SNUFFLES!

[Giggles]

Does anyone have experience with Snuffles? If so, what were your treatment options, and how did your rabbits fare? Did Snuffles affect your rabbit’s quality of life?

I recently adopted a beautiful baby boy bunny — 10 weeks old Holland Lop — and he was recently diagnosed with Pasteurella (Snuffles). He had a runny nose with sneezing. I’ve ordered a culture test to confirm the diagnosis. 

I’ve done extensive research on Snuffles, but I want to know more about people’s personal experience with Snuffles. I’m trying to come out with a course of action regarding this baby bunny’s health, and I’d like to hear about other people’s experience. 

Right now, the baby bunny Snow is currently on Baytril and Ofloxacin (for nose drops). It’s a two weeks treatment, and his symptoms seem to be improving. Less sneezing, at least. His appetite and stool seems normal. He’s still active and playful. I don’t have any other pets or rabbits, so I’m not worried about him infecting other rabbits or pets. 

I just want to know if anyone has experience with Snuffles. 

Thanks!

[MoxieMeadows]

My bun also has Pasteurella. Her only symptoms were sneeze attacks with a coughing/hacking sound during them, runny nose and a rattle in her chest.

She went on 3 weeks of baytril, and all of her symptoms went away completely. About 2 days after being off of the meds her sneezing/hacking and runny nose came back. We did another 2 weeks of baytril. That didn’t help at all. We waited for about a week for the meds to leave her system and did a trachea wash and cytology. She was confirmed on having Pastuerella and nasal inflammation that could be allergies or parasites. She then went on baytril for another 3 weeks (8 weeks in total) and just got her last dose yesterday. With really little to no improvement, she’s still sneezing/hacking and has a runny nose.

Other then that, she’s perfectly healthy. She’s happy, loves food and loves life and getting into trouble! (She actually managed to open my blinds on my windows like 2 feet after they had been up for about 10 seconds lol!)

I plan on buying a cool air/mist humidifier to help her, upgrading to a larger home base to get her away from any hay/litter, and removing things that may be causing allergies. (She was given a steroid shot for inflammation, flea treated and treated for internal parasites.).

My bun is turning 2 this august.
I wish you lots of luck with the treatment!

[MoxieMeadows]

Please keep us updated!

[Giggles]

Hello! Thanks for sharing, Moxie. I’m glad to hear that your bun is doing well aside from the snuffles. I’m sorry that the treatments weren’t effective for your bun; I hope you find more effective treatments soon. 

As for my baby bun, Snow — he seems to be doing well despite the snuffles. His only symptoms are runny nose and sneezing. The vet had performed a physical exam, and the bun is in good shape. All his organs are fine, and he’s breathing normally. 

It’s day 4 into the Baytril (and nose drops) treatment, and I have yet to see any drastic improvements. It might be too soon to tell, but I remain hopeful. I’m still waiting for the results of the culture test as well. 

Aside from all that, he’s still a happy and active baby bun. His appetite is normal. No change in stool. He loves to come out and play and cause mischief all around my room. (His cage is in my bedroom.) For the most part, I’ve been trying to maintain a stable, quiet, and stress-free environment. I give him free reign around the room whenever I’m home. (I work a lot — the whole 9-to-5 schedule.) 

I was initially devastated by this diagnosis, but I’m glad to hear that it’s not necessarily an automatic death sentence. I’m relieved to hear that it’s possible for bunnies with snuffles to lead happy and healthy lives. 

[MoxieMeadows]

My bun has had Snuffles since (I’m guessing, because that was the only time I came into contact with buns who were not taken care of) July. Her symptoms didn’t really start to show until November/December, but I just thought it was an allergy to hay dust. January she started treatments ect.

Other than sneezing/runny nose she seems to be fine, vets said she was healthy besides that. She still has a healthy appetite, likes digging in her box ect.

Good luck with Snow’s treatments!

[Giggles]

Hello, all.

My vet called me today and said the culture test came back negative for Pasteurella. He says it’s Bordetella, and Bordetella is the lesser of the two evils. He says that the current antibiotic (Baytril) should treat the Bordetella, and he expects my bun to make a full recovery. When asked about re-exposure to Bordetella, the vet said that there’s a slim chance of re-infection unless my bun is exposed (again) to other sick rabbits or animals. Otherwise, the prognosis is good.

So far, Snow seems to be doing well. His nose is getting better, and his sneezes are decreasing. I only hear one or two sneezes daily, so that’s a vast improvement from sneezing every hour. His appetite and stool are normal. He’s still a happy and active bun — always finding new ways to be naughty and hide.

I’ve been trying to do research on Bordetella, but there’s not much information available.

Does anyone else have experience with Bordetella?

[MoxieMeadows]

I would regularly wash her waterbottles or food bowls though. Also, Bordetella can be spread to cats/dogs, so be careful if you have other pets.

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