Snuffles?

[Jessica Farmer]

For about a week now three of my does have started to sneeze occasionally. Sometimes there is nothing, other times there is a white mucus. I've never had snuffles before, so I'm not sure if that is what it is because I thought snuffles also cause eye symptoms too (drainage, inflammation, etc.). The does are just fine everywhere else, they are just sneezing. Could it just be allergies (it has been real bad allergy weather for a few weeks)?

I'm checking to make sure what could be going on before I spend money on antibiotics.

Also, I was going to buy enrofloxacin probably but have no clue where to buy some. How much do I give and how (water, feed, shot, etc.)? Also, two of those does currently have 3-4 week old babies on them. Will medicine effect them if I give them to their mom? Do I need to give it to them individually too, or will it pass in the milk? I'm afriad that if it is snuffles the babies will have it too, even though none have been sneezing.

Thanks!

 

[OneAcreFarm]

If you are seeing white snot and sneezing, then they likely have pasteurellosis, sometimes called "snuffles". The stress of kindling can sometimes bring out a latent infection. You can try to treat them, but the symptoms will most likely return. Read this: http://www.merckmanuals.com/vet/exotic_ ... bbits.html

Treatment and Control
Treatment is difficult and may not eradicate the organism. Antibiotics seem to provide only temporary remission, and the next stress (eg, kindling) may cause relapse. Enrofloxacin (200 mg/L of drinking water for 14 days or 5–10 mg/kg parenteral, bid for 14 days) is effective for upper respiratory P multocida infections. Tilmicosin (25 mg/kg, SC) has been reported as an effective treatment for pasteurellosis. Procaine penicillin (60,000 IU/kg, IM for 10 days) was recommended for individual rabbits, but its use should be cautioned as deaths from enterotoxemia often follow penicillin administration.

 

[Miss M]

Allergies would normally cause a clear discharge, if any at all. Also, the insides of the front legs will not feel matted, from trying to clean their faces of the goop.

It's possible that a bunny with an irritant in its nose (hay, food, etc.) might sneeze out some whitish snot. Doing it over and over, and it's white rather than clear... this is very likely snuffles.

Pasteurellosis does not have to cause eye symptoms. It does sometimes. Sometimes, it will cause eye symptoms without respiratory symptoms. Or an abscess somewhere. My understanding is that with the respiratory symptoms, eventually the snot might stop... but that's when it's gone into pneumonia.

I'm very sorry.

I had my daughter's lap bunny blow out white snot the other day. I got a paper towel and got it, full of dread, but figuring I would look in it for an irritant. When I looked at it, I realized there was a whisker in it. Somehow, he got a whisker up his nose, and that was how his little body took care of it.

But that's a one-time event, not ongoing.