Sick bunny

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

I'm sorry to hear about your bunny. I wish I could offer some good advice. I was always under the assumption that animals and humans develop an immunity to antibiotics if they are used too frequently. Have you taken your bunny to another vet for a second opinion.

I think you need to go to a RABBIT specislist vet immediately and see what the prognosis is. The way you describe his abcess I think you may be doing him a disservice by not getting him treated or medicated. And just because you don't think he isn't in pain, does mean he isn't......that's why the jerks doing medical research use rabbits.....unless absolutely terrified for their life they have no voice.

Not all vets take the medical training if rabbit care and what meds you might give a cat or dog can kill a rabbit. It is possible for abcesses to be drained and you may have to keep draining the abcess every x number of days for the rest of his life. Or it may be time to say goodbye. Either way you need to see a vet ASAP. See if your state has a local chapter of the House Rabbit Society. Or go to the HRS web page and check the Vet link www.rabbit.org

I agree, see a rabbit specialist vet. If the tumor is causing him pain, I might consider putting him to sleep, but if he's painfree and happy, I would let him be. But you definitely need to at least speak to another rabbit vet before making any decisions on the antibiotics.

im having a real hard time finding a rabbit specialist anywhere in my state (georgia). i tried looking up other bunny vet sites online and 99% of them are UK based. Is there any use in calling up a rabbit specialist long distance even tho they wont even be able to look at him or should i just bring my bunny to another vet for a 2nd opinion and hope they know what they're talking about ...? Or if anyone knows of a rabbit specialist within 100 or so miles of the Atlanta area plz let me know!

Im also a little worried how my bunny will take the car trip if i do find a specialist...my bunny has never been to the vet before we have a mobile vet that comes to us and so he gets treated on the kitchen counter. this bunny gets stressed real easily but if theres a vet i can find nearby i will drive him there and hope he does OK

Don't know if this helps..


Dr. Richard Bink
2357 Ogeechee Rd.
Savannah, GA 31401
(912) 234-4772



Dr. Edward Gross
Care More Animal Hospital
4026 Blackstone Camp Road (Behind 76 gas station)
Martinez, GA 30907
(706) 650-1839



Dr. Katherine Rottersman
Windy Hill Veterinary Hospital
2170 Windy Hill Road, Suite B
Smyrna, GA 30080
(770) 333-9030



Ash

Hi...I have the most WONDERFUL BUNNY vet in the world...actually I have 2! The first is Dr. Tyler...she runs the Cedar Village Animal Clinic on 4142 Jimmy Carter Boulevard
Norcross, GA 30093 770-414-8869 ..they know Boy Boy and Girl Girl. (smile) And also, For Pet Sake 3761 N Druid Hills Rd, Decatur, GA 30033 (404) 248-8977. They are also very familiar with my kids. (smile) They only do "exotics"...no cats and dogs. Matter of fact right now Girl Girl and Boy Boy are there regularly. A few months ago, Girl Girl's mouth was very wet and I thought she was playing in water and when I took her to Dr. Tyler who is their regular vet, she informed me Girl Girl had ulcers in her mouth. I was so upset because she wasn't eating. Dr Tyler referred me to Dr. Mimi Shepherd at For Pet Sake...Girl Girl was very sick. They had to pull 3 teeth from the back. Unfortunately, I didn't know they had teeth in the back...dumb me! Anyway, she has to go there 3 times a week to get it flushed out and she had to get a penicillin injection every day so it doesn't get infected but she is coming along just fine. They are great at both places and they know bunnies! Let me know if you need any further information.

Great advice Tazz..and Aspen/Misty, thanks for helping this gal out.

Ripshaw, please take advantage of this information, if you continue as you have been (ignoring the problem) it is only going to get worse and condition may become untreatable.