eating phonebooks

Question
QUESTION: I have two rabbits that continually have snuffles off and on.  I have treated with antibiotics and they do well for about two to three weeks then come down with it all over again.  One even sounds like he is snorting at times.  They go to the vet often and I temp them on my own at home to make sure that is okay but the vet keeps treating them with the same antibiotics for the same duration.  Can you suggest a better treatment that I could ask her for?  Also can they pass it on to my two other perfectly healthy buns?  Lastly they love playing with phone books but lately they have started eating the pages should I let them or put the books away for good even though it is one of their favorite toys?  Thanks for all your help.

ANSWER: Dear Victoria,

Many rabbits have chronic upper respiratory infections, and they can be *very* hard to completely resolve.  Have these bunnies ever had their snot cultured?  I'd recommend this, since you'll then know which bacteria are causing the problem and which antibiotics will be most effective at curbing them.  And if they become resistant to one antibiotic (which isn't all that unlikely if you keep dosing for short periods), then you'll know which other antibiotics will work when the first becomes ineffective.  Please see:

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

and

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

for complete information.

Your healthy bunnies are not likely to contract URIs from your sniffly bunnies.  Upper respiratory pathogens are not readily transmitted between rabbits.  It's possible that your healthy bunnies simply have better immune systems than the sniffly ones.  It's just a matter of genetics.  But by providing healthy diet, clean, calm surroundings, and lots of love, you'll be doing the best "background" you can to keep all the bunnies well and able to fight off any resident bacteria that could cause them problems.

Hope that helps.

Dana

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

QUESTION: sorry I asked so much in one question but I was wondering about the answer to the phonebook question.  Is it okay for them to be munching on the pages and eating some as they do.  Should I take the phonebooks away and just leave them their other toys.  Thank You.

Answer
Dear Victoria

Oops, sorry about that!

Phone book pages should be safe, as long as the ink isn't colored.  Most black inks are soy-based these days, and not harmful, but you could call up the phone company to ask and be sure.

Colored inks often contain traces of heavy metal, which should not be ingested.  But paper is harmless, and they can digest it.  I think it's safe to let them go nuts with the books, as long as you remove any pages with colored ink.

Good luck,

Dana