My rabbit has damp eyes and nose. Is it snuffles or conjunctivitis?

Hello! A wet nose in a rabbit usually indicates nasal discharge. Nasal discharge can result from allergy, inflammation, or infection of the nasal passages or even from an infected tooth root. It is very common for rabbits to carry a bacteria called Pasteurella (often referred to as “snuffles”). This bacteria can flare up in times of stress. Most rabbits have at least been exposed to this bacteria, and there are also other bacteria and viruses that could cause similar respiratory illness. The best thing to do for Buddy would be to have him examined by your local vet who can assess the discharge and Buddys breathing and teeth. the vet may recommend blood work, X-rays, or even a CT scan of his head since that will give the best information about the nose and terth. Remember that an oral exam in an awake rabbit is fairly insensitive to disease and any root disease is not visible except with X-rays for a CT scan. Since rabbits can only breath through their nose, it’s important to get this evaluated while Buddy is doing well, since potential profession of disease could be serious. Good luck to you and Buddy!

Separate him for now just in case it is infectious. Snuffles is extremely contagious. Have Ollie examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating rabbits. A culture of the discharge can be collected and submitted for culture to identify the bacteria responsible for snuffles (Pasteurella spp or Staphylococcus spp). Treatment can be administered as indicated.

As with any infection, the sooner treatment is administered, the sooner the eye will recover. Mild cases of snuffles may resolve without treatment. It can also lead to more serious infection if not treated promptly. It is also very contagious, so if you have other rabbits, it is best to quarantine Lola. Do your best to get Lola seen by your veterinarian as soon as you can. If your vet cannot see her, consider a different veterinary clinic just this once. You can read more about the condition here: http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=18 1803

It certainly sounds like snuffles (Pasteurellosis) but it is impossible to know for sure without seeing Kookie. Since Pasteurella can cause septicemia which may result in sudden death, it is important that you have Kookie seen by your veterinarian. Antibiotic treatment is often difficult and needs to continue for 6-8 weeks. Also, many antibiotics are ineffective against this disease because of an increase in resistant strains. Culture and sensitivity testing is therefore recommended to determine the best antibiotic to use. Keep in mind that there are other infectious diseases that can cause the same or similar clinical signs including some viral diseases. Your veterinarian will be able to examine Kookie, diagnose what is going on and recommend appropriate treatment.

Hello, I am very sorry to hear about your rabbit. Rabbits are predisposed to bacterial upper respiratory infections. One of the more common causes is a bacteria called Pasturella, leading to an infection called "Snuffles". If left untreated this bacteria can lead to pneumonia. Rabbits are very sensitive animals and when they become ill they are often predisposed to developing GI problems such as GI stasis. To prevent secondary problems from developing I would recommend having your rabbit evaluated by a veterinarian so that they can perform an examination and evaluate the nasal discharge. Hope this helps, good luck!

Most of the signs you are describing could be compatible with an upper respiratory tract inflammation/infection or possibly to a rhinitis (inflammatory, allergic, infective). A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Antibiotics may be needed. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

Hello. Thank you for using PetCoach. It looks like Ruby has an upper respiratory infection called "snuffles". You need to get her to a vet for an exam and treatment. She will need antibiotics to get this clear up and to keep it from getting worse. Snuffles is caused by a very aggressive bacteria and it can be fatal. Be sure to take her to a vet that is used to treating rabbits. http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=18+1803&aid=2686 http://plantationcentreah.com/exotics-and-pocket-pets/ Hope this helps. Best wishes.