Momma has started sneezing... :/

[Zass]

You could try switching to a water bottle and remove the bowl, and offer some apple twigs instead of the hay for now.

 

[Susie570]

You could try switching to a water bottle and remove the bowl, and offer some apple twigs instead of the hay for now.

She only has the bowl when she's loose in the room, if I leave it in her cage, she knocks it over. I just got some new hay, it's fresher, maybe that will help. I cleaned the kit's nest box today (boy were they confused hah) and so it has fresh hay as well. Here's to hoping.

 

[JenerationX]

The hay could have nothing to do with it, but I have known horses and ponies (and people) that are sensitive to hay at the end of a bale. That's where all the leafy bits end up. There was a pony that had to have middle of the bale flakes of hay, no scraps whatsoever, and we actually misted it with a fine mist water bottle when he got older and more sensitive. He was a pain in the tuckus, but he trucked around anywhere and put up with kicking juniors all day... so we put up with him. LOL

Hopefully it's just something her nose is sensitive to and she'll be fine.

 

[Susie570]

Today is the 5th day I've seen occasional sneezing from River. I go running to check her nose every time I hear her sneeze. Up until just a little while ago, I've not seen ANY sign of discharge. I finally did see a little bit of snot, and it was clear.

Keeping an eye on her.

Is there a test that can be done to rule out P? Like, can I get a swab from a vet and have it tested or something?
I'm sure many of you can relate, but it's just SOOO stressful to be excited about the babies, watching them starting to leave the nest and hop around, doing little binkies, chasing momma around trying to snag a drink, munching on hay... and at the same time worrying that they could all be infected. :/:/

 

[Zass]

Dunno. You could call up your vet and ask.

So long as the snot remains clear, and she's not showing any other sign of distress (Like wheezing, or holding her head in an unusual posture) I'd guess it's something environmental. Does she have some place to get away from those kits? Having a shelf or ledge to escape to is nice, since being confined in close quarters to their babies is rather unnatural for them. Less stress = more likely to fight off disease. Also, make sure you don't have them anywhere too warm. You might even try putting an extra filter over any close-by forced air ducts to help reduce dust.



My understanding is that even if it's something environmental, anything that causes respiratory irritation can make them more susceptible to disease pathogens.

 

[Susie570]

Dunno. You could call up your vet and ask.

So long as the snot remains clear, and she's not showing any other sign of distress (Like wheezing, or holding her head in an unusual posture) I'd guess it's something environmental. Does she have some place to get away from those kits? Having a shelf or ledge to escape to is nice, since being confined in close quarters to their babies is rather unnatural for them. Less stress = more likely to fight off disease. Also, make sure you don't have them anywhere too warm.

My understanding is that even if it's something environmental, anything that causes respiratory irritation can make them more susceptible to disease pathogens.

She can get on top of the nest box, but she hasn't done that in a while, probably because when she did that before, she jumped in the nest box first (before they were born) and now she might be worried about stepping on them. I try to let her out for a good part of the day, but I'm not here every day. How do people handle this situation? I would think the babies drive the momma nuts. Well, I'm hoping to make a 'rabbit condo' for her soon, so that would solve the problem as she could hop up on the ledges.

I haven't seen her hold her head in a funny position. I'll try to check with the local vets and see if there is a test I could do (hopefully not very expensive). Otherwise, it's just wait I guess. I have to wonder how long they can go on like this until a person can safely say that the bunny is 'in the clear' for P?

 

[Zass]

How do people handle this situation? I would think the babies drive the momma nuts.

They certainly do! Thankfully, they outgrow that bothersome phase around the same time they can jump up to where the doe has escaped to.
One method:

 

[Susie570]

Nice!! I'll have to see if I can locate a piece of wire mesh I could cut to fit. Maybe Lowes? I was going to try to make a little shelf from pressboard, but I like that better. Thanks! I'm sure River would be grateful.

 

[CptJack]

Cookie cooking rack. Seriously, it's cheap, and it has legs and it's preassembled and easy to take out to clean.

 

[Susie570]

Cookie cooking rack. Seriously, it's cheap, and it has legs and it's preassembled and easy to take out to clean.

Yay! Great Idea! Thanks!

 

[squidpop]

Is there a test that can be done to rule out P? Like, can I get a swab from a vet and have it tested or something?
:/:/

You can get a swab done for P but its controversial. Some say all rabbits have P and it can show up on the swab test but may not even be the bacteria causing the infection. http://www.rabbitnetwork.org/articles/past.shtml Sneezing can be caused by other bacteria like staph, or bordatella, not just P. They also say the bacteria causing the sneezing can be so high-up in the nasal cavity the swab can't reach it so the test might come back negative even thought there is something there. So the test can be inconclusive and its also really expensive.

I've had several rabbits that where treated for sneezing with white snot with Azithromycin and they all got better and remained better, so I suspect either they had an easy to treat strain of Pasteurella or they had some other bacteria causing the infection. If you are not seeing any white snot it might not be anything to worry about. It could be an allergy.

 

[Susie570]

Much appreciated, squidpop! I would try to get some azith and start her on it as a precautionary measure, but if I'm correct, that can do more damage than good, and she's nursing.

 

[Zass]

Much appreciated, squidpop! I would try to get some azith and start her on it as a precautionary measure, but if I'm correct, that can do more damage than good, and she's nursing.

http://www.rabbit.org/health/antibiotics.html