Rabbit with a runny and stuffy nose

Question
My 5 year old bunny, Harley, has a stuffy, runny nose, just the right nostril, clear discharge for a couple of months now.  We have had him to the vets numerous times.  They have taken several head and full body x-rays and a culture of his discharge, everything looked OK.  He has been on, not all at once, Metacam 1.5 ml once a day, Atarax 10 mg 2 times a day, SMZ 2 ml 2 times a day and Baytril 136 mg, 1/4 tablet twice a day.  He gets a little better then not.  He is eating as usual and somewhat active.  The vets don't know what else to do.  Occasionally I have sprayed saline solution in his nostril.  His vet and I are frustrated.

Answer
Dear Karen,

More often than not, problems like what you describe are due to dental problems.  Please see:

http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/dental.html

http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/sneezing.html

and

http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/weepy.pdf

The last one is about runny eyes, but the causes of runny eyes and nostril are usually related.  You may be able to find a more experienced rabbit vet here:

http://www.rabbit.org/vets

Finally, here's a paper your vet might find useful and interesting for a case like this:

http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/rabbit_dental.pdf

Hope this helps.

Dana