Rabbits with snuffles

Question
I have recently aquired 3 rabbits from a breeder they are really nice looking. But when I got them home they started sneezing and have discharge from the nose. I am also a small breeder but have had no health problems with any of my rabbits until now. I have got the 3 separated from the rest of my herd. I have got them on terimyacin and sulfamethazine but I don't think it is working. I paid alot for them and don't want to put them down. Can you give me something else to try on them. I was thinking of penacillin injections but Im not sure. Any advise is very welcome.

Answer
Hi,  If it is snuffles there is nothing that can be done.  Sure, you can fix this particular case, but then it will reoccur.  You can't clear it out of the rabbit's system, it will just lie dormant until the rabbit is put under any sort of stress (incl pregnancy).

If it is snuffles, you're best to take them back to the breeder for a refund or cull them and cut your lossess.  If your herd is disease free, it would be disastrous to let snuffles loose now.

However, I've had rabbits who look like they have had snuffles, but it's turned out to be an allergy.  Sometimes it was an allergy to certain hays, sometimes sawdust and sometimes it was just the dirt.

If you don't want to return them or cull them straight away I suggest you take a sample of the discharge to a vet for testing.  If it is snuffles then at least you know and you can do whatever you want to do knowing the truth.  If not, you can play around with their environment and see if you can find out what's causing the allergy.

Do not let the rabbits near your established herd.  Feed, clean etc them last and make sure you wash your hands thoroughly and change your clothes before you touch your old rabbits.

Good luck!