My Bunny. Can you help?

Question
QUESTION: Hello,
My name is Jamie and I have been into rabbits for about 4 years now. My
first rabbit was a polish black buck. That year at the fair he had part
of his lip torn off by the rabbit in the other cage. Since then, he
sneezes now and then because of food dust getting into there. Recently,
everytime he eats, he sneezes. Is there anything I could do for him? I
wipe his nose sometimes and then he is good for a little while. I was
just wondering if there was any medicine or something like that to help
him.
Thanks for your time and help.
Jamie

p.s. Someone said I have asked this question before, but I haven't.

ANSWER: Hi Jamie

He might be having some sort of allergic reaction.  Have you recently changed foods or has your food been sitting around for a while?  If the food sits open it can get mold and dust in it.  If you keep your food open try sealing it in a plastic container.  This will help keep the dust and other things limited.

He may have caught a cold.  If he hasn't been around any other rabbits then he is probably ok.  If he has been around other rabbits he could have caught snuffles.  This is  usually indicated by a white nasal discharge.  If he has white nasal discharge he needs to be taken to the doctor for cultures and medication.  There is really no over the counter medicine for colds.  Just make sure he is eating and check the food to make sure it doesn't have mold in it.  Even sometimes the food you buy that is supposedly fresh can have mold spores.  Especially if you buy it from a feed mill where it is around other foods and stored in damp buildings.

Snuffles can be very serious.  It is much different than a cold and can lead to pneumonia.  If you have any doubt that your rabbit may be infected it is very important to get him treated.  Snuffles will not go away on its own.

This site is from the UK but many of the illnesses are the same.  It has a good picture of advanced snuffles.

http://www.greenwichrabbitrescue.com/commonailments.htm

Goodluck Jamie and I hope your bunny is ok

Thank you

Pam


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hello
I have now found out that he has snuffles and now has wry neck from the snuffles. I can't ake him to my vet because the vet doesn't know anything about rabbits. Also, there are no other vets in my area. Is there anything you know that I could give him? I do have terramicin. If you have any suggestions please let me know.
Jamie
ANSWER: Jamie

Wry neck is very serious.  80% of the time even when treated it results in death.  If you have terramycin soluble Powder you can try the doses below.  Rabbits that have wry neck really need Baytril and you can only get Baytril from a vet.  Sometimes you have to drive a few hours to find an exotic animal doctor.  Your vet should know the closest one to you even if it is a few hour drive.  If he doesn't then he is very irresponsible.

I am going to give you a site that is supposed to help with all natural cures.  I have never tried it and can't guarantee it will work but they have a phone number that you can call during business hours

call us for your FREE Phone Consultation about your pet.     Call (712) 644-3535 from 8:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. CST    

This is the site about wry neck

http://www.rabbitmedicinechest.com/rabbit/discussions/wrynecktext.asp
They will ship the medicine the minute you order it and they can overnight it so you will get it in 2 days at the most.

I would make sure your rabbit is eating and drinking until you can get ahold of them.  If he is not drinking then you may have to force him to drink with a 10 cc syringe.  Just gently push a few cc's at a time and try to give him at least 2 syringes full of water a day.  If he isn't drinking because he can't reach his water try bringing it over to him.


Terramycin Soluble Powder


A water-soluble broad-spectrum antibiotic to be mixed with drinking water. Dosage for rabbits is 1/4 Teaspoon per 32-ounce water bottle, 5 - 10 days but not less than 5 days. The product is reported to be safe for use with young bunnies and helps alleviate certain bacterial respiratory and enteritis problems.(READ LABEL) It should be followed by triple acid pack or similar stomach remedy like Bene-Bac.


I am so sorry about your bunny friend.  I am really hopeful after reading the information from the Rabbit Medicine Chest.  They should be able to tell you what to give him to help him get better.  Just remember that it is a long process.

Goodluck and if you need anything else please let me know

Pam


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION:  Hello Pam,
I was on a website that said that I could give my rabbit fenbendazole for his wry neck. It is safe-guard dewormer and I do have some of that. Have you ever heard or that? Do you think that it would be a good idea to give him alittle to see if it helps.
By the way thank you for all your help.
Jamie

Answer
Hi Jamie

I looked up fenbendazole and found this information:

Parasitic medications - oxibendazole, fenbendazole, albendazole are safe to use.
Rabbits don't generally have a problem with parasites thus making these medications safe to use, albeit unnecessary as the problem does not exist.

Ok we don't use this regularly so I calculated the dose and looked up the risks.  I averaged your rabbits weight at 3 pounds since it is a polish dwarf.  It is saying that the rabbit should receive 27 mg every 24 hours orally for 5 days.

*******PLEASE READ************

Fairly safe. Drug interaction with bromsalan flukicides (Dibromsalan, Tribromsalan) --> abortions, death.

It says "fairly safe".  It may cause DEATH and I just wanted you to be fully aware of this before you give anything.  I also don't know if it will help.  Fenbendazole is for parasites and parasites can cause wryneck but not snuffles.  Snuffles is caused by Pasteurellosis and this also can cause wryneck.  I am attaching a site you might find useful.

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=0&cat=1803&articleid=2686

Without proper cultures you are playing a guessing game.  I understand your predicament and understand also that you are a breeder and my not be able to take your rabbits to the doctor every time they get sick.  Just keep in mind that it may not help.  In my many years of experience and growing up on a rabbit farm I have seen 1 rabbit who recovered from wryneck.  He was given Baytril immediately after the symptoms started and was on a course of Baytril for several months.

If you want to try the medicine it is your choice.  I just wanted you to be fully aware of the risks.  I really strongly suggest that you contact the Rabbit Medicine Chest first thing Monday morning.

If you can't find a vet in your area please just look through the following site and see if you can find any close.  Click on your state and see what you can come up with.
http://www.rabbit.org/vets/vets.html

Here is the rabbit dosing chart link.  You can use this for whichever medicine you decide to use.

http://homepage.mac.com/mattocks/morfz/rx/drugcalc.html

Jamie I am so sorry I can't help you.  I treat my own rabbits but I know that if they die they die.  That is part of life.  I just don't want to tell you to do something that will cause the death of your friend.  

I really really want to know how he does and what you decided to do.  I care about all animals and take a serious interest in their well-being.  It is sad but sometimes decisions have to be made about whether the animal is getting better or is suffering.  I can't make that decision for you but hopefully you will find some information when you call on Monday.

I will pray for your little one

Sincerely

Pam