Snuffles/Pasteurella

[shenanigans]

I picked up a NZ doe on tuesday, and yesterday I noticed she was sneezing. When I bought her, she had no snot and her front legs looked perfectly clean, and no sneezing. That was just 2 days ago. Could the stress of moving to a new place have brought this on? I've had her quarantined in a pet carrier (only extra "cage" I have to quarantine her) in my bathroom so I could keep a close eye on her. Anyway, she was sneezing occasionally. I thought it might be the straw in the carrier or something, I didn't notice any white snot and her front legs/paws looked clean. I wanted to get her out of the carrier so she could have more room, so I cleaned out an old wood/wire pen I had built and put her in that, away from my other rabbits. I was watching her from a distance to see how she did in it when she started sneezing a lot and her nose looked white. I checked her out and it's white snot and her front legs are a little bit matted.

I'm pretty upset about it. If it is snuffles (I shouldn't say IF, isn't white snot a sure sign?), what are the odds that the previous owner was selling her knowing that she had it? I was going to email the guy to let him know, just in case he didn't. Should I just cull her now and get it over with? She is possibly pregnant (he said she was in with a buck about 2 weeks ago), could I wait a couple weeks to see if she has any, and would they end up getting it from her? Or would she be suffering too much? I'm pretty sure it would be too risky to keep any kits from her, but I figured it can't hurt to ask. I'm really, really new to rabbits so any advice would be helpful.

__________ Thu Nov 22, 2012 4:32 pm __________

After reading some other posts on this, I wanted to add that I do smoke, and she was in the house. Could this just an allergic type reaction to the smoke? If the snot and sneezing goes away after keeping her outside, would that mean it's not pasteurella?

 

[MaggieJ]

It's not likely an allergy if there is white snot. Sneezing without white snot may indicate an allergy, but your best bet would be to cull her. I know it's hard, but for the sake of your other rabbits it is the smart thing to do.

Many rabbits carry dormant pasteurella - some veterinarians say just about all rabbits have it - but they do not show symptoms unless they are under stress. I suspect the move was what triggered it and the breeder may well not have known about it. You might want to give him a chance to reply before culling the rabbit.

 

[ZRabbits]

After reading some other posts on this, I wanted to add that I do smoke, and she was in the house. Could this just an allergic type reaction to the smoke? If the snot and sneezing goes away after keeping her outside, would that mean it's not pasteurella?

Smokers here and none of our rabbits have had an allergic reaction like that. Actually none have any problems at all. White snot is a sign that something is wrong and it's not allergies. It's like humans when snot is green or yellow and not clear. Yellow/green, there's almost no doubt about an infection. Clear is usually allergies.

So sorry to hear, but don't think that snot or sneezing will go away when outside.

Karen