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Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A sneezing fit help

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    • bbuono9915
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        Looking for ideas. we are currently under the care of 2 exotic vets but they are at a loss. Trying to see if anyone has ever had a bunny who has sneezing followed by head shaking followed by coughing/choking/hacking sound?  (have video of episode but couldn’t download). He has more of these in a day than I can count and have been going on for over a year.   he is 9+ years old and otherwise very active and seems healthy.  things we have tried:  eye drops in case caused by drainage from eyes.  Baytril (2 rounds) and one other I can’t remember off hand.  X-rays.  sifting hay.  cleaning more frequently.  he lives in an open room with 8 others (3 pens with 4 in one area, 3 total in  his, and another with 2).  We have an air purifier.  use only vinegar to clean.  they have litter boxes with equine pine for bedding with screens over top to keep buns from wet bedding.


      • Wick & Fable
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          No idea about the coughing/hacking sound. My initial thought is it’s a result of dislodging the nasal discharge and your rabbit seems to instinctually try to swallow it when sneezing fails. Kinda like how some humans are good are draining snot down their throat vs blowing it out.

          Wick had severe sneezing since 8wo. Symptoms began as very frequent sneezes (minutely), then clear discharge, followed by white discharge. Once the discharge began, eye discharge was also consistent. He had very frequent sneeze attacks, where he’d sneeze over 15 times in a row at once, in addition to regular sneezes.

          At our first visit, our exotic vet checked feces and ears, as well as the usual examination. The consensus was there is clearly some respiratory infection, so we’d have to roll the dice and find what antibiotics will do the trick.

          First try was cherry-flavored Bactrim, syringe fed. This was paired with a powder probiotic. After two weeks, no improvement.

          Second try was Baytril, syringe fed. This was paired as well with the powdered probiotic. After two weeks, there was only the slightest improvement, but nothing really substantial.

          Third try was continuing the Baytril, but adding penicillin (floxicillin) injections, x1 daily. Almost immediately, there was improvement in the sneezing.

          At this point, my vet said to stop the Baytril. Literally less than 12 hours after his usual dosage, the sneezing came back, so Baytril was recontinued.

          For about one week, Wick stayed with Baytril as usual (x2/day, syringe) and the penicillin (x1/day, injection). After a week, Baytril dosage stayed consistent, but we changed the penicillin to once every 3 days, because within the medication is a longer lasting medication. (lasts 3 days), so Wick should not need it every day if he’s getting better. Currently, this is our medication regiment for Wick, who is now almost 5 months old!

          Every scenario is different, but here are a few things I did to try and help Wick out:

          1) Medication administration: Making sure the Baytril is administered every 12 hours makes a difference for Wick. It’s apparent if it’s given too late, so I made sure to be more strict with the schedule.

          2) Face cleaning: I may just be paranoid, but I always used Wick’s clean towels to clean his nose, in fear that reusing a dirty one would simply let the infection get worse. I would always clean snot right away when it appeared.

          3) Hay: Sifted and brand switched from Kaytee to Oxbow. Additionally, after putting new hay in hi boxes, I keep the doors open so the dust has room to move and vacate the area.

          4) Fresh water: Wick uses water to clean himself often, so I made sure his bowl and water are always clean and fresh so they would not irritate his nose when it entered while cleaning.

          5) Massage nose: Every so often when I pet him, I use two fingers and kind of massage above his nose to relieve any pressure he may be feeling up there.

          6) Steam: I carry and pet him while in a steamy bathroom for a little bit. It seemed to help him sneeze out discharge afterwards.

          Wick is still on the current regimen, but I hope when we try to wean again, symptoms won’t erupt. He rarely sneezes anymore.

          The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.


        • RoxMad
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          29 posts Send Private Message

            Hi there,

            My rabbit is has showed that symptom many times and he is being treated for Pseudomonas. Is there any nasal discharge? I would definitely ask the vet for a culture and sensitivity test. My first vet claimed it was a waste of money as external bacteria often show up on the culture because they collect on the cotton swab as it goes up the nose. Mine revealed Pseudomonas, which is not a normal environmental bacteria. The sensitivity part of the test will reveal which antibiotics the bacteria in the culture are sensitive to, so the vet knows how to treat it. If he does have Pseudomonas, it takes a minimum of 5 weeks to fully go away, and Baytril, because it’s used so often, is the first thing that becomes ineffective.

            I’m guessing the x-ray was checking for foreign objects in the nose? My bunny also was sneezing when he had a piece of hay up his nose.

            I would also ask your vet if the x-ray reveled anything about his teeth. Sometimes, overgrown roots can cause sinus issues.

            As for your environment, the pine could be the issue. Wood shavings can be dusty, so I would recommend fleece with a litterbox (if he uses a box), with paper pellets or Carefresh as litter, if he is a litterbox user. If he isn’t a box user, you can use Carefresh as your bedding.

            No matter what antibiotic you get, I would definitely be giving him a daily probiotic as well. You can use Benebac or Forco Digestive Aid, which you mix with water or Critical Care. Good luck!! Keep us posted!


          • bbuono9915
            Participant
            3 posts Send Private Message

              the thing about the culture is exactly what the 2 vets i go to have said.  the xrays looked at his teeth and his lungs to make sure no fluid.  no findings were evident.  there is very, very minimal nasal discharge if any.  this has been going on for over a year.  could it still be pseudomonas?  i hate to doubt my vets knowledge of my long earred babies but that is why i went to another.  unfortunately it seems my “exotic vets” may be limited to common ailments and i am at a loss of what to do.  I have already spent so much $ doing what seem to be wasted treatments.  i do know that it can be a trial and error mission.  just feel so helpless when he is sneezing and hacking.

              the litter box we use equine pine which are pellets and not shavings.  should those be a problem.  on top of the bedding i use a plastic grate and wire followed by hay to keep him out of the litter material.  


            • RoxMad
              Participant
              29 posts Send Private Message

                Hmmm…I’m not sure. I definitely would be seeking another opinion/veterinarian if you aren’t feeling confident in what they are doing. I would check out the House Rabbit Society’s website for vets in your area, or maybe a little outside of your area. I would ask to talk with the veterinarian and discuss how many bunnies they see on a regular basis. “We see bunnies” and “We see bunnies every day” are two different things. Many vets are willing to look at your pet and give it their best guess, but it doesn’t mean they are well-versed in the animals they are willing to see.

                I would consider the nearest vet school. Call them, get some quotes, and see what you might be able to do. I wonder if he has allergies?

                I personally am not a fan of animals on wire, but I have no experience with pine pellets. I am not sure if they have the same effects on the respiratory system as the shavings. While they may not be as dusty, the phenols in the wood are likely still present and may irritate his nose. Could he potentially have a deviated septum?


              • bbuono9915
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                3 posts Send Private Message

                  totally agree about the wire thing but only way can figure how to keep their fuzzy feet out of their pee. we have a sheet of hardwire covered with 1st cutting hay for them to go on and these boxes are cleaned once, if not twice, a day of the wet pine pellets. they do not spend any extended amount of time in their boxes. Charlie’s area is about 14 feet x 6 feet and he shares it with 2 others.

                  have sought a second opinion and received pretty much the same answer and with his age, 9+, I am afraid to have him undergo any aggressive procedures especially requiring anesthesia. unfortunately in our area, country type with 4-h programs, the vets probably don’t see that many for serious problems.

                  we have switched to small pet select hay, sift it as much as possible, sweep and vacuum regularly, clean with only vinegar. allergies in a bunny are definitely not something my vets are accustomed to. Charlie was on an antihistamine for a bit but did not seem to change anything.

                  I have 9 buns in a home environment (my open dining room with picket fences dividing) and that is definitely not something the vets around here are accustomed to or encourage but they are all fixed and are happy to the best of my knowledge. There is so much to know with these little fuzz butts and i am trying my best. We have gone to Ohio to the Midwest Bunfest for the last 3 years and have already scheduled our room for this years event. They are so helpful with the classes and other things there.


                • jerseygirl
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                  22338 posts Send Private Message

                    My rabbit Gooseman does the hacking cough thing, though not as frequently as Charlie, by the sounds of it. Like Wick mentioned, I think its perhaps mucus going down his throat, a bit like post nasal drip. He has sneezing episodes where he seems to be trying to move something but doesn’t get much discharge. Like some tiny spots of white snot sometimes. Its possible he’s cleaned up discharge before Ive seen but Ive also stood right there when he’s having a sneezing fit and not seen much of anything.
                    He’s sneezed on and off for a while now. Last year he also developed a facial abscess and had surgery. It had affected the bulla of the ear. He now has an asymmetrical face due to some nerve damage so that all probably impacts on how his sinuses work.

                    Some things Ive heard that can help chronically snuffly buns might help your Charlie. Many of those have already been suggested or you are already doing.
                    Anti inflammatory to keep swelling down so any build up can get out of nasal passage. Using a mucolytic agent like Bisolvon may help. Or, if reluctant to give additional medication, using a nebuliser regularly with just saline can help move out any sticky mucus that can get trapped in pockets of the nasal tract. Doing those things while on an antibiotic can help it be more effective. But being on the right antibiotic and right mode of delivery is important, otherwise it is just wasted dollars. A culture sounds tricky in his case, given he doesn’t seem to have any discharge. Even then, it’s better if they get a sample from deep in the nasal passage and a scraping from the wall where potential pathogens linger.
                    It may also be worth using an antifungal treatment too.

                    You could possibly try nebulising with a disinfectant recommended by a vet. In the UK, some of the rabbit vets use a product called F10 in a nebuliser. It’s also been used to flush out abscess wounds. It’s actually a disinfectant that is said to be an anti bacterial/viral/fungal. I’m not sure what you have available where you are. Something like an iodine sanitiser might have similar effect? (I don’t know if it’s safe to use ).  Grapefruit seed extract is another that is supposed to be an anti bacterial/viral/fungal.

                    I’m planning to get a small nebuliser to try for Gooseman, though I need my vets guidance on what to use in it. I don’t want to unknowingly use sometime that is too acid or alkaline and irritant the tissue.  I think saline or sterile water alone should make a difference though. Fingers crossed!

                    {{{Vibes}}} for Charlie. It is hard to watch any bun struggling, especially when they’re older too.


                  • jerseygirl
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                    22338 posts Send Private Message

                      Posted By Wick on 4/03/2017 2:19 PM

                      No idea about the coughing/hacking sound. My initial thought is it’s a result of dislodging the nasal discharge and your rabbit seems to instinctually try to swallow it when sneezing fails. Kinda like how some humans are good are draining snot down their throat vs blowing it out.

                      Wick had severe sneezing since 8wo. Symptoms began as very frequent sneezes (minutely), then clear discharge, followed by white discharge. Once the discharge began, eye discharge was also consistent. He had very frequent sneeze attacks, where he’d sneeze over 15 times in a row at once, in addition to regular sneezes.

                      At our first visit, our exotic vet checked feces and ears, as well as the usual examination. The consensus was there is clearly some respiratory infection, so we’d have to roll the dice and find what antibiotics will do the trick.

                      First try was cherry-flavored Bactrim, syringe fed. This was paired with a powder probiotic. After two weeks, no improvement.

                      Second try was Baytril, syringe fed. This was paired as well with the powdered probiotic. After two weeks, there was only the slightest improvement, but nothing really substantial.

                      Third try was continuing the Baytril, but adding penicillin (floxicillin) injections, x1 daily. Almost immediately, there was improvement in the sneezing.

                      At this point, my vet said to stop the Baytril. Literally less than 12 hours after his usual dosage, the sneezing came back, so Baytril was recontinued.

                      For about one week, Wick stayed with Baytril as usual (x2/day, syringe) and the penicillin (x1/day, injection). After a week, Baytril dosage stayed consistent, but we changed the penicillin to once every 3 days, because within the medication is a longer lasting medication. (lasts 3 days), so Wick should not need it every day if he’s getting better. Currently, this is our medication regiment for Wick, who is now almost 5 months old!

                      Every scenario is different, but here are a few things I did to try and help Wick out:

                      1) Medication administration: Making sure the Baytril is administered every 12 hours makes a difference for Wick. It’s apparent if it’s given too late, so I made sure to be more strict with the schedule.

                      2) Face cleaning: I may just be paranoid, but I always used Wick’s clean towels to clean his nose, in fear that reusing a dirty one would simply let the infection get worse. I would always clean snot right away when it appeared.

                      3) Hay: Sifted and brand switched from Kaytee to Oxbow. Additionally, after putting new hay in hi boxes, I keep the doors open so the dust has room to move and vacate the area.

                      4) Fresh water: Wick uses water to clean himself often, so I made sure his bowl and water are always clean and fresh so they would not irritate his nose when it entered while cleaning.

                      5) Massage nose: Every so often when I pet him, I use two fingers and kind of massage above his nose to relieve any pressure he may be feeling up there.

                      6) Steam: I carry and pet him while in a steamy bathroom for a little bit. It seemed to help him sneeze out discharge afterwards.

                      Wick is still on the current regimen, but I hope when we try to wean again, symptoms won’t erupt. He rarely sneezes anymore.

                      That’s good to read it worked for Wick.  Dual antibiotics, one of them being injectable, is often what is needed with stubborn infections. That and a long course of them 4-6 weeks minimum.



                    • jerseygirl
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                        bbuono9915, you would have to upload the video to a photo/video hosting site then get the link for it to share on here. Sites like instagram, Imgur, Photobucket, Youtube etc.

                        I forgot to mention, another thing that can help rabbits with chronic respiratory issues is keeping the environment cool and humid. Summer is not a great time dfor these buns and they often get flare ups that time of year.

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                    Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A sneezing fit help