This is a serious and life-threatening condition that needs emergency attention by your vet. If your rabbit is suffering from the snuffles, you may notice him develop watery eyes, a runny nose and sneezing often. 213 2422 20. It presents as a runny nose, watery eyes and sneezing. Humans that handle infected rabbits should wash their hands and clothes before handling healthy rabbits. It will be important to stay on top of any medication management as they can be long term. Snuffles is a condition in rabbits that every owner dreads. This is when it often takes hold and some form of clinical signs associated with the bacteria may be seen. Other factors that are risk factors for respiratory tract disease include poor environmental conditions, e.g. Ensure that your rabbits living quarters are well ventilated and are regularly cleaned-out to prevent the build-up of fumes from urine. Snuffles is a difficult disease to cure and treatment may need to be continued for several months before the condition improves. Antibiotics are the first line of defense against this disease. Untreated rabbits become very debilitated as the condition progresses. This is typically caused by an infection of his tear ducts or nasal sinuses. If you are noticing more severe symptoms, especially for more than a few days or worsening very quickly, it may be time to head to the vet. If the tear ducts are severely blocked or scarred it is sometimes impossible to flush them successfully. As we all know, antibiotics can cause further health issues and detriment to immune function, and should only be used as a last effort to save a severely sick rabbit. 
Provide your rabbit with a balanced diet made up of 80% grass and hay, 5% extruded nugget and 15% fresh greens, with fresh water available at all times and an appropriate environment in which to live. Rabbits often harbour some degree of subclinical bacterial infection in their lungs and airways, especially as they age. We have seen a lot of success with grape seed extract but are still testing dosages. Essex Worried about the cost of Snuffles Pasteurellosis treatment? When the teeth become overgrown and/or maloccluded (do not meet), the tooth roots push upwards and can obstruct the tear duct. You may spot the dried discharge on your rabbits front paws. However, if the problem is causing any respiratory distress, the rabbit is cyanotic (blue mucous membranes) or is distressed in any other way, then you must get your rabbit to your vet straight away as this is an emergency situation. CM23 2HA I am a homesteader, watercolor painter, doll maker, bunny lover, and cucumber eater. Dandelion greens can be found fresh at your local market or health food store. Pet Insurance covers the cost of many common pet health conditions. The snuffles are caused by the bacterium pasteurellosis, which your rabbit may have in his own body or encounters. Discharges from the nose can be clear fluid, mucus, pus, blood or a mixture of substances. can cause gastrointestinal tract problems in rabbits that can be difficult to reverse. Some rabbits will spontaneously recover but the majority of cases need medical therapy and even then some of these bunnies cannot completely recover. This blood test can lead to interpretation difficulties as it does not always distinguish infected bunnies from non-infected ones. Tests may include: Treatment is difficult and may not eradicate the organism. Your vet or veterinary nurse will demonstrate how to administer the drops correctly. The build-up of fumes from urine or from certain types of wood shavings, e.g. Pasteurella antibody tests. Oral antibiotics may also be necessary to treat the infection in the nasal sinuses. cedar, may cause irritation to the eyes, and possibly trigger snuffles. The discharge from the eyes is initially clear (just like normal tears). Most common symptoms include: sneezing, conjunctivitis (eye discharge), loud breathing and lethargy. Radiographs can also distinguish between pneumonia and other causes of labored breathing like heart disease and cancer. 8.30am 12.00pm (Sun), Please note, phone calls may be recorded for training purposes, Rye Street CLOSED (Sun), 77 Rowntree Way Rabbits with dental disease are prone to developing snuffles. Runny eyes tear ducts can become clogged resulting in even more discharge, Head tilting due to neurological damage, your rabbit may develop a head tilt, Matted fur your rabbit may rub his runny nose and that discharge mats the fur on his paws. They are easy to measure and use and the rabbits actually like to eat it! There are some tests, however, that should be considered in severely affected rabbits or those not responding to routine treatments. Rabbits in the wild eat a very high-fibre diet consisting predominantly of grass, hay and bark, and they rarely suffer from dental problems. Optimal treatment for your rabbit requires a combination of home and professional veterinary care. These units are purchased from medical supply stores and have to be adapted for use in animals. If your rabbit is not moving at all or has not been eating or drinking for more than six to twelve hours (while awake.) Does he need to be treated again or is this normal with snuffles? Your rabbits prognosis is good if the treatment is begun immediately. Here are some guidelines on how to look after a rabbit with snuffles and also how to protect your rabbits from developing the condition. Trauma to the head, such as an attack by a predator. Give this mixture instead of the usual filtered water in a BOWL. This discharge may be seen on and around the nostrils, but as rabbits use their forepaws to clean their nose, the discharge, wet or dried, may also be seen on the fur on the inside of their front legs. First lets touch on some housing issues that could possibly be working against you. This will often be accompanied by sneezing, nose rubbing and discharge from the affected nostril(s). Blood tests can show the overall health of the rabbit, in particular identifying signs of infection. Or perhaps you may be able to forage some, but make sure you collect fresh dandelion in an area where no toxic sprays have been used. than me. When in doubt, hop down to your veterinarian for a complete checkup. This disease can progress to a serious infection like septicemia and pneumonia, which rabbits are very good at hiding., The treatment plan for snuffles varies based on the clinical signs, but antibiotics are often prescribed because it is a bacterial disease, Heatley says. Rabbit probiotics are formulated for their special dietary and specific microbiome needs. But visiting a the vet could help you rule out other underlying issues contributing to the cold symptoms. Texas A&M University | Many young rabbits will also develop their first colds after weaning from their mother and coming into contact with the wider world. This is simple to do and your veterinarian can help you with the set-up. It grows well in North Carolina, so we actually have a whole field of it growing in one of our gardens, giving us access to fresh Echinacea leaves for most of the year. Suggestions for future topics may be directed toeditor@cvm.tamu.edu. The most common bacteria that is found is Pasteurella multocida. Feeding changes may be necessary if your rabbit is not eating and you must feed him with a syringe until he is stronger. Pasteurellosis in rabbits is most commonly caused by the bacteria Pasteurella multocida. 8.30am 12.00pm (Sat) If you are looking into purchasing a new rabbit for your household, it is best to talk with your breeder or pet store representative about a particular animals health history and breeding conditions.
info@stortvet.com, 9.00am 6-30pm (Mon-Fri) Also do not use cedar shavings for bedding. As rabbits teeth grow throughout their life, they need to be continually worn down by the action of chewing on food. Due to this bacterium being so highly contagious, it is easy for rabbits to spread the infection to one another. They cannot use a human, cat, or dog, probiotic as we eat different foods. Thoroughly clean and disinfect enclosures, food bowls, water containers and non-porous toys. Snoring can be totally harmless and normal for some rabbits, but if your rabbit is in any way distressed or it happens suddenly without any previous episodes, then it is always best to seek veterinary advice to rule out any potential problems. Rabbits only eat plants and need the probiotics that match their diet. This sounds simple but it can be difficult to get deep enough into the nose in most rabbits. Because this disease is readily identified in rabbits, symptoms are more important in diagnosis than laboratory tests. 9.00am 11am (Sat) Safe antibiotics include: enrofloxacin (Baytril), ciprofloxacin (Cipro), orbifloxacin (Orbax), trimethoprim/sulfa combinations (Sulfatrim or Bactrim or Septra), chloramphenicol, tetracycline (Panmycin), injectable penicillin (Flocillin or BenzaPen), metronidazole (Flagyl) and injectable gentamicin and amikacin. In these cases, veterinary advice and attention should be sought. In the terminal stages of rabbit haemorrhagic disease, frothy blood originating from the lungs may discharge from the nose. Rabbits breathe through their nose, so any nasal discharge may detrimentally affect their breathing. The antibiotics are usually in the form of drops or cream to be applied directly to the eyes. The cause of these symptoms is often a chronic bacterial infection in the tear ducts and nasal sinuses. Sometimes an antibiotic change can make the difference. Alert your veterinarian if you are experiencing problems with the treatments. This is an EMERGENCY situation and needs urgent care. Another immune boosting superfood! Eyes that tear a lot may have blocked tear ducts.
CT scanning can be expensive, but should be covered by pet health insurance if you have it for your rabbit. Echinacea is an immune booting super herb, also known as purple coneflower. His symptoms may mimic other conditions rabbits can suffer from such as respiratory diseases, dental concerns or a poorly ventilated hutch. I am always learning something new or building something bigger (and heavier!) It is highly contagious and can be transmitted by direct or indirect contact. Prepare for the unexpected by getting a quote from top pet insurance providers. He could have snuffles, a common upper respiratory infection in rabbits. 2022, Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences. Further tests may be requested including bloodwork and samples of any discharge. These tests will confirm if pasteurella is the cause of your rabbits problems or not. The veterinarian can then choose an appropriate antibiotic. I have used these probiotics for a wide range of health boosting effects. General treatments include cleaning the nostrils, nutritional support, oxygen therapy (if your rabbit has difficulty breathing), nebulisation (this can be used to moisten secretions and also to deliver some medications), and anti-inflammatories/pain relief. This is uncomfortable for the rabbit so your vet will need to sedate or anaesthetise your rabbit for this procedure. Upper respiratory infections ("URI") result in the "snuffles" syndrome of runny eyes, runny nose and sneezing. Monitor your pet's weight daily. Purchase young rabbits from sources that provide documentation that each bunny has been tested for pasteurella prior to sale. After examining your rabbit, your vet may suggest some other tests to identify the cause of the discharge and help determine the severity of the condition. Respiratory disease affects rabbits of all ages and results in sneezing, eye discharge (conjunctivitis), and labored breathing. Foreign bodies, e.g. It will be important to share with your veterinarian what signs and symptoms you have noticed and for how long. Also referred to as paranasal sinusitis, snuffles is most often caused by a certain bacteria known as Pasteurella multocids, but sometimes other bacteria can also be involved.. Penicillin can be given by injection only. Once the rabbit is showing symptoms, the disease will run it's course which can be mild or severe. Rabbits cannot breathe through their mouth if their nose is blocked. According to Heatley, the most common signs to look for relating to snuffles are nasal discharge, head tilting, and skin sores. Also, we've just gotten a new rabbit, but they are separated at this time. If you do need to alter your rabbits diet introduce the changes gradually over a minimum period of 2 weeks, to allow its digestive system to adjust. Bulldogs, Pugs and Pekinese, causes a snoring sound to be heard when the animal breathes. This is relatively common and not typically life threatening. What do I need to do to clean and disinfect the cage to make sure the new rabbit doesn't catch this if we treat again? If the rabbit is young and not yet eating fresh foods, its better to use it in its dried form, mixed in with their pellets. These medications can be administered for up to a few months to fully treat the infection. Now his runny nose is back. The bacteria involved are usually Pasteurella spp or Staphylococcus spp. These drugs should not be given to any rabbit. As with most diseases, the prognosis depends on the cause and extent of the disease. Hello, Make sure your rabbit is eating and drinking. Nasal tumours are likely to need extensive surgery which may involve referral to a specialist surgeon. The first sign of a problem is usually runny eyes with wet, tear-stained fur on the cheeks. This is a bacterium that naturally occurs in rabbits, however it can turn into a problem. This is often the case in rabbits who may be slightly overweight or as the rabbit ages, and is caused by a slightly floppy soft palate. Minor cold symptoms can include raspy breathing, sneezing, a slightly runny nose (not enough to mat front paws,) watery eyes with a minor amount of clear discharge, and some head shaking from ear irritation. Your veterinarian will direct you as to how often you should bring him in for a checkup. What tests will my vet use to investigate nasal discharge? This means no loud foreign noises or menacing pets or children. This test is called a culture and sensitivity and it will help your vet prescribe the most effective antibiotic for your rabbit. Due to the symptoms being generalized, it may be somewhat difficult to identify what your rabbits concern is. Generally, treatment includes: Keep infected rabbits in isolation during treatment. The same should be said for using any type of litter containing cedar, which is also extremely irritating. In severe cases, snuffles can result in pneumonia which requires very intensive treatment and unfortunately is often fatal. If you are unfamiliar with checking a rabbits teeth or feel you could use more advice from a professional, do not hesitate to visit a rabbit savvy vet in your area. This is usually performed under general anaesthesia. CB11 4BY Even with lower respiratory tract disease, coughing is very rare in rabbits. Try to minimize stress in the home environment. Dental disease can obstruct the nasolacrimal tear duct which drains tears from the eyes down the nose. Isolating any other infected animals will be necessary as well. Bishops Stortford However one must be very careful with antibiotic use in rabbits as improper types or routes of antibiotic administration can cause problems within the rabbits stomach and intestines that could lead to death. Diarrhea can be very serious in a rabbit. More specific treatments may be appropriate for certain diseases, e.g. You should also check your rabbit for malocclusion (overgrown teeth) to see if this is part of the problem. Fungal infection may also affect the nasal cavity. Radiographs (X-rays). Flushing removes any pus and bacteria from the blocked duct and helps the antibiotics to penetrate the duct and be more effective. What can I do to prevent my rabbit getting snuffles? Once a rabbit develops snuffles it is usually a life-long problem. There are several causes of nasal discharge, not all of them are infections. However, diseases like rabbit haemorrhagic disease are associated with a very high mortality rate. the lungs. Warm-water soaked cotton balls can be used to break up crusts around the nose and eyes.