Infection (urinary tract?)

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
Dear Allison,

Please do NOT try to treat this yourself with antibiotics.  There are many antibiotics safe for humans and other animals that are deadly to rabbits, and you must undertake treatment under the supervision of a good rabbit vet who has properly diagnosed the condition your baby has (it might not even be bacterial, which means that antibiotics could just make it worse). If it *is* bacterial, then the right antibiotic will depend on what bacteria are causing the infection.  You can read about how important this is (and how it's done) here:

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

NEVER put rubbing alcohol on a delicate mucous membrane.  It will sting terribly, and will not help the situation.  To disinfect the area, use nothing stronger than a dilute solution of povidone iodine (Betadine), and rinse well and dry afterwards.  A very thin coating of triple antibiotic ointment (NO topical anesthetic!  Get just the regular stuff) can help soothe raw, inflamed tissues while you're waiting for the prescribed medications and treatments to work.

You can find a good vet here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

Please get the bunny there ASAP.  Although bunnies don't show pain, they do feel it.  And that has got to hurt!  :(

Hope this helps.

Dana