Rabbit question / lung situation

Question
I purchased two young rabbits six years ago and soon found out that one was a doe and one was a buck (and we quickly had them fixed).  They were fast friends and inseparable.  The doe was quite small as a kit and could not reach the water bottle so the buck would crouch down under the bottle so she could reach it.  I was sad for her when her companion died at age three.  He was sickly from the start and it did not help that I was a new rabbit owner and over fed him - he loved to eat but the doe seemed to have a good sense of what she should and should not eat.  Anyhow, she has now lived three years longer than he did and she is now between 5 and 6 years old.  She had a hair ball last year and we almost lost her.  Daily IV fluids and critical care food got her through until she was able to pass it.  I work from home so I am with her 24/7.  I noticed in the last week that she was not feeling well.  I also noticed that she was not passing stools like she normally does so I assumed it was another hair ball.  I began the hair ball procedure again but wondered if it was something else because she is not really shedding much at this time.  I took her in today for IV fluids and when the vet was holding her steady she had a hard time breathing.  When they x-rayed her, it looks as if she either has one entire lung filled with fluid as well as half of the other one or there is some type of mass.  The vet is faxing her X-rays to a specialist for advice, but I thought I would ask you if you had any words of wisdom.  The vet also gave her a antibiotic shot.  I'm beginning to wonder if perhaps she has pneumonia.  The weather here in Dallas is pretty mild.  She enjoys it when we have a cold snap.  I should tell you that she has an indoor cage that she sleeps in from 10PM to 7AM.  During the day she is able to run in the entire fenced back yard (in good weather) or has the run of the house on bad weather days.  It has been cool and rainy in the last week or two.  She has been outside and now I wonder if perhaps I should have kept her in?  She does enjoy sitting outside when it is misting or a light sprinkle.  If it begins to rain, I bring her in.
Do you think I made her sick?  Do rabbits sometimes get cancer or a large mass in their lungs?

Answer
Dear Sharon,

First let me assure you it's not likely that it was anything you did that made your rabbit ill.  She may have been harboring bacteria in her lungs for a long time, and it takes a very vigilant rabbit "mom" to notice that she was having trouble breathing.  You probably have saved her life by taking her to the vet promptly.

If this is pneumonia, it can be treated, but it may take a lot of time and nursing.  If there is no snot to culture, then a "best guess" at the appropriate antibiotics may be the best you can do under the circumstances.  We have had excellent results by combining Zeniquin (marbofloxacin) and amikacin (injections), which together provide a broad range of attack, and work synergistically to kill bacteria.

If the pneumonia is severe, you can help make her more comfortable and deliver medications directly to her lungs to help her clear the gunk with a nebulizer (your vet will have to write a prescription for this).  We nebulize twice a day with the following "cocktail":

10cc sterile saline
2.0cc amikacin (50mg/ml)
1.0cc aminophylline (20% solution)
0.4cc Mucomyst (acetylcysteine; 20% solution)

We neb them for about 15 minutes, 2-3 times a day.  Cuppage (gentle tapping of the chest) can help loosen the goo inside after nebulization, and allow the cilia in her lungs to bring it up to be coughed out or swallowed.  Be very vigilant for an hour after nebulization, as if the discharge comes up strongly, she can need help to clear it.  Be sure to ask your vet about all this.

If the mass is cancer (less common, but not impossible), then there is really very little that can be done if the entire lung is filled and the other is compromised.  I hope it's not that.

You also can find a rabbit vet here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

for additional help.

I hope your girl will be fine.  Once she recovers, I can refer you to a local rescuer who can help you set up a "blind date" for her to meet eligible, neutered bachelors.  This will help her state of mind, and keep her healthier and happier.

But first let's get her well.

I'm sending healing vibes.

Dana