Head tilt, pasteurella? - contagious?

Question
QUESTION: Hi,
my 3y/o Lionhead recently developed nystagmus, head tilt, and anorexia. I brought him to the vet the next day and he was put on Chlorpalm, 2mg/kg/day. The vet said that while Pasteurella was the most likely cause, he was never specifically tested for it. A week later he is showing significant improvement, but my question is about the transmission of the bacteria. I have another rabbit, and the two of them WERE living in the same cage. As soon as I saw symptoms I separated them. Is the sick rabbit contagious? How long after giving the antibiotics will he no longer spread the bacteria? How is it spread to begin with? Is it fecal, droplet? They miss each other, I'd like to let them see each other again!

Thanks!
-Paula

ANSWER: Dear Paula,

Separating the bunnies is like closing the barn door after the horse has already escaped.  Only worse.  It might now be difficult to reintroduce the bunnies without them fighting!  One should never separate bonded rabbits.  Bacterial pathogens are *not* readily shared between them, and even if they were, your other bunny has already been exposed.  His immune system should handle things if all is well with him.

Lionheads are usually highly inbred and can suffer from more illnesses than regular, hybrid rabbits because of weakened immune systems due to inbreeding.  I'm glad he's feeling better, but please also read:

www.rabbit.org/health/tilt.html

and

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

So I'd try to get those bunnies back together ASAP, and hope for no fighting.  If they spar, please write back for further help.  But don't worry about contagion.  It just doesn't happen unless all the rabbits involved are somehow immunocompromised or being kept in bad or stressful conditions.

Dana

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for your answer,
Unfortunately they're already fighting...well, the healthy one attacks the sick one. I've put their cages beside each other for a few days now, which is how I started the bonding process to begin with; do you have any other suggestions to help them bond again?

Answer
Dear Paula,

DANG!  It doesn't take long for an unbonding to happen, especially when one rabbit is sick or otherwise "different". Sometimes just a few hours.  :(

A completely neutral territory for reintroduction is very helpful.  But here are some more tips that should help you mend that broken bond:

http://search.atomz.com/search/?sp-a=00062824-sp00000000&sp-q=bonding

Hope this helps.

Dana