eating. I do think that each case needs to be judged on what the rabbits is like overall.
I meant to also say in my previous post that Sooty will have some immunity from his previous vaccination if it was overdue by a very small amount. Not the same as if he had had the vaccination when it was due, but also better than an unvaccinated rabbit ie immunity doesn't just stop completely after 12 months.
I have no experience with Enrocare. I have usually been given Penicillin injections for stubborn infections with good results. Maybe discuss the antibiotic with your vet.

I really thought today was the day to say goodbye just gone outside and he's drinking water..I really need to clear his nose but I'm not sure how

 

[Omi]

I really thought today was the day to say goodbye just gone outside and he's drinking water..I really need to clear his nose but I'm not sure how

What an excellent update! Well done Sooty. I have only ever wiped a bunny's nose, but I admit that's not terribly effective. Maybe give your out-of-hours vet a ring and ask for this specific advice.

 

[Shimmer]

You could try a nebuliser with just saline to help with the breathing. Both are readily available online, or maybe from a local pharmacist. Saline is available in small vials (online), or via a bag (eg from your vet).

Use a carrier or box as the base for the rabbit to sit in & make it comfortable for him with hay or a blanket. Cover with eg a towel to keep the mist in. Put the nebuliser nozzle through the carrier door / hole in the box. Use for 10 mins or so, 2-3 times a day if he will tolerate it.

If he's stuffed up with snot, your vet can prescribe a mucolytic which thins the discharge so it clears better. I've used Bisolvon for rabbits before. It comes as a powder in a small sachet and you add a pinch a day to food. A sachet lasts for ages.

Nebuliser & saline vials examples:

Amazon.co.uk

Amazon.co.uk

 

[Zoobec]

Sending lots of vibes for him xx

 

[bunny momma]

I am sending lots of vibes for Sooty and hope Dennis will continue to be well. I am sorry you have many other things to deal with too.

 

[Karen lr]

Sadly last night Sooty succumbed to this awful disease our vets are excellent and had taken him in to try and up the anti he the vet team were keeping me updated frequentky then I got the call to say he,d slipped away he had been on oxygen . Dennis fingers crossed is still clear..what an awful disease I've read so much up on it in the last few days man interfering again I remember my mum saying after the war rabbit was a cheap meat and after Myxomatosis was introduced no one would eat rabbit .so in the end it back fired on humans too .Thanks for all your advice and support Godspeed my lovely Sooty

 

[Omi]

Sadly last night Sooty succumbed to this awful disease our vets are excellent and had taken him in to try and up the anti he the vet team were keeping me updated frequentky then I got the call to say he,d slipped away he had been on oxygen . Dennis fingers crossed is still clear..what an awful disease I've read so much up on it in the last few days man interfering again I remember my mum saying after the war rabbit was a cheap meat and after Myxomatosis was introduced no one would eat rabbit .so in the end it back fired on humans too .Thanks for all your advice and support Godspeed my lovely Sooty

I am so very sorry Sleep tight beautiful bunny. Sending hugs for you too. The disease is indeed horrible.

 

[Karen lr]

I am so very sorry Sleep tight beautiful bunny. Sending hugs for you too. The disease is indeed horrible.

Think my heart will break x

 

[bunny momma]

I am so sorry for your loss. It seems very unlucky that Sooty got this awful disease.
Sending you gentle hugs.

 

[a reader of books]

Oh, your poor Sooty. I'm so very, very sorry you lost him despite all the care you and your vets gave him. He looked lovely I hope Dennis will continue to be okay.

 

[Karen lr]

Thank you everyone Dennis looks so lost .

 

[a reader of books]

Oh, poor Dennis. He must be missing his brother very much. They looked like such a sweet pair.

 

[joey&boo]

I'm so sorry you lost your lovely Sooty, my hear goes out to you

 

[Karen lr]

Dennis stayed with Sooty and is still free of the disease I cleaned all the bowls and removed all the bedding how do I disinfect the house as Dennis still lives in it it's like a wooden shed . Cost me £800 so I'm not in the position to throw it away..I ve read bleach but is that really safe? I have a steam cleaner as well

 

[bunny momma]

Thank you everyone Dennis looks so lost .

Sending lots of extra vibes for Dennis and you as you both grieve the loss of Sooty.

 

[Omi]

I have never used it, but I think I remember people on here saying that Virkon is the disinfection product of choice for things like this. Have a search through old threads to confirm that, if no-one pops up to give a view.

PS This is also safe and suitable to use, if you follow the instructions

Anigene Professional Surface Disinfectant Cleaner - The Vet Store

Anigene HLD4V High Level Disinfectant Cleaner has been specifically created to provide an economic, environmentally friendly and effective product.

www.thevetstore.net