ripshaw
07-09-2003, 11:15 AM
Hi guys I wanted to ask other pet owners out there what you think of this situation. I have a bunny that is pretty old now...I'm not exactly sure how old he is I've had him 5 years and I am his 3rd owner, and he was caught in the wild full grown. Anyways he suffers from something called 'snuffles' or 'bunny aids'. It's basically an evil bacterial infection that causes him to grow 'tumors' or absesses that fill up with puss and get HUGE over time. He has suffered from this disease ever since I've had him. At first we would give him daily shots of antibiotics but one day I (not being a trained vet) accidentally hit a vein and swore I'd never give a shot to nobody unless I had to again, so then I turned to pills which I gave him daily for about 2 years. The thing is...his absesses just got bigger and bigger and the medecine didn't really seem to be helping ... so I said that's it no more and quit giving him any medecine at all.
Well he did just fine for a few years until recently, about a month ago, he got a new tumor/absess on the side of his face. I could tell it was bothering him real bad cuz he would constantly rub on it. So I called the vet who (this gets gross) cut it open and leaked it and told me I HAD to keep my bunny on antibiotics because even tho it wont cure whats there it will keep it from spreading. Ive had my bunny on the medecine again about a week now and the absess on his face has filled back up again.
My bunny doesnt seem to be in pain he has had this disease most of his life and the only thing that really affects him is a tumor about the size of a large softball under his front left arm. I cant hold my bunny anymore because it hurts him too much but I pet him and play with him and brush him everyday, so he is a happy just unfortunate bunny.
My question for you guys is do you think I should keep him on these medecines. Im just not convinced they help anything. It cant be good to LIVE on antibiotics for years at a time, and I love this bunny but he is already old and these antibiotics are not cheap. I don't question his quality of life or anything this bunny gets carrots and lettuce and celery and banana and he is the fattest happiest bunny I ever saw so it's not that I dont want to give him all he deserves...but I'm just convinced it doesnt do anything. I mean if the antibiotics can't kill whats there how can it prevent spreading? I took microbiology in school and after learning about antibiotics and how they work this whole scenario of giving him them to 'keep the bacteria from spreading' just sounds pretty ridiculous. However I am no vet. What do you all suggest? Thanks
Well he did just fine for a few years until recently, about a month ago, he got a new tumor/absess on the side of his face. I could tell it was bothering him real bad cuz he would constantly rub on it. So I called the vet who (this gets gross) cut it open and leaked it and told me I HAD to keep my bunny on antibiotics because even tho it wont cure whats there it will keep it from spreading. Ive had my bunny on the medecine again about a week now and the absess on his face has filled back up again.
My bunny doesnt seem to be in pain he has had this disease most of his life and the only thing that really affects him is a tumor about the size of a large softball under his front left arm. I cant hold my bunny anymore because it hurts him too much but I pet him and play with him and brush him everyday, so he is a happy just unfortunate bunny.
My question for you guys is do you think I should keep him on these medecines. Im just not convinced they help anything. It cant be good to LIVE on antibiotics for years at a time, and I love this bunny but he is already old and these antibiotics are not cheap. I don't question his quality of life or anything this bunny gets carrots and lettuce and celery and banana and he is the fattest happiest bunny I ever saw so it's not that I dont want to give him all he deserves...but I'm just convinced it doesnt do anything. I mean if the antibiotics can't kill whats there how can it prevent spreading? I took microbiology in school and after learning about antibiotics and how they work this whole scenario of giving him them to 'keep the bacteria from spreading' just sounds pretty ridiculous. However I am no vet. What do you all suggest? Thanks