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Pasteurellosis
snuffles
A respiratory infection caused by Pasteurella multocida and other bacteria. Many rabbits carry it without signs, and ammonia, draughts, dust and stress bring on the disease. It can progress from a runny nose to pneumonia, abscesses, ear infections and death.
When to call a vet
See a vet
A vet chooses the treatment — don’t give medicines yourself. Until then, give first aid.
Call a vet if breathing is laboured, the rabbit stops eating, lumps or a head tilt appear, or several rabbits are sneezing
Symptoms
- Sneezing and thick white or yellow nasal discharge
- Matted, dirty fur on the inside of the front paws from wiping the nose
- Watery eyes and conjunctivitis
- Noisy or laboured breathing, fever and refusing food
- Pus-filled lumps under the skin, head tilt, and mastitis in does
What to do
- 1 Move the sneezing rabbit at once to a separate cage away from the others
- 2 Improve ventilation and change the bedding
- Call a vet if breathing is laboured, the rabbit stops eating, lumps or a head tilt appear, or several rabbits are sneezing
What not to do
- Only a vet should choose an antibiotic: oral penicillins, lincomycin and clindamycin cause fatal gut disease in rabbits
- Do not use human nose drops or tablets on your own
When it strikes
Occurs all year: it flares up when sheds are closed against cold, damp weather and ammonia builds up, and again under summer heat stress or after kindling.
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Prevention
- The rabbitry should not smell of ammonia: change urine-soaked bedding often
- Ventilate well, but without draughts blowing straight onto the cages
- Feed hay that is free of dust and mould
- Do not buy sneezing rabbits, and quarantine new ones
- Do not keep rabbits that fall sick again and again for breeding
Causes
- Pasteurella multocida bacteria, often together with Bordetella and other germs
- Contact with sick or carrier rabbits, sneeze droplets and shared drinkers
- Ammonia from urine, poor ventilation, draughts and dusty hay
- Stress from crowding, heat, transport and kindling