MinDearie
Member
- Joined
- Jun 21, 2017
- Messages
- 14
- Reaction score
- 12
Hello All,
Im hoping to document my buns fight with an upper respiratory infection here. Feel free to move the thread if this isnt the appropriate place. Sorry, Im new!
I have two buns, Trick (black bun) and Treat (orange bun)! Having brought them home at about 8 weeks of age, Trick started having sneezing fits right away. I took the pair to the vet the next day. Treat got a clean bill of health, but Ive been monitoring him closely in case he starts up with any discharge or sneezing (all clear so far!). Trick sounded a bit raspy upon a closer listen by the vet, and had matted paws and white nasal discharge. He was prescribed Trimethoprim Sulfa (cherry flavored, mmm!). 0.2ml twice daily for 10 days orally via syringe.
I noticed a sliiiight improvement with the sneezing fits halfway through treatment (maybe just wishful thinking though), but by the end of the 10 days he was back to square one. Trick was brought back to the vet, and it looks like this is still a URI. Im so happy pneumonia hasnt set in! Now hes on Azithromycin (200mg/5ml and yuck flavored!). 0.08ml once daily for 10 days orally via syringe. Its too early for me to tell if its working as today is only day 3. It smells so gross though, I feel bad giving it to him!
To rule out allergies, our vet suggested I change their carefresh bedding to fleece. I was worried that this would mess up their litter training, but were doing what we have to! Tricks sneezing doesnt seem to be affected by this change though, so I think we can rule bedding allergies out. Ill keep moving forward with the fleece though. Just in case!
Being a worried bunny momma, Ive been adding Bene-Bac probiotic powder to their pellets, so the antibiotics dont completely destroy Tricks gut flora. Ive also been smudging some VetRx Rabbit Remedy (a gentle premixed combo of essential oils to alleviate [not cure] snuffle symptoms) around his nostrils twice daily (and after particularly long sneezing fits). Im not sure if the VetRx is actually doing much, but the oily substance does seem to combat further matting of his fur, making it much easier to clean with a wet cloth. The scent of the VetRx reminds me of Vicks VapoRub. He does have a small rock-hard patch of matted fur outside each nostril though. Not sure how Im going to get that off! I'm afraid to soak them too long as he doesn't want to sit still for that.
Any suggestions for softening these?
Im keeping an eye on his appetite, as it sounds like Azithromycin sometimes messes with that So far hes eating and drinking just fine (not one to share the leafy greens with his brother)! I even bought a cheap WiFi camera so I can check on if hes eating during the day while Im at work (has been caught in the act!).
Apart from being sick, Trick seems pretty happy. He spreads out to lounge and naps quite often, and Ive even caught him happily clicking his teeth while he lounges (not grinding). He tries to keep up with this mega-hyper brothers binkies, but has to rest more often.
Fingers crossed that this antibiotic resolves the issue! I was hoping to have both Trick and Treat neutered at the same time. My vet suggests doing this as early as 12 weeks (for healthy buns). But Im thinking we may have to push this out if Trick doesnt get better soon.
Well, thats all I have to report! Ill try to keep this thread updated as we go along. If anyone has any further suggestions on what I can be doing to help Trick feel better, please let me know!
Im hoping to document my buns fight with an upper respiratory infection here. Feel free to move the thread if this isnt the appropriate place. Sorry, Im new!
I have two buns, Trick (black bun) and Treat (orange bun)! Having brought them home at about 8 weeks of age, Trick started having sneezing fits right away. I took the pair to the vet the next day. Treat got a clean bill of health, but Ive been monitoring him closely in case he starts up with any discharge or sneezing (all clear so far!). Trick sounded a bit raspy upon a closer listen by the vet, and had matted paws and white nasal discharge. He was prescribed Trimethoprim Sulfa (cherry flavored, mmm!). 0.2ml twice daily for 10 days orally via syringe.
I noticed a sliiiight improvement with the sneezing fits halfway through treatment (maybe just wishful thinking though), but by the end of the 10 days he was back to square one. Trick was brought back to the vet, and it looks like this is still a URI. Im so happy pneumonia hasnt set in! Now hes on Azithromycin (200mg/5ml and yuck flavored!). 0.08ml once daily for 10 days orally via syringe. Its too early for me to tell if its working as today is only day 3. It smells so gross though, I feel bad giving it to him!
To rule out allergies, our vet suggested I change their carefresh bedding to fleece. I was worried that this would mess up their litter training, but were doing what we have to! Tricks sneezing doesnt seem to be affected by this change though, so I think we can rule bedding allergies out. Ill keep moving forward with the fleece though. Just in case!
Being a worried bunny momma, Ive been adding Bene-Bac probiotic powder to their pellets, so the antibiotics dont completely destroy Tricks gut flora. Ive also been smudging some VetRx Rabbit Remedy (a gentle premixed combo of essential oils to alleviate [not cure] snuffle symptoms) around his nostrils twice daily (and after particularly long sneezing fits). Im not sure if the VetRx is actually doing much, but the oily substance does seem to combat further matting of his fur, making it much easier to clean with a wet cloth. The scent of the VetRx reminds me of Vicks VapoRub. He does have a small rock-hard patch of matted fur outside each nostril though. Not sure how Im going to get that off! I'm afraid to soak them too long as he doesn't want to sit still for that.
Any suggestions for softening these?
Im keeping an eye on his appetite, as it sounds like Azithromycin sometimes messes with that So far hes eating and drinking just fine (not one to share the leafy greens with his brother)! I even bought a cheap WiFi camera so I can check on if hes eating during the day while Im at work (has been caught in the act!).
Apart from being sick, Trick seems pretty happy. He spreads out to lounge and naps quite often, and Ive even caught him happily clicking his teeth while he lounges (not grinding). He tries to keep up with this mega-hyper brothers binkies, but has to rest more often.
Fingers crossed that this antibiotic resolves the issue! I was hoping to have both Trick and Treat neutered at the same time. My vet suggests doing this as early as 12 weeks (for healthy buns). But Im thinking we may have to push this out if Trick doesnt get better soon.
Well, thats all I have to report! Ill try to keep this thread updated as we go along. If anyone has any further suggestions on what I can be doing to help Trick feel better, please let me know!