I've been waiting for it... sneezing

[FourRingCircus]

I bought a rabbit from a local breeder - he was a young Cali and the next morning I heard him sneeze and saw white coming out of his nose. I call the guy, he apologizes, said he would have never sold him had he realized he was sick and mentioned that he had been dealing with a lot of "colds and pneumonia" this winter. I started researching more, and ultimately ended up signing up on here after hearing that. I had him next to my other Cali (the only rabbit I have with a pedigree at this point :evil: ). Yep, heard him sneeze tonight. I also had a couple others exposed in the transport process. And thinking back to how he handled all of his rabbits, it's no wonder it's spreading so bad! No quarantine, same gloves/jacket, etc. He gave me one with a horrendous wry neck saying that he didn't believe it was contagious, but I hesitated (I didn't know any better, but still, common sense made me pause). Come to find out snuffles can cause wry neck and I am pretty sure that was the case with her.

So... now what? Cull him? Try and treat him? I have new breeders coming soon, and he doesn't have the best temperament anyway, but darn it! He was $35! I know that sounds bad, but we live off of my husband's income (I am a SAHM) and I don't want to go "wasting" it like that. Although, if it is in the early stages, the meat should still be OK, right? I know the other one I processed with the severe wry neck was in bad shape and actually was filled with fluid (we didn't eat her, she was going to be culled anyway so I took her for practice since I had never processed a rabbit - he said if I could skin her, I could skin anything!). It was nasty. Also, she was my first one so I don't know exactly how "off" she was b/c I don't have much to compare her to other than a few squirrels.

I'm living and learning... sometimes the hard way. Ugh

 

[Dood]

Cull and sanitize - it really isnt worth treating as he'll always be a source of the disease and likely has a crappy immune system you don't want to pass on to his offspring.

 

[ottersatin]

heritage,
sometimes you have to do what is best in the long run.
You do not want to infect anymore rabbits.
Snuffles/Pasteurella can wipe out your whole herd in an instant.
It's not worth toying with! If it was mine I would euthanize them all and disinfect everything the Rabbits cam in contact with before bringing even one more Rabbit into the Rabbitry.
I know what I am talking about: Many years ago I had to destroy one third to one half of my Herd.
I now practice strict culling and breed toward disease resistance.
Any Rabbit showing any sign of illness/weak immune system is permanently removed from the herd. I have been doing this for quite a few years and rarely if ever see any signs of illness.
It works!
Ottersatin. ldtimer:

 

[FourRingCircus]

Well darn... I was afraid that would be the case :down: . I have my 3 does due between now and next week! :evil: My oldest (7years old) is already in tears over the Cali having to be killed, he is going to be crushed that his young Creme D'Argent will be as well. I mean, we have talked about how they are for food, and we did talk to him last night about sometimes we have to do this if they get sick, but both his favorite rabbits at one time? Ugh... We're not even going to think about my girls. All because I went on a whim to get another rabbit or two .

The new ones are going into a new area, with new cages so there won't be direct contact anyway... but I can see there being a risk still. Especially with kids and puppies running around! Any risk to any other animals? I did bleach the dog crates I brought them home in once i realized there was an issue.

I feel bad for the other guy. He's been doing this for 25 years... and he has one heartbreaking story after another of getting the short end of the stick in life. I hope he doesn't lose his whole herd! He has a BUNCH of rabbits! 3 buildings worth! <br /><br /> -- Tue May 19, 2015 4:15 am -- <br /><br /> Oh, and is the meat still OK? It would be nice to at least get a couple meals out of the process...

 

[Susie570]

I *think* the meat is still ok and there should be no risk to the other animals. The exception might be if it's bordatella instead of pasteurella. Bordatella is, in my understanding, treatable/curable but it's also contagious to some other species.

 

[MaggieJ]

The meat will be fine -- you're cooking it, after all. I wouldn't give any part of the rabbit raw to your dogs or cats . . . I'm not sure if they could be harmed by it or not, but I wouldn't take the chance.

Don't feel too sorry for the breeder who sold you the rabbit. He was under no obligation to give you a refund, but it would have been the decent thing to have offered, given that the rabbit started sneezing so soon after you got it home.

 

[Susie570]

Have you talked to the breeder?

It's likely that his entire herd is infected with something and he probably KNOWS it. :evil: I'm not sure I would feel sorry for him.

 

[FourRingCircus]

He did give me a refund on the original animal, but I doubt he would agree to it for the others I bought from him that were with the Cali in the car. Ugh.

He knows there is something going on, but is either naive to what it is or playing dumb while he loses a whole bunch of rabbits... <br /><br /> -- Tue May 19, 2015 9:14 am -- <br /><br /> I checked his nose this morning in hopes that maybe it was a fluke... it has white stuff in it . My oldest is fishing a tournament with DH today... trying to decide if I should go ahead and take care of him while he is gone. Of course it is unseasonably hot (90* until evening hours yesterday) - blech. I don't handle heat well...

 

[Zass]

and mentioned that he had been dealing with a lot of "colds and pneumonia" this winter.

Huge red flag there. Rabbits do not get colds.

He gave me one with a horrendous wry neck

There are not too many breeders who would allow a rabbit with wry neck to ever leave their properties.
If I ever saw it I'd euthanize strait away.

What was the wry neck rabbit supposed to be for?

 

[FourRingCircus]

and mentioned that he had been dealing with a lot of "colds and pneumonia" this winter.

Huge red flag there. Rabbits do not get colds.

He gave me one with a horrendous wry neck

There are not too many breeders who would allow a rabbit with wry neck to ever leave their properties.
If I ever saw it I'd euthanize strait away.

What was the wry neck rabbit supposed to be for?

At the time, I didn't know any better, but I do now!

The wry neck one he was offering for meat, but I said "no thank you" after seeing it. He told me that he didn't think wry neck was contagious, but a genetic issue. I had a gut feeling otherwise... I should know by now to go with that gut

ODS had a total meltdown today. Broke my heart. I mean, I knew he wasn't going to be happy, but I don't know if I have ever seen him cry so hard for so long. Granted, it was the end of the day, and he was tired, which didn't help... He asked me why it is always his animals. His one named chicken is one of only two I have ever had to kill our of my own flock (he was horribly aggressive and kept attacking my 18 month old - at first it would just fly at her, and I was always on high alert, but he made the mistake of flogging (is that the right word?) her one day - that was the end of Peter). This was his 4-H project rabbit to potentially show. Not only that, but the sick one was transported home with his other choice rabbit, the Creme d'Argent. Why couldn't it have been one of the 3 NZWs that no one cares a huge amount about that would be easier to replace?

 

[Zass]

He asked me why it is always his animals.

Small animals like hens and rabbits are easily lost.

Perhaps something a bit sturdier than a rabbit would be a better choice as a pet for him to get attached to?

I think a dog or cat might be good, especially a mature one, as they tend to be calmer and their temperaments are less likely to change.

If he can bond closely with a more permanent animal companion, it might help him to handle the loss of the smaller and more fragile animals..

 

[FourRingCircus]

He asked me why it is always his animals.

Small animals like hens and rabbits are easily lost.

Perhaps something a bit sturdier than a rabbit would be a better choice as a pet for him to get attached to?

I think a dog or cat might be good, especially a mature one, as they tend to be calmer and their temperaments are less likely to change.

If he can bond closely with a more permanent animal companion, it might help him to handle the loss of the smaller and more fragile animals..

He has a puppy he is going to be training and it will be "his dog," but now he's afraid she's going to die too I didn't think the rabbits would be quite so quick to have to cull out. It's a hard fact of life I guess. I feel like it's my fault, and I think it is in his mind.

 

[Susie570]

Poor kid... I can well imagine. I have an 8yr old who is in love with the rabbits. I feel guilty about allowing that situation, but I guess it's important for kids to learn about the circle of life. The puppy might really help and try not to beat yourself up over this. He definitely needs to know that you are not to blame.

 

[Zass]

My son's first bunny turned out to be a hormonal killer doe who I had to re-home since the boy was NOT going to allow me to eat her.
Then "his" chick grew up to be a rooster that we couldn't keep in town. (another livestock animal I was not allowed to eat.)
His choice of velveteen kits was one of the few I had deemed healthy and sold (Spot).
He still reminds me of this, as he's not forgiven me.

I seem to have little control over what he decides belongs to him, and the husband will not allow me to get him a larger pet of his own so that he'd stop claiming the small things born here.

Now he's chosen Sushi as "his" rabbit. Sushi is healthy, for now.

Hmm. The quail peeps remain unclaimed, since they all look identical. Maybe that's the way to go with rabbits for now?
When the old dog passes, I'll let the boy choose the next, I think..Since the Newf will need a companion.

No puppies for me though :lol: I prefer the easygoing lazy type.

 

[FourRingCircus]

Zass - sounds like our house, and he's around the same age!

The puppies weren't totally planned. A stray came up with a scar on her belly... we thought she was fixed. She wasn't fixed :x They are cute as can be though, and he's been wanting a squirrel dog anyway, so hopefully she'll do well for him (best we can tell it's a feist/jack russel/blue heeler mix?). Thankfully we haven't had any trouble finding them homes - as of last night all are spoken for. Hopefully they take after the mom's sweet disposition.

I would like a little color variety, but I was leaning towards all NZWs so that they wouldn't be quite so "unique." He's really upset that we won't find another one with "cool eyebrows" like Sven (the Cali). <br /><br /> -- Wed May 20, 2015 9:26 pm -- <br /><br /> It's just not a good season for animals... DH's cousin's dog (one of the likely fathers of at least a couple of our pups) got it in front of my IL's house. ODS bawled. He went squirrel hunting quite a bit with him this winter and he's also upset that Star will never get to meet her daddy (part of me wanted to laugh, but I knew I couldn't then). The dog was sick anyway (heart worms), but it was still really upsetting for him. Ugh...

Another question - we have postponed this whole process because he was so upset (I know, I know... I need to just do it), but in that time, I haven't heard him sneeze again, his nose looks fine, etc. I know the chances are slim it was a fluke, but just verifying that it could still be snuffles. The other one was sneezing frequently and had constant visible crud (if you looked for it).

 

[TF3]

I'm sorry. We just went through this with a sneezing Cali, too.
My first cull, upset kiddo...
My daughter did better than I expected (she is 9.5) but we had a bad run of losses (dogs, cats) through which she learned~ she also has Aspergers, so sometimes, her emotional responses are off the charts and out of whack, and sometimes oddly distant. But with this bunny she was bang on what I'd expect for her age and experience (which was a good part of a bad situation).
She does have her 'own' dog now, which we chose, in part, to be therapeutic for her, and he is.

 

[FourRingCircus]

Never mind... checked on him this morning and saw some white crud. It's time... I told him it was time. He cried, my heart broke some more. I wish I would have just bit the bullet a couple days ago when it first happened, but DH told him that we could give it a day or two (before asking me) so I went along with it. He's going to the barber shop with his great grandpa tonight so, weather permitting, I will do it while he's gone.

But there is hope that it won't be an ongoing issue with meat rabbits. I mean, he does hunt squirrels (yes, we eat them). I had pulled the 5 week old batch of babies out of the mama's cage so I could get it cleaned up. They were feeding them hay and talking about how cute they were... but then he was saying which one would be the first one we would eat since it was the fattest. I guess it was because Sven was named, and he picked him out specifically.

 

[Susie570]

UGh!!! So sorry