Possible myxomatosis bunny - treatment options?

RE: Possible myxomatosis bunny - treatment options?

Emily Rainbow — Tue, 01 Nov 2016 09:28:41 GMT

Ive not used it personally this one I've got this one on some bisolvon.

RE: Possible myxomatosis bunny - treatment options?

Aine Seavers — Tue, 01 Nov 2016 01:28:00 GMT

Have you used acetylcysteine/mucomyst in these congested rabbits?

RE: Possible myxomatosis bunny - treatment options?

Braden Collins — Mon, 31 Oct 2016 21:21:23 GMT

I've had some survive with good nursing care. Fluids, syringe feeding and ointment to protect the cornea. Some have ended up with permanent eyelid scarring which needed managing as well.

RE: Possible myxomatosis bunny - treatment options?

Robin Grimmer — Mon, 31 Oct 2016 20:30:24 GMT

I've never seen a full blown case of myxie recover. Just goes to show that for all this concern over VHD2 Myxie remains a much more important threat.

I did have one very interesting case in a rabbit which had been vaccinated with the old Nobivac Myxo before the VHD vaccine was available. This rabbit developed all these strange ulcerating skin lesions and I biopsied one and it was cutaneous myxie. The rabbit didn't develop any systemic signs and made a full recovery. The thinking was that it had systemic immunity but no dermal immunity. AIRC you were supposed to give some of the vaccine intra dermally (which is pretty hard to do) so it would appear that the vaccine went all sub cut hence why the rabbit developed only dermal signs.

RE: Possible myxomatosis bunny - treatment options?

Christina Smith — Mon, 31 Oct 2016 20:30:11 GMT

I had one recover, high dose penicillin by injection daily and tlc. I don't usually treat it

RE: Possible myxomatosis bunny - treatment options?

Martin Atkinson — Mon, 31 Oct 2016 18:05:13 GMT

I have seen the odd rabbit recover but it was down to the nursing as much as anything. IME the prognosis depends on how depressed they are at the time: eating, drinking etc and yours didn't sound too bad. Choice of antibiotic is empirical as it is a viral disease unless you get a culture on the secondary bacterial infection. I do think vaccinating an in-contact rabbit is a waste of resources though. Maybe try some steam inhalation and Bisolvon.

RE: Possible myxomatosis bunny - treatment options?

Bob Russell — Mon, 31 Oct 2016 17:59:17 GMT

My default position on myxomatosis is that when it is pretty much confirmed, it is pretty much time to call a halt.

Survivors are few and far between and considering the pathology that goes on in the body, welfare issues generally take priority.

If they are reasonably well, especially if there is some vaccination history in the past, I may continue nursing based care but prognosis is pretty dreadful!

Antibiotics may help but in my experience the infections tend to be overwhelming. Treatment sounds completely appropriate but managing expectations of owners is important.

It amazes me however much we spout on about vaccination, rabbit owners don't listen. It becomes such a big deal when they get infected by which time it is usually too late!