From: wd5j@vax5.cit.cornell.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pets
Subject: Re: Sneezing Darwin
Date: 22 Dec 92 12:09:29 EST
Distribution: rec
Organization: Cornell University

In article <22895@drutx.ATT.COM>,
njl@drutx.ATT.COM (LaRocheNJ) writes: 
> In article <1992Dec14.162528.16513@vax5.cit.cornell.edu>, wd5j@vax5.cit.cornell.edu writes:
>> about).  Anyway, so now that I sat still in a room with him, and
>> killed lots of valuable time gazing blankly at him...
> 
> Probably some of the best spent time there is...
> 
>> he sneezed about once every 15 or 20 minutes.  Then (because I looked
>> hard) I thought his respirations were a *bit* labored...
>> convinced myself that he's been eating fewer pellets (he's 10 lb now
>> and eats approx. 2/3 cup twice a day), and a quick touch of his bun
>> nose revealed a little bit of serous (watery) discharge.
> 
> I'm not a vet, but I do have a fair amount of field experience, and I've found
> that veterinary knowledge combined with field experience can do wonderful things,
> so I'll share my perspectives and hope it helps.
> 
> Some rabbits seem to have allergies (or maybe it's just getting dust from hay,
> pellets, pills, etc.) that cause sneezing spaced apart as you describe.  The
> watery discharge would seem to suggest this rather than snuffles.  In fact,
> watery discharge can be from nothing more than rapid breathing in a cool room.
> 
> Snuffles tends to come on quickly, causes more frequent sneezing, and the mucous
> in the nose is thick or at least crusty around the nostrils.
> 
>> I know his breeder
>> had pasteurellosis (snuffles, etc.) in the rabbitry, but it's been months, and
>> Darwin has not been stressed as far as I know, except for daily doing a little
>> running on a linoleum floor (to reach the carpet).
> 
> A pasteurella-free rabbit is practically an impossibility.  They all carry it in
> their nasal passages where antibiotics can't get to it.  It just sits there
> waiting for the rabbit's immunity to slip a bit and takes advantage of it,
> usually with incredible rapidity, whether it's snuffles, abscesses, wry neck, or
> whatever.
> 
> Stress in a rabbit can be anything from a bad dream or unfamiliar
> noise/smell/whatever (ever heard the "thump!" in the middle of the night?) to an
> undetected infection (one of my volunteers took her bun to a vet because of some
> mild ear shaking and he found infections in both ears (like kids get) that had
> probably been there for months, possibly years).  Tumors and such things can grow
> undetected on internal organs, lowering the bunny's resistance.  Coupled with the
> fact that, by nature, rabbits try to hide any vulnerability (in the wild, a
> rabbit noticeably not up to par is likely to be someone's dinner), it can make
> spotting stress very difficult.  When investigating possible illness, it's
> probably best to assume that they have had some sort of stress.
> 
>> otherwise playful, grooming, but-eating-less rabbit?
> 
> How old is this rabbit?  They eat like crazy the first six to nine months
> (depending on breed), growing like mad, and during the next six to nine, start
> slowing down in both growth and eating.  Another possibility is that the rabbit
> has been getting less exercise, has become more relaxed so nervous energy isn't
> burning so many calories, etc.
> 
> Any changes in weight would be more telling than the amount he eats.  Also, watch
> the droppings.  If they are becoming smaller or harder and drier, he may have a
> hairball or other blockage.  (The various symptoms could be from two or more
> problems, of course...)
> 
>> Obviously, I'll take his
>> temp. and listen more to his lungs, but they only sounded a bit harsh/normal. 
> 
> I trust you know that normal temp in a rabbit is 102--104 degress F.  If the
> rabbit gets excited during the taking of the temp, it's more likely to be around
> 104.
> 
>> I'll probably start him on tetracycline or enrofloxacin (Baytril) - any
>> thoughts out there??  OH NO I don't want Darwin to be sick....
> 
> I don't want him to be either!  Baytril is certainly the antibiotic of choice if
> pasteurella is suspected, unless it is a young rabbit.  It causes joint problems
> in young rabbits (under a year, if I remember correctly, but I trust your medical
> books would help you here), so it shouldn't be given to them unless the situation
> is so critical that one has to choose between the possible side effects or
> certain death.
> 
> Finally, since Darwin is playful, and without more worrisome symptoms than a
> watery nose, occasional sneezing, and possibly slightly less appetite, my guess is
> that he's perfectly healthy.  By now, you probably know for sure one way or the
> other...Let us know if additional symptoms have appeared--or whatever has been
> happening since you posted!  Thanks!
> 
> Nancy LaRoche (HRS)
> att!drutx!njl
> 
> 


Thanks for your input --it's _always_ appreciated.  I admit I get a bit
harried when Darwin's health is uncertain.  He's doing great - he's been
on Baytril 25 mg once a day, ground up into Nutrical (which he loves), and
of course there's no evidence of any illness, respiratory or otherwise.  NO
discharge, no sneezing (but I haven't been working in that room - just no
sneezing in the living room with us - he's too busy nibbling pants), no
abnormal breathing.  He's getting acidophilus in the water.  

Darwin's 6 months old now (a senior buck!!).  I'll keep him on the Baytril
until Xmas eve, when we rely on a bun-sitter for 5 days.

Happy Chanukah/Merry Christmas, everybody.

Ilana Reisner
Maccabee's vet
Newsgroups: rec.pets