4 questions

Question
QUESTION: 1. If Advantage does not work, how soon can I use Revolution?
2. Due to the cost of mailing Timothy pellets (over $100.00 for the feed with shipping), I recently switched to Purina Complete as I can get it at the feed store. Purina Complete is Alfalfa based, is it safe for long term bunny health? The percentages seem similar and of course Purina said it was as good or better.
3. My bunny was diagnosed with active pasteurella bacteria. I have isolated him from the other rabbits, but I wanted to know if Guinea pigs and cats are susceptible as well?
4. One bunny had to have his teeth done. This made him stop eating.  I am giving him subq.fluids and Critical Care with pedialyte. What other basic things can I do to help a bunny recovering from surgery or illness?



ANSWER: Dear Megan,

1.  I've known people who put both on a bunny without problems.  But you should consult with your rabbit-savvy vet before proceeding.  The two drugs are different, and I don't know of any interactions between them.

2.  We sometimes use Purina Complete, but try to get Purina Hi-Fiber lab chow #5326 or 5325.  If your feed store stocks Purina Complete, they can probably order Hi-Fiber for you, too.  Since pellets comprise a minor part of the diet, the only concern is the calories.  As long as bun gets plenty of timothy hay, pellet brand is of minor concern, as long as it's a good quality pellet.

3.  DO NOT separate the bunny from bonded partners.  This will increase her stress and make her more susceptible to the disease.  I've had many Pasteurella-positive bunnies who lived with others, nuzzling and slobbering all over each other, and NONE ever shared pathogens.  NONE.  And this is after repeated culture and sensitivity testing.  I've heard the exact same thing from every rabbit person I know.

I'm not sure about Guinea pigs.  But most cats carry Pasteurella and other nasties asymptomatically in their mouths and on their claws.  For this reason, they can be very dangerous to rabbits and other small animals, as even a tiny bite or scratch can cause potentially fatal systemic Pasteurella infection.

4.  Pain medication is usually a good idea after a molar trim.  Please ask the vet about metacam and/or tramadol for the pain, and this will usually get the bunny eating again sooner than without the pain meds.

Hope this helps.

Dana

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

QUESTION: 1. I will check to see when it's safe. I used your baby powder with cornstarch suggestion that you gave another person but the fleas are still a problem. We have never had fleas before but this year they say it is bad!
2. We have 8 bunnies ranging from about 1 year to our sick bunny who we think may be about 8 years old. Which is preferable?  
3.&4. He is a 10lb. NZW and was given Buprenex 0.2 ml bid for 3 days which seemed a bit strong but I saw him eat a bit of hay this morning, so I am hoping he will eat some pellets and veggies this evening.  I will give him back to his neighbor, they are not officially bonded as they are both fighters, but they are both older big bunnies and like each others company. I had her tested as well to see if she will need medication, but she is not showing any signs of running nose or sticky paws. He had a runny nose.
Many thanks!

ANSWER: Dear Megan,

1.  Corn starch is just a stop-gap until you can get some of the good stuff.  The person I wrote to couldn't get any Revolution until Monday, so I suggested she comb the bunny with baby cornstarch to physically remove the fleas. But that's not really an effective long-term solution.

2.  Your Question:  "2. We have 8 bunnies ranging from about 1 year to our sick bunny who we think may be about 8 years old. Which is preferable?"  If you mean Advantage vs. Revolution, we use only Revolution.  I've used it on baby cottontails as young as 2 weeks of age and seen no adverse reactions.  The only time I would *not* use it is if the bunny has a head injury or known problem with the blood/brain barrier.

3.  Buprenex is strong stuff, and that alone might have curbed his appetite.  I'm glad he's starting to feel better.

Hang in there, Bunny Mom!  Sounds as if you have your hands full.  :)

Take care,
Dana

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

QUESTION: I'm sorry, I was unclear. I meant for the Purina Complete, 5325 or 5326.  For the wide variety we have of ages and sizes, which formula would you suggest? We also use 1st and 2nd cut Tim Hay and they also get coastal hay, mainly for bedding, but they nibble it as well.

Just wanted to thank you for your assistance. Our sick bunny is doing much better eating tonight. I brought him back into the living room with his female neighbor. I do believe he thinks he is denying her the food he is eating and they have boxed at each other in their usual way before sitting in the same direction and enjoying the evening. I did notice a little mess on his nose, but I'm afraid it might be that the baby powder has caused a bit of a problem.  I tried to comb it and the fleas out of his coat, but there may be some still there.  I am hoping that I get the go ahead to give the Revolution tomorrow for everyone.  Then I will start the hutch move to spray and vacuum the rooms. It's been about 3 weeks since I used the Advantage on them and it was only about a drop each.  Evidentally it was not enough! What is the acceptable dose of Revolution per pound for a bunny?  Is it the same as for a cat of similar weight?  I am assuming that it is the cat version of Revolution that is used on a rabbit?

Answer
Dear Megan,

The only difference between 5325 adn 26 is that 25 is "certified mycotoxin free."  Which means that it's a bit more closely inspected, and costs a bit more.  But we've never had trouble with 5326.  (We can't even *get* the 5325 in Miami.)

I'm not surprised that the Advantage didn't work if the vet gave only one drop!  The recommended minimum dose for Revolution is 2.7 mg selamectin per pound ( or 6 mg/kg) of body weight.  Check the concentration of the solution you have (there are 6 different strengths, and dose accordingly with a 1cc syringe).

If you need help with the dosage once you have the Revolution, please let me know.

Hope all the bunnies are flea free soon!

Dana