Rabbit Snuffles Treatment

Rabbit Snuffles Treatment

Having a rabbit that has succumbed to rabbit snuffles can be heart breaking but, luckily there are a few ways in which you can have it treated. Checkout the article below in order to learn more.

Contents

What Is Rabbit Snuffles

Rabbit Snuffles is a bacterial infection that is caused by the bacteria called Pasteurella spp and Staphylococcus spp. Rabbit snuffles causes rabbits to have runny eyes and runny noses. It also causes rabbits to sneeze.

What Causes Rabbit Snuffles?

Pasteurella

Rabbit snuffles is cause by a bacteria known as Pasteurella spp which naturally occurs in rabbits. This bacteria is highly contagious and once rabbit snuffles develops in one rabbit it can be easily transmitted to other rabbits. Therefore, it’s always important to isolate a rabbit once it develops rabbit snuffles.

Poor Ventilation

Another common cause of rabbit snuffles is poor ventilation. Rabbits that are kept in habitats that are poorly ventilated usually develop eye irritations and nose irritations which usually trigger rabbit snuffles. So always make sure your rabbit has a well-ventilated habitat so that you minimize the risk of it developing rabbit snuffles.

Dental Problems

Rabbits that have dental problems usually develop rabbit snuffles. This is because the tooth root of a rabbit passes through the tear duct and drains tears from the corners of the eyes to the nose. When a rabbit experiences dental problems or an infection on the tooth, this usually results in the roots not draining tears as a result bacteria builds up thus, causing rabbit snuffles.

Rabbit Snuffles Treatment

NB: Rabbit snuffles is a serious disease which can take several months to treat so make sure you take your rabbit to the vet.

Antibiotics

The best rabbit snuffles treatment are antibiotics which you will get from your vet. The antibiotics will help to kill the bacteria and minimize the chances of your rabbit dying. Antibiotics for rabbit snuffles come in different forms. Some antibiotics come in the form of drops or creams and should be applied directly into the eyes of the rabbit. Other antibiotics for rabbit snuffles treatment come in the form of oral antibiotics meaning you will have to administer them directly into the mouth of your rabbit. Whichever type of antibiotics that you get from the vet, make sure he or she demonstrates to you how you can administer them to your rabbit.

Teeth surgery

Another common treatment for rabbit snuffles is teeth removal or filing. This is mainly because rabbits that have dental problems usually develop the bacteria in their mouth and this can be hard to treat. The only way to treat it would be to ensure that the rabbit goes under surgery so that the teeth can be filed or clipped. The vet will also recommend a district diet for your rabbit so that it can recover from rabbit snuffles.

Symptoms Of Rabbit Snuffles

In order to identify whether or not your rabbit has developed rabbit snuffles, simply look out for any of these signs before taking your rabbit to the vet.

  • Watery eyes
  • Runny nose
  • Loss of appetite
  • Sneezing/coughing
  • Breathing problems
  • Blocked ears

How To Prevent Rabbit Snuffles

Provide Good Shelter

One of the best ways to avoid rabbit snuffles is to provide you rabbit with good shelter. This means that the habitat of your rabbit should be properly ventilated and clean. This helps to reduce the chances of bacterial build up.

Provide Dental Care

Another way of preventing rabbit snuffles is to ensure that your rabbit receives proper dental care. This is because if your rabbit has poor teeth the chances are high that they will get infected by bacteria thus, making it easier for bacteria to get inside and cause rabbit snuffles. So make sure you take your rabbit to the vet so that they can check or perform any dental work to improve the health of your rabbit.

Improve Diet

In order to prevent rabbit snuffles it’s important that you improve the diet of your rabbit. Avoid feeding your rabbits commercial rabbit mix and opt for natural foods like grass and hay. This will help to improve the overall health of your rabbit, making it less resistant to rabbit snuffles.

Can Rabbits Recover From Snuffles?

Yes rabbits can recover from snuffles provided they are given the proper medication and care. It’s important that you visit a vet when you discover that your rabbit has developed snuffles. This will help the vet to provide early treatment for the snuffles thus, increasing its chances of survival.

What Can I Give My Rabbit For Respiratory Infection?

If your rabbit has a respiratory infection take it to the vet and they will give it oxygen as well as antibiotics. Rabbits that suffer from respiratory infections require proper care and as a result your vet will recommend the type of medication you need to give it once it has stabilized.

Can I Treat Rabbit Snuffles At Home?

Unfortunately you cannot treat rabbit snuffles at home. This is because rabbit snuffles is a serious bacterial infection that requires serious medical attention from your vet. So make sure you take your rabbit to the vet before trying to do DIY treatments.

What Does It Mean If A Bunny Has A Runny Nose?

If your bunny has a runny nose there is a good chance that it as snuffles and needs to be taken to the vet for examination and treatment.

Do All Rabbits Carry Pasteurella?

Yes all rabbits carry the Pasteurella bacteria. Pasteurella is a bacteria that causes snuffles in rabbits. Therefore, you always have to make sure that your rabbit is in a well-ventilated area and is receiving proper care so that the bacteria does not cause snuffles.

Is There A Cure For Pasteurella?

Yes there is a cure for Pasteurella and it can be found at the vet. The cure is often antibiotics but make sure you visit the vet in order to get them. This is because there are some antibiotics which are harmful to rabbits.

Conclusion

There are a number of ways in which you can treat rabbit snuffles but the most common way is to administer antibiotics which you can get from the vet.