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Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Pasturella

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    • Dface
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        Guys Im sorry, Im starting to sound like a broken record here!

        My boyfriend came home the other day, saying he’d found a rabbit we should get. We were in the petshop and the rabbit was still there.
        The deal we had was that if we got more rabbits, he was allowed to pick (pending yumi and peep approval)
        My heart breaks looking at him, hes in a small box cage, and when you go over he starts binkying and begging being an all round charmer(you know the ones)

        He has a history of pasturella bordetella, although he is doing okay now, i know that it tends to be recurring, and is a life long issue in some cases.

        Now we asked about him in the petshop, and they said he needed to be rehomed alone, and outdoors only. Personally, I dont know how much I trust this petshop… They have given me a bad inpression previously, and often, have misinformed information.

        Yumi was bonded to Sampras who had pasturella (i cant recall the species though) and she was never ill with it, and Peep was exposed to her and has never been ill either
        And in my mind housing a pasturella bun outside seems counter intuitive?

        I know most rabbits carry pasturella and that mine are both likely to be hosts for the disease. Would it be crazy to consider taking a pasturella bun on? Would it be too big a risk for my own pair? Or would they be the ones endangering him?


      • Doodler
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          I can understand how tempting it is to bring that little guy home. I would be tempted as well!

          To be honest I have not heard of Pastuerella Bordetella. I know that rabbits with Bordetella can be more susceptible to Pastuerella. Is that what you mean and he has both?


        • Bam
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            Rehoming a pasteurella bun outdoors does seem odd. I don’t know why that would be recommended. Fresh air, less dust perhaps? Anyway, I don’t think any bunny-savvy person would recommend housing a lone bun outdoors, pasteurella or no pasteurella.

            Taking on a pasteurella bun would mean a lot of extra work and also heartache for you. You’re a smart person though, so I know you know this. You went through it all with Sampras.

            As you are saying, your buns are probably pasteurella carriers.

            I don’t know if 2 bonded buns are likely to bully a poorly bun because they sense he is weak.


          • Dface
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              To be honest I have not heard of Pastuerella Bordetella

              Neither had I! I do know that they co-effect, so I feel like thats the assumption, that he has both, because in most cases, if they have one they have the other, and the person talking to me was just confused.

              I register it will be heartbreaking, but he looks healthier than Sampras ever looked, which inspires me to believe he might be fighting it from a better start, although im not naively thinking he wont relapse.

              Like you say bam I cant imagine leaving any bunny outside by itself, let alone a bunny with pasturella, where you arent going to be able to catch the symptoms early! But i think its a ‘ventilation is best’ situation, which is a weird assumption as drafts are very bad for bunnies with a weak immune system.

              And yes, bullying was something I had considered too.
              I know when Sampras was on medication he would smell different, although Yumi was never overly reactive to him, she would certainly double take.
              However she did seem to give him great comfort when he was going through bad phases. She would keep his face clean and dry, would groom him when he wasnt grooming himself, and I do remember days where she simply lay with him when he was very unwell. I cant be sure, but I like to think that was a help.
              That said all relationships are different so its hard to base it on other rabbits and a pair history, as trios present a new dynamic.

              I simply dont like the idea of him being re-surrendered to a shelter when the illness returns, which is often the case.

              I know im projecting because he does make me think of Sampras, and how much he deserved a good shot at life, even though it was a short one, so I know im not really able to look at this whole situation objectively, because Im seeing a rabbit I loved so much when I look at him


            • Doodler
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                What a tough decision you have on your hands. Knowing the pet store will probably convince someone he needs to be alone and outdoors makes it especially difficult to leave him there. Having that connection because he reminds you of Sampras makes it even harder.

                If it were me I would ask my vet how they felt about it. Of course the health of your current buns has to take priority but if they are carriers you might be the exact home he is looking for. Maybe you can also network to find a home for him if your vet says it’s too much risk to your current buns? Good luck with whatever decision you make!


              • Tony's Mum
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                  Maybe you could call the vet and ask for some clarification and advice on the Pastuerella Bordetella. I’ve never heard of it either.

                  I know it’s a tough call to make but if it turns out to be regular Pastuerella and your buns are already carriers then you might be exactly the home he needs. You know what you’re doing and you have experience, and will provide a loving home rather than leaving him outside alone. I agree with your point about him being resurrendered if it flares up again, so it would be good to have someone with knowledge take him.

                  What pet shop is it?


                • Dface
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                    TM- its a pet shop in the UK called pets at home, its a large chain that has an adoption section in the shop (which is ironic because lots of the pets they sell end up in it…)

                    Yeah I think I will go back in and see if anyone can give me details of his illness, and if they will let me adopt him at all seeing as he will be living indoors, so I can get a better picture of it all, and then ring around some vets. Ive only recently moved here, and even though ive registered with a vet I haven’t seen them yet, so seems like a strange phone call to make! But I might see about contacting my vet back in Dublin who is a crazy bunny lady herself, so might offer me more trustworthy advice.


                  • Tony's Mum
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                      If you have a garden you could always agree to house him outside and then just not do it. I know it’s dishonest, but it’s in his best interests in the long run. I have no issues with telling a white lie to save a life.


                    • Doodler
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                        It definitely doesn’t hurt to try your crazy bunny vet in Dublin. Please keep us posted on what happens! My heart feels for you because it is such a hard decision to make. I am hoping the vet will be able to put your mind at ease. Even if they say it’s too risky at least you’ll know you are doing what is best for your current crew.


                      • Dface
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                          I have no issues with telling a white lie

                          Haha yeah! I was thinking that tbh. But as it stands it’s snowing out and he’s been living in a heated petshop. You can’t put a rabbit out in – 2C from that! He’ll have no winter coat, poor mite, the more i think about it the more it bugs me!

                          Thank you guys for being understanding!
                          I rang the local vet here, and they could not give me a clear answer, they were of the opinion it would be fine, but they said they wouldn’t like to 100% give me a go ahead, so I’m hopefully going to give my home vet a ring tomorrow.

                          I’ll let you guys know what she says!


                        • Dface
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                            Called my own vet back home, and I got much the same reply.
                            The general consensus is nobody really knows what would happen, as historically pasturella bunnies get immediately quarantined, or pass away.

                            My vet said getting him and keeping him seperate would be fine, but if I introduced him I’d need to spend the rest of their lives hyper-vigilant of any discharge or sneezing from any of them
                            (which I am anyway after Sampras)

                            But the take away is that there is a risk, but both vet clinics said it was really at my discretion as to what to do.

                            My boyfriend and myself are talking about it, my thoughts are that keeping him seperate would not be a huge imposition in my life, but I dont know if my boyfriend would be intresred in having a baby gate in the house and a hand cleaning/disinfecting way of living.
                            He’s also has never dealt with a chronic illness pet, which is a hard ask, so ive told him he will have the final say, as I dont think he should be pressured into a decision that might cause us heartache, and because i know i am biased in this


                          • Doodler
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                              Thanks for the update. That is so tough.

                              Good luck with whatever the decision ends up being!


                            • Bam
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                                I think it’s believed that chronic, symptomatic pasteurella and bordetella mainly affect rabbits with some sort of genetic susceptibility, i. e an inherited flaw in their immune defense. This is why pasteurella buns in rabbitries are put down or at least taken out of any breeding program – to prevent genetic transfer of this susceptibility. This would of course be of very little concern in your case, since I’m pretty sure you’re not planning to breed this little sweetheart =) Keeping a bun in permanent quaranteen in a home could be very, very difficult though. It could potentially put a strain on your relationship. Things like would you suspect your partner of not having washed their hands properly IF Yumi or Peep started sneezing? (I’m playing the Devil’s Advocate here, as I’m sure you understand).

                                From what I’ve read about bordetella (bronchiseptica, which is the one of concern here), it’s a big risk for guinea pigs if you house them with rabbits, because rabbits often carry bordetella asymptomatically, but guinea pigs are very susceptible and get sick. If your vet says its up to your discretion, I think they are pretty sure your buns be fine. (You can have guinea pigs and rabbits in the same household but they shouldn’t be housed together).

                                No vet could ever say 100% about anything I think, because that’s how medicine works. There are always exceptions to the rules and rare cases, and new discoveries are made pretty much daily etc, (which is partly why medicine is so very cool).


                              • Dface
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                                  So kind of a nothing update but I figure I’d let you guys know anyway.

                                  My boyfriend originally decided we would not get the rabbit, but after seeing hin day after day in the petshop, he changed his mind and he decided that he would like to see if we could give the little dude a good home, even if it was only temporary.
                                  His only condition is that we need our landlord to okay it, so we are still waiting to hear back.
                                  We cannot reserve the bunny, so its now a double condition – landlord needs to agree to it and the rabbit would need to still be there.
                                  So thats all we got for now!


                                • Bam
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                                    Thank you for the update! I hope your landlord will say yes to this little guy. He’d be so loved and well cared for if he got to live with you!


                                  • Dface
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                                      Thanks Bam, me too!
                                      I understand its her propery, but i find it weird that someone else gets a say in something that really wont effwct them or their poperty(i own all the furnishings, and have insurance for any damages caused by the pets, and a clause to professionally clean the carpets once we leave) so I cant see why it would be an issue… Fingers crossed


                                    • Doodler
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                                        Yes, thanks for the update. I hope you get an answer soon. I know the wait would be driving me crazy!

                                        I have my fingers crossed for you as well!!


                                      • Dface
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                                          Well the landlord has agreed to let us get another bunny!

                                          My boyfriend has ruled we cant get him today (Im ‘too sick’… Honestly, you’re never too sick for rabbits).. I think he might be having second thoughts on all of it..”what if we get home and he just dies..”
                                          Hes never really had pets, let alone special care pets so on one hand I can sympathize, on the other I have never turned down an animal becaue Im afraid it will die(pretty much the opposite)

                                          But it is sensible to wait, as we ordered a pen for him that was far cheaper online, but wont be ready to collect until tomorrow.

                                          So now we just have to see if he’s still there when we go to pick him up. ?


                                        • Doodler
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                                            Yay!  Unless cold feet happen tomorrow pictures are a must


                                          • Bam
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                                              Yay for the landlord agreeing! Keeping my fingers crossed little guy will come home with you tomorrow ❤️❤️❤️


                                            • Dface
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                                                Thanks guys, I’ll keep you all updated ?
                                                Im working from home tomorrow and we said we’d go to pick him up when my boyfriend gets home from his job… I doubt I’ll get any work done


                                              • Dface
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                                                • Doodler
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                                                    I am so happy for you and for him!!! He is adorable and looks happy….and I must say healthy. I hope he stays that way for many many years to come. Congrats on the new family member!!


                                                  • Dface
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                                                      Thanks Doodles!
                                                      Hes currently giving out to his reflection that he can see in the glass door… And hes very suspicious of us, so we are leaving him to do his thing… Currently ruining the litter tray…


                                                    • Doodler
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                                                        Haha. Bunnies……


                                                      • Q8bunny
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                                                          And BB had loaded a few days ago, I wouldn’t have been so surprised on Insta.

                                                          I’m glad to know his story and for what it’s worth, agree with your reasoning process.


                                                        • Tony's Mum
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                                                            Okay, now I’m caught up! <3 to the little noob x

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                                                        Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Pasturella