Pet Information > ASK Experts > Exotic Pets > Rabbits > snuffles and giving birth

snuffles and giving birth

22 11:04:42

Question
QUESTION: We have recently taken the rabbit to the vet and her condition has recently been diagnosed with snuffles. She was due on March 5th. We have been treating her with Baytril.
-------------------------------------------
The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
I have a rabbit that has snuffles and is about to give birth. Should I prepare for the worst? Is there anything I should look out for?
-----Answer-----
Hola Lisa.

Why do you suspect Snuffles ?  How many days away from kindeling is the doe ?

Sheila
ANSWER: OK - did the vet do a sensitivity test ? any which way - Baytril is a very potent antibiotic.  Depending upon the time of development of the kits is the damage to them.  If she was due the 5th and has not kindled yet there is a large problem.  Has she kindled ?  If not did the vet palpate and confirm the pregnancy ?

Lisa what happened with your doe ?

I ask if the vet did a sensitivity test because many times sniffles ( infection with pasturella ) is diagnosed without the test.  9 times out of 10 a "cold" is not pasturella but  a staph infection instead.  Pasturella is an insidious problem because Bytril will not kill it 100% and it will come back later much stronger, while a staph infection can be eradicated quite easily.  If it is pasturella the kits will have it in their bodies when they are born, if it is staph the antibiotic will be in the milk and everyone will be ok in the long run.

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

QUESTION: Yes, she has kindled, on the 8th. Only one kit was born, but did not live. We were wondering if the breed of a rabbit has anything to do with the strength of their immune system? She is a Dwarf Hotot. No, I do not think the vet did a sensitivity test on her. It was confirmed that she was pregnant. I learned to palpate rabbits with a previous pregnancy. Is there a major difference between a staph infection and snuffles? If so, what are the symptoms of staph, and how do you treat it? We have already treated her suspected snuffles twice with Baytril for 14 days each time. There was a one month interval between the treatments. Her last 1/2 pill was administered a week ago on 3-9-07. If the dose we have given her this time does not work, what is the next step? Recently, we have been giving her a 1/2 teaspoon of liquid multivitamin per 4 oz. ever day. The only foods we have been giving her are Honor Food pellets, carrots and few vegetables and some fruits. Is there anything we can change in her diet to help? We know it is not a cold. One of our rabbits has already had a cold this year, but it went away in a day. Does the rabbit have a future?
         Thank You, Lisa
ANSWER: Bytril for 14 days x 2  - poor bunny !!!!  

Yes, all the "pure" bred breeds have weaker immune systems - just like a pure breed dog vs a mutt.  The gene pool is much much smaller and within a 100 mile radius there has to be inbreeding.  Specially since there is no way to transport rabbits economically.

Only a culture can define what an infection is - and a sensitivity which antibiotic is REALLY going to kill the bug. I am surprised the Bytril was administered in pill form - specially in rabbits it should be injected. The treatments have not caused intestinal problems ?  What % was the Bytril ? ( here I use 5% or 10% if the animal is very large )

1/2 teaspoon per 4 oz of body weight ?  What does she weight ?  2.5 ml - - that is a lot of vitamins.  What % of protein do the pellets have ?

Future - if it comes back I would say not good.  If it does not come back thank the Good Lord.  If it was Staph the Bytril took care of it.  I would give her 6 ml / liter of apple cider vinegar in her water at all times - the Bytril surely has affected her kidneys and the vinegar will help keep them washed out.

If you want to breed her I would wait three months to see how she bounces back and to be very sure that all the antibiotic is out of her system - the bottle says 30 days - but .......................

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

QUESTION: The rabbit is doing fine now. Most of the snuffles has subsided, but she still seems to be sneezing occasionally and has a slight eye infection. Are there any other ways to keep her immune system up to parr so she doesn't get snuffles back so seriously?

Answer
Yes, you can help her immune system by giving her fresh foods, tho you should be careful to introduce slowly since a rabbit accustomed to mainly dry food can get the runs with to much fresh.  Verity is the key.  The more varied her diet the better her immune system - same as with people.
Recommended :
beet tops
carrot tops
spinish
alfalfa
cucumber peels
slice of banana with peel
apple peels
pear peels
immature pea pods
immature green beans
green leaves from your corn on the cob
banana plant leaves
a slice of sweet potato - small

There is a power by Bayer called AGUAYODOL -it is a bacteriostatic and mucous secant - I use it when my animals start sneezing and in 99% of the cases with a 5 day treatment they are fine.  For the eye infection you can make up a solution of chamomile tea, wash the eyes out with that and then put some cleaning drops in for humans.


some more
parsley ( not to PG bunnies )
cilantro
mint
oregano
weeping willow leaves ( also good to bring down fever )
neem leaves
leaves of just about any fruit tree except citrics