This is a bacterium that naturally occurs in rabbits, however it can turn into a problem. It is important to be vigilant about getting him to the veterinarian quickly if you suspect snuffles. There are some tests, however, that should be considered in severely affected rabbits or those not responding to routine treatments. Ive outlined some of our most used, safe, and effective practices below. This can sometimes be caused by the rabbits breed, a foreign body or bacterial infections, and some rabbits may also truly snore! Using a bowl is important during a cold even if your rabbit usually uses a bottle. Diagnosis is based on clinical signs and isolation of the organism. This often strikes fear into rabbit owners as the bacteria can be responsible for a host of rabbit health related problems (abscesses, respiratory infections, etc), but in truth many rabbits carry the bacteria, often for years/life, without any problems arising. Minor cold symptoms can include raspy breathing, sneezing, a slightly runny nose (not enough to mat front paws,) watery eyes with a minor amount of clear discharge, and some head shaking from ear irritation. Hello, Make sure your rabbit is eating and drinking. This may mean removing the shavings and frequent vacuuming of the floors. Rabbits only eat plants and need the probiotics that match their diet. Rabbits with dental disease are prone to developing snuffles. But visiting a the vet could help you rule out other underlying issues contributing to the cold symptoms. This means no loud foreign noises or menacing pets or children. If you are looking into purchasing a new rabbit for your household, it is best to talk with your breeder or pet store representative about a particular animals health history and breeding conditions. This is an EMERGENCY situation and needs urgent care. Also, we've just gotten a new rabbit, but they are separated at this time. Recent research by veterinary surgeons and rabbit food companies has shown that there is a strong relationship between rabbits diet and dental disease. Your veterinarian will direct you as to how often you should bring him in for a checkup. Some of these bunnies really struggle to breathe. Independence America Holdings Corp. All Rights Reserved, Moistened forelimbs from rubbing the eyes and nose, Cytology (microscopic evaluation of cells), DNA probe-based test (PCR) on swabs from the eyes or respiratory tract, DNA probe-based test (PCR) on swabs from affected tissues, Flushing of affected areas with sterile saline. Biopsy of the nasal lining can help diagnose infections or tumours, but this is usually done under general anaesthesia. In severe cases, snuffles can result in pneumonia which requires very intensive treatment and unfortunately is often fatal. Does he need to be treated again or is this normal with snuffles? A physical exam will most likely be performed to identify any obvious reasons for his snuffles. If there are any abscesses found because of the infection, those may have to be surgically removed as well. They need more hydration during this time to keep the mucous flowing through their potentially swollen sinuses. 8.30am 12.00pm (Sat) Pasteurellosis in rabbits is most commonly caused by the bacteria Pasteurella multocida. Fungal infection may also affect the nasal cavity. What can I do to prevent my rabbit getting snuffles? Follow-up may include: Copyright 1999 - 2022. The build-up of fumes from urine or from certain types of wood shavings, e.g. However, diseases like rabbit haemorrhagic disease are associated with a very high mortality rate. The discharge can originate from the nasal area or from deeper in the respiratory tract, e.g. Your vet or veterinary nurse will demonstrate how to administer the drops correctly. Essex Blood tests can show the overall health of the rabbit, in particular identifying signs of infection. There are very important guidelines as to which antibiotics can be safely used in rabbits. However, radiographs (x-rays) and blood work are also often used to determine a diagnosis. Win win. Privacy | At times the veterinarian may attempt to make a diagnosis based solely on history and physical, however that will not guarantee your veterinarian identified the correct bacteria. If this infection is left untreated it can result in abscesses, blindness, and can travel to your rabbits ears, eyes, reproductive organs and other organs. These medications can be administered for up to a few months to fully treat the infection. What do I need to do to clean and disinfect the cage to make sure the new rabbit doesn't catch this if we treat again? Rabbits of all ages are susceptible but symptoms often occur in juvenile rabbits, as they become infected from the mother or other bunnies. Follow-up can be critical, especially if your bunny does not improve quickly. Saffron Walden Fortunately, recent research suggests that it can be prevented just by providing your rabbit with a healthy, balanced diet. Bulldogs, Pugs and Pekinese, causes a snoring sound to be heard when the animal breathes. An effective vaccine has not been developed. Snuffles is a condition in rabbits that every owner dreads. A deep nasal swab is useful to check for various infections. If your Peter Rabbit has a runny nose, he may have more than a case of the sniffles. Discharge from the eyes and/or nares and abscesses are common in affected rabbits. This is usually performed under general anaesthesia. There are several causes of nasal discharge, not all of them are infections. When the teeth become overgrown and/or maloccluded (do not meet), the tooth roots push upwards and can obstruct the tear duct. Now his runny nose is back. Add 1/2 teaspoon of Braggs ACV to a liter of water. If you feel comfortable treating a minor cold at home, I will share some of what Ive learned over my years of raising rabbits in this article. Hertfordshire More specific treatments may be appropriate for certain diseases, e.g. poor ventilation or a dirty environment, overcrowding, other disease which reduces the rabbits ability to combat infections, and stress such as transportation. The cause of these symptoms is often a chronic bacterial infection in the tear ducts and nasal sinuses. Generally, treatment includes: Keep infected rabbits in isolation during treatment. For example, if a nasal foreign body is removed and the associated infection treated early, the prognosis is good. These rabbits will have persistent tearing problems but not necessarily infection. Eye ointment or drops are used in cases that have eye discharge. Most common symptoms include: sneezing, conjunctivitis (eye discharge), loud breathing and lethargy. Also, some bacteria like Mycoplasma may be difficult to grow on a culture medium and a falsely negative culture can result. Worried about the cost of Snuffles Pasteurellosis treatment? If you are unfamiliar with checking a rabbits teeth or feel you could use more advice from a professional, do not hesitate to visit a rabbit savvy vet in your area. Flushing the tear ducts is particularly useful if they are blocked by infection, but may take several attempts to achieve successful flushing. Accurate diagnosis and treatment of pasteurellosis is important to reduce spread of this bacterium, particularly in multi-rabbit households or rabbitries. These drugs should not be given to any rabbit. However, some cases of snuffles can have multiple bacteria or may involve a tooth problem or bone infection in the rabbits nose. Many immunity boosting teas for humans contain this herb. Also, remember to regulate their temperature, because if they get too hot or too cold they will become stressed.. This is simple to do and your veterinarian can help you with the set-up. Some diseases are readily treatable while others carry a very poor prognosis. Feeding changes may be necessary if your rabbit is not eating and you must feed him with a syringe until he is stronger. An adult rabbit who often eats leaves and veggies can have 5 or 6 fresh leaves per meal. For rabbits, it can be used fresh or dried. The most common bacteria that is found is Pasteurella multocida. As the condition progresses, your rabbit will develop a discharge from its nose which it will wipe away with its front paws. The bacteria involved are usually Pasteurella spp or Staphylococcus spp. We use this throughout the year to keep many of our animals in top shape. Some affected rabbits die with few premonitory signs others develop more chronic forms of infection. Respiratory disease in rabbits is a common condition most often caused by a bacterial infection. Attempted mouth breathing is a sign of respiratory distress and is often accompanied by a blue tinge to the lips and nose. Infections vary in severity and can cause varied clinical signs. This is when it often takes hold and some form of clinical signs associated with the bacteria may be seen. This system is most often involved. One common bacteria is called "Pasteurella" but there can be other bacteria involved as well like Mycoplasma, Bordetella and Pseudomonas. Stress: young animals are especially at risk around the time of weaning; overcrowding can also lead to stress. Enjoy the rabbit you have. Rabbits with dental problems are prone to snuffles, so the best way of protecting your rabbit from snuffles, is to ensure that its teeth are healthy and this may require changes to your rabbits diet. You will need to administer these directly into your rabbits mouth using a syringe. Give this mixture instead of the usual filtered water in a BOWL. Trauma to the head, such as an attack by a predator. In other non-responsive cases, further testing may be necessary. Rabbits can develop cold symptoms or snuffles when they come into contact with another animal carrying an infectious bacteria. Most rabbits are exposed to the Pasteurella bacteria but not all rabbits show symptoms. than me. Your vet may recommend that your rabbit has its tear duct(s) flushed with an antibiotic solution. Oral penicillin, amoxicillin, the cefa drugs and the "mycin" family (clindamycin or erythromycin e.g.) The best prevention is to not take home a sick bunny and to isolate any bunnies showing symptoms. Very few facilities can guarantee a completely disease free environment. Pasteurella antibody tests. What tests will my vet use to investigate nasal discharge? Some older rabbits can have breathing difficulty from heart disease or cancer and not have infection at all. Only a small amount of commercial rabbit mix should be fed, and this should be one of the high-fibre mixes such as Supremes Russell Rabbit Mix or Burgess Supa Rabbit Excel. The antibiotics are usually in the form of drops or cream to be applied directly to the eyes. The discharge from the eyes is initially clear (just like normal tears). Our rabbit looks like he has sniffles unfortunately we have to wait till Wednesday to go to the vet. If your rabbit is not moving at all or has not been eating or drinking for more than six to twelve hours (while awake.) Once the rabbit beats their cold, they will have increased immunity for the future. If your rabbit only snores when asleep or very relaxed, and has no signs of respiratory infection or a foreign body, then it would be assumed that the rabbit is just snoring! Most of the symptoms identified will be general to multiple conditions, however below are some things to look for. Because rabbits are "obligate nasal breathers" (can only breathe in through the nose), sinus infection can lead to labored breathing and "snorting" during respiration. Your rabbits prognosis is good if the treatment is begun immediately. To treat clogged tear ducts, your veterinarian may flush his tear ducts in the office and teach you how to do it at home. Rabbits are very prone to stress which can delay healing. Snuffles is extremely contagious among rabbits, and infected rabbits should never be allowed to come into contact with healthy rabbits. My family lets me live out my dreams, or maybe I force them to come along for the rideyoull have to ask them. Even with lower respiratory tract disease, coughing is very rare in rabbits. P. multocida is highly infectious and many infected rabbits remain clinically normal until they are stressed and then clinical signs of disease may occur. Provide a dust-free environment for your rabbit. I have used these probiotics for a wide range of health boosting effects. Good care of your rabbit will help reduce the risk of many diseases. The bacteria involved are usually Pasteurella spp or Staphylococcus spp. The veterinarian may want to know if your rabbit has been around other animals who appeared to be sick or have similar symptoms. Pet Insurance covers the cost of many common pet health conditions. Some rabbits will spontaneously recover but the majority of cases need medical therapy and even then some of these bunnies cannot completely recover. There are two components to the respiratory tract and both of these can be affected: the upper respiratory tract and the lower respiratory tract. Due to the symptoms being generalized, it may be somewhat difficult to identify what your rabbits concern is. This is typically caused by an infection of his tear ducts or nasal sinuses. Your veterinarian will want to rule out diet and housing as possible culprits for his symptoms as well. Because it can be difficult in some cases to distinguish between upper respiratory disease and pneumonia, radiographs of the chest can be helpful. Secondary infection of the nasal cavity may also occur. Sometimes an antibiotic change can make the difference. Respiratory disease affects rabbits of all ages and results in sneezing, eye discharge (conjunctivitis), and labored breathing. This sounds simple but it can be difficult to get deep enough into the nose in most rabbits. Safe antibiotics include: enrofloxacin (Baytril), ciprofloxacin (Cipro), orbifloxacin (Orbax), trimethoprim/sulfa combinations (Sulfatrim or Bactrim or Septra), chloramphenicol, tetracycline (Panmycin), injectable penicillin (Flocillin or BenzaPen), metronidazole (Flagyl) and injectable gentamicin and amikacin. antibiotics for infections or surgery for dental problems. can cause gastrointestinal tract problems in rabbits that can be difficult to reverse. 01279 654108 Sedation or anesthesia can help immobilize the bunny long enough to allow a deep probe into the nasal passages. Nasal discharge may be due to infectious or non-infectious causes. Once the rabbit is showing symptoms, the disease will run it's course which can be mild or severe. Diarrhea can be very serious in a rabbit. You can clean their nose and eyes with saline to keep the discharge from building up. Snuffles is a difficult disease to cure and treatment may need to be continued for several months before the condition improves. I am always learning something new or building something bigger (and heavier!) Any of a number of fluids produced in the respiratory tract can drain from your rabbits nose. The veterinarian can then choose an appropriate antibiotic. Sub-clinical snuffles (infected rabbits that show no symptoms) can be diagnosed through a physical examination administered by your veterinarian. Site Policies, Veterinary Integrative Biosciences (VIBS), Veterinary Physiology & Pharmacology (VTPP), Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS), Stevenson Companion Animal Life-Care Center, Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (VMTH). Suggestions for future topics may be directed toeditor@cvm.tamu.edu. If your rabbit is experiencing neurological symptoms, those will be treated to keep him comfortable also. To try to avoid snuffles in your current pet, keep its environment stress free. objects that cannot be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected and do not replace them until treatment is completed. Prepare for the unexpected by getting a quote from top pet insurance providers. If they are wiping their face with their feet, it is also a great idea to keep them clean too. We are currently testing a few more remedies in our rabbitry and will release more information about them as we see their effects. These symptoms are not life threatening and may be treatable at home with natural remedies that boost a rabbits immune system and help to reduce the symptoms more quickly. If your rabbit is suffering from the snuffles, you may notice him develop watery eyes, a runny nose and sneezing often. Here are some guidelines on how to look after a rabbit with snuffles and also how to protect your rabbits from developing the condition. 9.00am 11am (Sat) As rabbits teeth grow throughout their life, they need to be continually worn down by the action of chewing on food. Treatment will begin with antibiotics to treat the bacterial infection. In chronic cases or rhinitis, a complete cure may not be possible and signs may recur. It presents as a runny nose, watery eyes and sneezing. The prognosis varies depending on the cause the extent of disease when treatment is sought. Administer all prescribed medications as directed. This is often the case in rabbits who may be slightly overweight or as the rabbit ages, and is caused by a slightly floppy soft palate. Do not let these side affects go untreated by your veterinarian. Isolating any other infected animals will be necessary as well. If you do need to alter your rabbits diet introduce the changes gradually over a minimum period of 2 weeks, to allow its digestive system to adjust. As with most diseases, the prognosis depends on the cause and extent of the disease. Steroids must be used with great caution in rabbits because they can suppress the immune response. The nebulizer comes with a medicine cup that can be filled with sterile saline and antibiotics. Keep runny eyes clean by rinsing with a sterile eye preparation like saline or a product dispensed by your veterinarian. They can be dosed with approximately one teaspoon a day of dried leaves and stems. There are many reasons why a rabbits nasal passages may be narrow or blocked to some degree. Once a rabbit develops snuffles it is usually a life-long problem. Eyes that tear a lot may have blocked tear ducts. Certain antibiotics can be dangerous for rabbits, so it will be necessary to find a veterinarian that is well versed in the antibiotics that are safe for rabbits. Nasal tumours are likely to need extensive surgery which may involve referral to a specialist surgeon. Another immune boosting superfood!
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