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Forum DIET & CARE Can my rabbit give me strep throat?

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    • Nova
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        So I need to know if anyone knows if my bunny’s URI bacteria could be giving me a recurring throat infection.

        Some background and I have some good news and updates on Boon: boon, my special needs bunny with chronic gut motility and cecal issues, and an intermittent upper respiratory infection (Snuffles, not sure if it is PAsteurella, Bordetella, or other yet). We fostered his brother whose culture came back positive for Bordetella and Clostridium. He has since been treated and found his forever home.Of course he still has Snuffles though not as bad and antibx usually never work for *CHRONIC* URIs in buns, only stresses them out. They need breaks between antibx rounds. Anyway, I still have my Boon and Phenom here at home with me, and despite keeping these buns separated, Boon gets the Snuffles intermittently (unlike his brother who seems to have it chronically).

        However, not too long after Boon starting getting intermittent Snuffles, I developed a bacterial throat infection back in late April early May. I thought it was just a cold coming on, and my doc called in Amoxicillin over the phone. Very unprofessional, but I took it and it did nothing. after 2 weeks of a fever varying between 99 and 102, nausea and inability to eat, I went to the ER and this jerk CRNP saw me and told me I probably have a virus or allergies, and patronized me by forcing me to shake his hand because I have OCd (phobia of germs). I asked him for a swab and a mono test with CBC…. A SWAB CULTURE…Instead he did the rapid strep test which is highly unreliable and often falsely negative. The rapid test, the bloodwork all came back normal …but in addition to the wrong swab performed, he didn’t do the swab correctly (I have medical education) and it was the rapid test which is notorious for false negatives – only 70% sensitive. He also had the nerve to ask me how my fiance kisses me! I finally saw an ENT a week later. He only looked at the throat and said, well it could be ANY bacteria – and prescribed me one that would cover all possible germs, Omnicef.

        By day 3 of the Omnicef, I was not only eating again but had an appetite. Pain was decreasing and fever went away. I got better! Then a couple weeks after the Omnicef, it started to come back low grade. Just a few days ago it’s full blown and I was in the ER all night last night begging for antibiotics as I wasn’t holding down food again. I also asked for a throat swab CULTURE so see what kind of bacteria I am dealing with, as the REAL doctor I saw last night actually took me seriously. This infection has turned into Scarlet fever! I have  a rash over this crap.

        Doc told me that it probably is strep and that the past rapid test was just inaccurate – it always comes up false negatives plus I was on Amoxicillin when it was done (not to mention it wasn’t done right).

        I have more Omnicef and will be following up with my ENT……….. but, long story short, is it possible that my Boon’s bacteria is what is infecting me?

        That would be my worst nightmare. He’s my child, my baby.

        He will be having a culture of his Snuffles in August while he is getting neutered.

        I’m also afraid of giving him any kind of bug so dear fiance has been caring for the bunnies. I hate this bacteria! I miss my buns


      • Quantum
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          According to the “Handbook for Zoonotic Diseases in Companion Animals” (luckily, the excerpt on Strep was available in a Google preview), theoretically, you could get strep from a companion animal, but it’s “very rare” (direct quote). Another site I checked mentioned that it was much more common for a pet to act as a carrier–i.e. person with strep sneezes into their hand, pets pet, second person comes along shortly thereafter and pets same animal and boom! You can get a strep infection from a rabbit sick with strep, but it usually shows up as a skin or eye infection, not as strep throat.

          If it’s Pasteurellosis, it usually causes site infections from bites and, very rarely, pneumonia in humans. If it’s Bordetlla, only 65 cases in humans have been reported since 1911 and it usually presents in humans as something resembling whooping cough.

          Not a doctor nor a vet, just Google-fu-ing.

          And sending good vibes you-ward and bunny-ward!


        • Elrohwen
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            I would say it’s extremely unlikely.

            If you’re really worried about it, ask your doctor and the vet to culture each of you and compare. It’s far more likely that you got it from another person though – as quantum said it’s possible, but extremely rare, and your symptoms don’t seem to match with the type of bacteria you would possibly get from a sick rabbit.


          • Nova
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              Wow Quantum, that’s better Googling than I was ever able to do and I’m a damn good Googler! Very impressive

              Well, I just took my third dose of antibiotics and while I am not AS sick, I am still pretty damn sick. My first round of Omnicef, I had relief within only a day or so…. this might take longer. *Sigh*

              I am wondering if I reinfected myself somehow and that could involve my heavy cuddling with Boon (and Phenom) while I was sick the first time. I also didn’t change my toothbrush until the last day of my antibiotics, and they say to change it much earlier than that, and then again after the antibiotics are done. I also didn’t change my mouthwash or bedding except my pillowcase and sheets. 

              Another possibility is my fiance could be a carrier, as we’ve kissed several times since my being ill and he never became symptomatic. 

              As far as Boon – his nose is always runy. Sometimes it’s mild and the discharge s clear, other times it’s yellow and thick with lots of matting.I can usually tell how his gut is feeling by how bad his Snuffles are. I can’t wait for him to get his respiratory scope and culture. Not just for his sake, but also for mine. The vet will be doing this at the time of neutering him. I hope he makes it through the neuter and recovers okay, as my local vet who enjoys seeing rabbits, but is no specialist, said she will not neuter him because he is a high risk rabbit – this is the main reason he will be being neutered by the exotic vet.

              I have not heard anything back from the hospital regarding my culture, so I still don’t even know what kind of bacteria *I* am dealing with. The culture swab was performed Tuesday at 2am.It is now 4pm Wednesday. I think they can take up to 72 hours to get a result. 

              Thankyou for your vibes…. My life is upside down! 


            • tanlover14
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                I don’t have much input since I’ve never had to deal with anything like this — but I just wanted to say I hope you and your buns are okay and can be together soon!


              • Nova
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                  thanks for all of your support Oh and, speaking of heavy cuddling with my bunnies while I was sick the first time….. how would I clean the germs off of them? I still even pet them now and then, they have been looking at me like they don’t understand why I haven’t been cuddling with them. (I still talk to them though..it’s not like I ignore their existence).

                  Seems any type of stress and Boon goes into Stasis or gets constipated. suggestions very welcome and how to safely bathe the bunnies to be rid of the bacteria I may have put on them..


                • LittlePuffyTail
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                    I wouldnt bathe the bunnies. I would just use antibacterial hand soap before snuggling your buns.


                  • LBJ10
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                      Hmm, I haven’t heard of rabbits giving people strep. I did have scarlet fever when I was a kid though. I remember I had to take this medicine that tasted like bananas. I didn’t have the sore throat though, just the rash. My mom caught from me, she just had the sore throat/fever.

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                  Forum DIET & CARE Can my rabbit give me strep throat?