Should I go the antibiotic rout?

[GBov]

So I FINALLY got my Rex rabbits at last! After three years I brought home - after a 10 hour round trip - two pregnant does and two bucks. They were NOT the does I was supposed to be getting but they were big and pretty and pregnant so I was only a bit annoyed at the change.

On the way home a doe started sneezing.

She is still sneezing and sometimes has crusty yellow around her nose. Not all the time, just a few times a day so mostly she looks fine.

The breeder said to give her intramuscular injections of antibiotic and that it was just stress from the move.

All four are in quarantine and she is separated from the rest so what should I do?

Will antibiotics really help her or just mask her symptoms?

And if they suppress the illness can I keep her separated from all the rest and get healthy kits from her?

I was so happy to have gotten rex at last but now? Not so much. :roll:

 

[Zass]

Are the others sneezing?

It sounds like that breeder might have already been suppressing the disease. I personally cull every sneezer I get, because I have too many rabbits that I adore as friends and pets to risk infecting them all. In theory if you REALLY want to try you can give her antibiotics and try to work with uninfected kits. BUT from my personal experience...they usually all end up sneezy, and everyone else too.

 

[ottersatin]

This is a SAD situation!
You are damned if you do and you're Damned if you don't.
This is a decision that only you can make, are you prepared
to risk the lives of ALL the members of your herd?
Or do you feel it is better to remove one or two rabbits
for the good of the whole? If the rabbit were mine it would have
already been terminated. You might want to keep the Doe isolated
and allow her to kindle, watch the litter closely and cull any kit
that shows any sign of illness. Any kit that shows no signs of illness
should be retained, but watch closely for any weakness and culled
should the appear. Best of luck with this horrendous problem.
Ottersatin. ldtimer:

 

[GBov]

I am absolutely gutted about this, and angry too.

The thought of culling a two week pregnant doe is not one my brain is handling really well.

But if I weigh her against all the rest her price tag of $50 seems a bit paltry and perhaps kits shouldn't weigh against actual kits in my nest boxes.

 

[skysthelimit]

Same boat with Angora doe. If it doesn't get better in 30 days, cull. I will give antibiotics for cocci and vent disease and nothing else. I've kept the angora doe long enough, only because of the fiber, she's in QT permanently, and I can tell you, if you go that route, you'll get sick of the hassle and worry.

 

[Peach]

I would be asking for my money back especial when it was under 24hrs that the rabbit began showing symptoms. It sounds like that breeder was hiding up symptoms already,so that's a bad red flag. You went out of your way and spent good,hard earned money on those rabbits. I'd watch the others you purchased as we'll because you just don't know, at this point , that the breeder might have it rampant in their barn. I refund or replace animals for people if they make me aware right away. Unpredictable things happens with rabbits sometimes, but how a breeder makes it right , is a huge reflection of them.

 

[GBov]

I would be asking for my money back especial when it was under 24hrs that the rabbit began showing symptoms. It sounds like that breeder was hiding up symptoms already,so that's a bad red flag. You went out of your way and spent good,hard earned money on those rabbits. I'd watch the others you purchased as we'll because you just don't know, at this point , that the breeder might have it rampant in their barn. I refund or replace animals for people if they make me aware right away. Unpredictable things happens with rabbits sometimes, but how a breeder makes it right , is a huge reflection of them.

She hasn't even emailed to ask how she is doing.

I have to be down at the boarder middle of this month and am going to ask her to meet me and either replace or refund. I cant be having with this, I just cant. Not with three kids that love to love on the bunnies.