Bunny:(

Question
Hi they're ,im from Australia and i have a rabbit a dwarflop who's just been diagnosed with pasturella,the vet explained some things to me,and gave me some antibiotics its called VibraVet broad spectrum antibiotic and on the prescription it has the word laprine. I dnt no weather this is any use to you but as ur a vet i thought so!Anyway i was wondering if u culd tell me anything u no about Pasturella at all,just anything success rates in survival,just anything as i really want to be able to help Bella!
Thanks Heaps Jess, I can send you a picture of her if needed

Answer
Dear Jess,

Many vets will diagnose "Pasteurella" in a rabbit who has a runny nose or eyes, but it is not possible to positively identify this bacterial pathogen without a culture and sensitivity test.  Please read these two articles for more complete information:

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

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

Vibravet contains doxycycline, which is not really an antibiotic of first choice for rabbits, and the bacteria he has (if that's the problem) may not even be sensitive to it.  Our vets usually use Baytril (enrofloxacin) and/or injectable long-acting Penicillin-G Procaine (NO oral penicillins are safe for rabbits, but certain injectable ones are) for Pasteurella.  But again...this might not be Pasteurella.

If you're not sure the vet you saw was very experienced with rabbits, you can use the International listings linked here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

to see if you can find someone else for a second opinion.

I hope this helps.

Dana