Nargle
Member
I believe that Butternut had(has?) Snuffles. She was sneezing and had thick white discharge from her nose, so we took her to the vet and he prescribed her antibiotics. After she finished with the antibiotics, she hasn't had any nasal discharge and seems to be healthy again.
However, from what I've read, you can't actually cure snuffles, and it will stay in their system forever, and that they will become non-symptomatic carriers that can still infect other rabbits? Does this mean that if I were to get another pet bunny, they would never be able to come in contact with Butternut without catching snuffles? Is there any way to prevent any future rabbits from catching it?
Also I've read that all rabbits carry it in their nasal passages, but they don't get sick from it unless they have a weakened immune system, caused by stress or malnutrition etc. Is this true? So all rabbits carry the bacteria? Does that mean that if you had a rabbit with a strong immune system, it wouldn't develop symptoms even if it was exposed to a rabbit that was symptomatic?
Also, if I were to try to keep another rabbit separate from Butternut, what kind of precautions would be necessary to prevent contamination of the other rabbit? Is washing my hands after handling Butternut sufficient? Or can I carry in the bacteria on my clothing too?
However, from what I've read, you can't actually cure snuffles, and it will stay in their system forever, and that they will become non-symptomatic carriers that can still infect other rabbits? Does this mean that if I were to get another pet bunny, they would never be able to come in contact with Butternut without catching snuffles? Is there any way to prevent any future rabbits from catching it?
Also I've read that all rabbits carry it in their nasal passages, but they don't get sick from it unless they have a weakened immune system, caused by stress or malnutrition etc. Is this true? So all rabbits carry the bacteria? Does that mean that if you had a rabbit with a strong immune system, it wouldn't develop symptoms even if it was exposed to a rabbit that was symptomatic?
Also, if I were to try to keep another rabbit separate from Butternut, what kind of precautions would be necessary to prevent contamination of the other rabbit? Is washing my hands after handling Butternut sufficient? Or can I carry in the bacteria on my clothing too?