Can rabbit snuffles spread? What causes red or bloody rabbit urine?

Pasteurellosis (snuffles) is a contagious disease transmitted by contact or by air. In fact, some rabbits will carry the pathogen without showing clinical signs. Accordingly, it is likely that, if this is Pasteurella then Flower and Nia have the same disease. Since Pasteurella can cause septicemia which may result in sudden death, it is important that you have Flower and Nia seen by your veterinarian. I am not sure what antibiotic you have on hand but 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 Flower and Nia, diagnose what is going on and recommend appropriate treatment.

Snuffles in rabbits is caused by a bacteria called pasturella. The majority of pet rabbits carry this in their lungs and it is in times when the immune system is stressed that it tends to cause disease. Such as concurrent illness, surgery, age etc. For whatever reason the sick rabbit has developed snuggles, however, its friends likely already have the bacteria but are strong enough for it not to manifest as disease. I would avoid treating them uneccesarily as you could encourage resistance. Be vigilant with them though. To definitively know what infection your rabbit has it would have to be tested.

The first thing I would want to find is if the urine really has blood in it. Rabbit's urine can often look like it has blood in it, because they excrete a certain pigment (porphyrins) in the urine. This can be due to a diet high in carotenoids (carrots, mango, papaya, other orange fruits and vegetables) and stress. Blood in urine can also be a sign of infection. The best thing you can do is get the urine tested by a veterinarian. If Thunder otherwise seems fine, then it would be OK to wait a day or two and see if the urine does not look like it has blood anymore. Keep in mind that a rabbit's diet should be mostly grass and hay. Fruits and vegetables should be less than 10% of their diet. Also make sure that Thunder has a bowl of clean water available at all times.

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!

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!

These signs might be compatible with a urinary tract infection/inflammation. These signs must be checked as soon as possible as urinary tract infection can be dangerous in rabbits as can lead to stress and degenerate to more systemic signs. 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!

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.