Rabbit sore nose/loose droppings

Question
I have an 18 month old neutered buck Lionhead (although I believe he is too fluffy to be a true lion head, looks very much like a gremlin). He has too problems that I would like your advice on. Firstly he has a consistantly sore nose. he often sneezes multiple times. I have tried trimming the hair away from his face, giving water both through bottles and dishes,using filtered water, changing his bedding to dust free hemp (he lives in doors). I have also tried some ointment from the vet, PANOLOG. His nose gets crusty on the top part and his top lips are often wet and have no fur. The vet said that they were blistered although I could not see that. The other problem he has is the other end. His stools are more often loose than not, they have a very strong smell and I constantly have to remove them from his rear end with tissues. They have been actually quite runny at times, but the norm for hime is loose like small bunches of grapes. I have tried several diets including super rabbit excel complete pellet based food, science selective, again complete pellet food. I have also tried rabbit supreme, Royal rabbit, plus the usuual malasses etc you get from pet shops. I have removed all fresh food from his diet but tried him on alfalfa (won't eat that) as well as the special grass feeds you can get. he will eat small amounts of hay although I have never been brave enough to remove all food and give him hay only. I do feel quite desperate now as I feel he has a poor quality of life and must always be in discomfort. He also misses out on running around the hosue due to the droppings issue. Any advise would be much appreciated.

Answer
Dear Nicki,

Though the two problems are at opposite ends of the bunny, they are probably related to each other.  The first step you must take is to find a vet who is more experienced with rabbit medicine than the one you are currently seeing.  You can find one here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

The sore nose/lips problem *could* be mange or other mite problem, but if it's been there for a long time without resolution it sounds more likely to me that this is rabbit syphilis.  Don't panic, though.  It's not contagious to humans, and it won't spread to his nervous system as human syphilis does in humans.  Syphilis is caused by a bacterium named Treponema cuniculi, and it is easily and safely cured with five consecutive daily injections of Penicillin-G Procaine.  

Because the bunny needs penicillin if this is syphilis, it's even *more* important that you have a rabbit-savvy vet.  Oral penicillins are deadly to rabbits, and it's critical that the vet prescribe *only* injectible Penicillin-G Procaine, the only safe penicillin for rabbits.

If the problem is mites, this, too, is easily and safely treated with Revolution (selamectin) from your vet.  Please read:

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

for complete information on this problem and how it's diagnosed and treated.

The runny stool problem is probably due to his discomfort.  A rabbit in pain, or who is ill, will physiologically respond to the stress with a slowing of the GI tract's normal contractions.  This condition, called GI stasis, causes an overgrowth of harmful microorganisms in the cecum, and this causes the runny cecotropes that look like diarrhea, and have that awful smell.

The two most common causes of mushy cecotropes in rabbits are (1) incorrect diet and (2) dental problems.  So it's wise to have the vet check for those, too.  Please read:

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

and

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

so you'll know what to ask your new vet, and what to expect.  

I hope this helps get you started with a successful treatment.  Please write back if you have additional questions.

Dana