Can my rabbit's bacterial eye infection be passed to humans?

It’s possibly but unlikely if you practice good hygiene. Keep Jo separated from the cats. Wash your hands after handling the cats. Wash you hands before handling Jo. Keep the Jo in an area where she cannot come in close contact with the faces of the cats and keep the cats away so they cannot rub their faces on the cage bars. If Jo does get an eye infection, have her seen by the veterinarian. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It is my pleasure to answer your question as well as possible. I will do my best to give you the clearest and most current information I can. If you need to follow up with further questions or need a more in-depth discussion, please do not hesitate to request a consultation and we can help you further. Cute bunny, and congratulations on your new family member. Yes, it is pretty common for bunnies to get eye infections but there are a number of different reasons for them. The most common of those include a blocked tear duct that would normal drain extra tears from the eye into the nose, an abrasion or scratch, or an E. Cuniculi infection. A blocked tear duct can be caused by something as simple as a dusty brand of hay to something as complex as a chronic tooth issue. In a bunny as young as yours the chronic condition is less likely. Unfortunately, the only good way to tell if there is a blockage is for a vet to stain the eye and see if the colored stain drains into the nose as it should. If it is blocked, the vet can flush it out. They could also get a very superficial look at the teeth to see if they appear normal. The vet would be likely to give you some medication to help the irritated skin in front of the eye heal faster as well, for now please keep that area as clean and dry as possible.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If you are having eye issues you should see a human physician. Feline Herpes is not contagious to people as people herpes is not contagious to cats. As long as you wash your hands and do not touch your eye after handling Abba you shouldn't contract a bacterial infection from her. If your Vet cultured a specific bacterial from Abba you should ask them about the zoonotic potential of that bacteria. I hope this helps and I wish you both the best!

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Miffy may have blocked tear ducts He could also have chronic conjunctivitis that requires a different eye drops with antibiotic. Please, take Miffy to your local vet and discuss flushing the tear ducts (this is fairly easy to do but many rabbits need mild sedation for this procedure) or start him on different eye drops. Your vet may want to send off a swab from the eyes to external laboratory to find out what type of antibiotic would be best to use.

Probably not. The tear film and constant flushing of the eyes with tears should wash away any infection from simply touching a gross thing. If Zoe starts squinting or having eye discharge, it would be best to have her evaluated by a vet.

Yes! Holiday definitely needs medical care ASAP! I can’t see the eye in the picture but there appears to be raw, likely infected skin cranial to the eyes, possibly draining discharge from an eye infection (hard to see the eye in this picture). Holiday could benefit from sedation, very careful clipping of the crusted fur on his face, cleaning of the raw skin with chlorhexidine, a topical antibiotic /steroid ointment for the skin +/- injectable Baytril, likely ophthalmic antibiotics for the eye and an e-collar to prevent scratching and further injury. Holiday is very cute…best wishes for a quick recovery!

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Respiratory infections can be either viral, bacterial or a bacterial infection secondary to a viral infection. If you have a large number of rabbits that are all inbreeding, they will have weaker immune systems and will pass these viruses around, which will lead to a group of very weak and sick bunnies. They get it by being around one another and breathing in the same air. Viruses are floating around in the environment, so unless you had each bunny individually housed, with different air venting to each one (like a research lab) then your bunnies will all be exposed. Bacteria spreads similarly. Signs of respiratory disease/infections include trouble breathing, inappetance, weight loss, decreased energy, poor hair coat, and death. You can prevent it by cleaning out your house, getting well and genetic diverse bunnies that are not allowed to inbreed (making sure they are spayed/neutered), and having the bunnies all vaccinated. Keeping the environment clean is very important as well. Best of luck with your bunnies.