rabbit snuffles

Question
Have you come across a good treatment for rabbit snuffles?  I ask because I have a mini rex who had the snuffles, I tried a few vets and some peneciline shots but it all felt like it was going to snow ball into a dependency so I uses an herb mixture and probiotics in combination with some other things and after about three or four months he was 100%.  He has been that way since.  I want to know if others have had this succes and what they have done, or if what I used could be usefull to somebunny.

thanks,
sara

Answer
Hi Sara,

herbs and probiotics are good, but in the case of rabbit infections, given their nature and the thickness of pus and such, often they are not strong enough on their own to clear them up.

You won't get dependent on the antibiotics.  You need the antibiotics to knock the infection out and supplement with probiotics and herbs.  There are three key things to remember about antibiotics:

1.  You need the most effective antibiotic for the bacteria in quesiton.  You need to have a culture and sensitivity test done on the bacteria to find which one works the best against the strain of bacteria - and if more than one works, the vet can pick the safest one for your rabbit.  Often antibiotics don't work because they aren't really the best (or don't work at all) and it seems like bunny never gets over it.  The C&S test is critical.  saves you time, money, and gets bunny healthy the quickest.

2.  Given bunny the full prescription, and if he isn't totally well or you are unsure if he's really 100% over it, do a second course and finish it.  Often people see a big health change, and fail to give the full prescription.  Problem is the hardiest bacteria can still be alive, and then the infection comes back, but this time it will be much harder to wipe out (and maybe it is now immune to the antibiotic, and bunny may have to take a stronger, and possibly more dangerous, antibiotic.  Always finish a prescription.  ANd if unsure, get a refill and give the full course of that 2nd prescription.

3.  Supplement with probiotics.  they may die off, but they will still help him for awhile.  I would also get some Bene-Bac from the pet supply store and give him some of that during antibiotics.  If you have another healthy rabbit if you are lucky and can get a cecal pellet cluster from them, you could take that and give it to your bunny on antibiotics.

Lee