Infection?

Question
My one month old female netherland dwarf baby has an infection. Her private area is swollen and red. She seems to be perfectly healthy besides the infection, she runs and plays with her brothers and sisters and isn't drowsy or sickly. I would like to know if there is a basic antibiotic I can give her, and how much. Last evening I cleaned it with some diluted dial soap and a spalsh of rubbing alchohol to hopefully help, but it has gotten worse. Thank you so much for your help!

Answer
Hi Allison,

I would suggest an immediate visit to a rabbit savvy vet.  The most likely cause of your rabbit's concern is Rabbit Syphilis...aka Vent Disease. This can present itself as an infection in the genitals or even other areas.  It is usually contracted from the mother.  If this is the cause, it is very contagious.  I don't know that I would use anything to clean it as harsh as Dial Soap.  I prefer an oatmeal based shampoo that is very soothing to the skin.  There is no topical ointment to treat this.  While an ointment may decrease the lesions, it takes a parental antibiotic to actually control this bug.  Using antibiotics in rabbits is tricky.  If this is syphilis, it requires treatment by Penicillin and this particular family of drugs is safe only as an injectable.  This drug is nearly always fatal if given by mouth.  A complicating factor is that this rabbit is so very young.  Treatment will be very stressful.  This is something that needs to be under the care of a rabbit savvy vet.  I will be in a position shortly to do some research and see if I can find some pics of this issue.  It might be totally something else...but what you post, I think syphillis is the most likely cause.

Randy