Respiratory Disease in rabbits

 

​Respiratory disease (also known as snuffles) is caused by bacteria, commonly Pasteurella, this bacteria unfortunately isn't curable but they can live asymptomatically when stress free. There are other bacteria which cause the same symptoms (see below) which can be treated and the rabbits make a full recovery.

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Rabbit Snuffles 

Rabbits don’t get human colds so if they have symptoms that look like a cold they must be seen by a rabbit savvy vet as soon as possible. 

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Symptoms of respiratory disease are:

• Breathing problems - mouth breathing

• Coughing and sneezing with or without nasal discharge

• weeping eyes

• Appetite may be reduced because it’s hard to breath and swallow with a blocked nose

• Many rabbits with snuffles have sticky/matted fur on the inside front paws because they have wiped away nasal discharge 

• With some severe cases there may also be ear or balance problems

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You may see all or 2-3 of these symptoms. Most common to be sneezing with nasal discharge.

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If your rabbit begins mouth breathing at any time this is severe respiratory distress and they need to see a vet urgently.

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Treatment

Please do not be alarmed by an odd sneeze from your rabbit, they can have irritations just like us that make them sneeze. If your rabbit begins sneezing every day often with the presence of mucous/nasal discharge they need to see a vet. Unnecessary vet trips can do more damage than good as it puts them under tremendous stress.... however, please do not hold back if you feel your rabbit(s) needs to see the vet. We say this only because of past experience with an owner and rabbit who had trip after trip to the vet with snuffles and the stress was too much which lowered the rabbits immune system making the infection worse.

Snuffles must be treated with antibiotics and you may also receive anti-inflammatory to bring down any inflammation to help your rabbit breathe. Nebulising (a similar device to that which some asthmatics use to deliver medication in the form of a mist to be inhaled into the lungs) may be very helpful to rabbits who have a low immune system and have a chronic infection. You may notice the sneezing continues after treatment, if this happens but the condition is better our advice would be to keep an eye on them and it should settle as the rabbit has no stress and the body can fight the last of the infection. If the condition is no better or worse, they may need a nasal swab to make sure the particular bacteria isn't resistant to the antibiotics being used.

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​Thorough cleaning and disinfecting (with something proven to kill the bacteria such as Anigene, F10, Virkon) of any area your rabbit is in should be done regularly; including litter trays, toys, rugs, food and water dishes / bottles etc. 

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Pasteurella multocida is the most common bacteria type found; but other common infectious causes are Bordetella (kennel cough) and Pseudomonas. It is also highly contagious but we would never split up a bonded pair because of this. We have had experience of many pairs where the infection hasn't passed on as the healthy rabbits have a good immune system. Likewise we would never choose to keep an infected rabbit as a solitary rabbit, companionship offers way more benefits and remember they can live symptom free if kept stress free! If they do experience any stress you may see the reoccurrence of symptoms. You also should not separate bonded rabbits as this can cause stress and weaken the immune system even more putting their health at a greater risk. However, it may be wise to use separate bowls for food and water for the poorly rabbit.

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​Your rabbit will need to be kept warm, if they are indoor rabbits this will be simple enough. If they live outdoors you may need to bring them in; but be careful not to have a sudden increase in living temperature for them.

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Always keep an eye on your rabbits droppings, they are often the first indication that your rabbit is becoming unwell but not always a symptom.

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Other Pets

Other pets may also become infected, depending on which bacteria are present, therefore keeping everything scrupulously clean is essential, this includes thoroughly washing your own hands immediately after handling your poorly rabbit and, if appropriate, changing your clothes and shoes as well.

 

Humans

If the cause is Pasteurella or Pseudomonas, there is a very small risk that humans in the household could become infected. However, with proper cleaning and disinfecting, the risk is very low unless somebody has immune system problems, in which case it is best that they don’t have contact with the sick rabbit if at all possible.