Pasteurella Multocida

Also known as Snuffles

Pasteurella multocida is a nasty little germ.  When a rabbit comes down with symptoms from this bacterium, the vet calls this disease Pasteurellosis, the general term used when the rabbit’s immune system has been overwhelmed with P. multocida.

The leading researchers believe that 100% of rabbits, or at least 100% of rabbitries, have been exposed to Pasteurella (Rabbit Production, Sixth Edition, pg 213). 

The germ is everywhere in the rabbit world; the best protection is boosting the overall health of the rabbits in your rabbitry.

This bacterium is the cause of the respiratory condition known as "snuffles." Snuffles actually describes a symptom, not exactly the illness.  Snuffles are paroxysms of head-jerking sneezing that occur on a fairly regular basis.  The symptom of snuffles is a result of Pasteurella multocida in approximately 90% of the cases. If your rabbit is sneezing, and you see ANY white sticky or clear runny snot in its nose, it’s not a cold, it is probably Pasteurella multocida.

(This picture of a snotty rabbit nose is published by Tufts University.)

I sure hate to be so gloomy about everything! 

But don't just take it from me, listen to the rabbit experts: "There’s no such thing as a ‘cold’ in rabbits," is the unequivocal statement in Rabbit Production (p. 213).  "Mucopurulent nasal discharges (pus) that many people attribute to colds are almost invariably caused by P. multocida in conjunction with another bacterium called Bordatella bronchisepticum. This is not a transient condition like a cold, but one with permanent adverse effects on the animal."

What about the 10% of sneezing cases that are not caused by Pasteurella? 

Bordetella, Pseudomonas, and Staphylococcus germs might also cause sneezing, as well as a small handful of other bugs. A veterinary diagnosis is a valuable tool.

Before we assume rabbit-sneezing is due to germs, check to ensure the rabbit is not sneezing from environmental causes:

• Feed dust sniffed by the rabbit - the sneeze will be short and dry
• Drinking water in the nose - the nose might be damp on the outside tip of the nose, and the sneeze will be brief.
• In the case of Pasteurella: The rabbit keeps on sneezing on and off, and you notice matting on the insides of the front legs from repeatedly wiping the white snot away with the front legs, and, you actually see white snot bubbles as the rabbit sneezes.
  
  

Is your rabbit sneezing? Click here for help determining whether or not the cause is Pasteurella bacteria.

A Whole Repertoire of Trouble
with Pasteurella multocida

Pasteurella ratchets up the hurt in lots of other ways too:

• Snuffles easily turns into Pneumonia
• Metritis - infection in doe’s womb
• Orchitis - infection in buck’s testicles
• Colds - there are no colds, only Pasteurella multocida (90% of the time)
• Wry Neck - middle or inner ear infection
• Weepy Eyes - eye infection closing off the tear ducts
• Body abscesses - marble-sized to golf-ball sized boils, filled with thick white cheesy pus
• Body ulcers - ulcerations, on skin, tongue, eyes, other locations
• Bone infections - frequently associated with infected teeth
• Infections in roots of teeth
• Death is the final 'symptom'

Visit the Long Beach Animal Hospital website for some pretty gruesome pictures of animals with Pasteurella, and some of the surgical procedures the sick rabbits undergo.

(This picture of wry neck is published on their website.)

Dogs and cats are often carriers of Pasteurella multocida, as well as other less common sub-species of Pasteurella. Besides dogs and cats, this bacterium can infect humans and a host of other animal species. It is found around the globe. Check this link for more information about Pasteurellosis in humans.

Most of the time there is no real cure for Pasteurella multocida in rabbits.  Antibiotics suppress the symptoms for the duration of the course of the antibiotics.  Immune system boosting supplements strengthen the rabbit’s health, and the symptoms go away.  However, at the next downturn of the immune system, it all comes right back again.

Pasteurella multocida in rabbits is widespread

Up to 100% of all domestic rabbits might be exposed to or even harboring Pasteurella multocida in their body, but not all of these rabbits are showing disease symptoms.  Many rabbits carry the germ, but are perfectly healthy. Their immune systems have tamed the bugs.

Some vets recognize the huge prevalence of rabbit exposure to Pasteurella bacteria, and no longer recommend culling the rabbit.  Instead, they suggest a treatment protocol.  What ends up happening is that the rabbit gets better... temporarily. And when the wind changes, and the antibiotics run out, it gets sick all over again.  And then it gets cranky, because it doesn’t feel good.

If this is your very favorite pet rabbit, you may indeed choose to try treating the Pasteurella multocida. And we completely understand. But please:

• Don’t use your sick pet for breeding.
• Don’t get another rabbit at the same time as you have a sick rabbit.
• Recognize that the rabbit will need medication for the rest of its life.  Will the continual vet bills take a toll on your allowance or your finances?
• Please don’t release your frustrations into the wild. This is illegal in many localities, and can result in epidemics of rabbit diseases (not to mention a free meal for coyotes).
  
  

It's okay to euthanize a sick rabbit:

• When you’re tired of the bills and have gotten up the nerve, put the sick rabbit out of its misery.
• Disinfect all your rabbit things.
• Vacuum and dust carefully
• Wash all your clothes
• After a month or two elapses, locate a reputable breeder of healthy rabbits (see All Rabbit Breeds for links, or go to https://arba.net/find-a-breeder-2/, or check our rabbit breeder listings), and obtain another favorite pet rabbit. Reputable breeders will guarantee the health of their rabbits for a period of time.  With a healthy, happy rabbit, you may get to enjoy it for up to 10 years or even more without ever having to run to the vet.

Why is culling important?

The prevalence of Pasteurella germs living inside domestic rabbits (whether or not there are symptoms) is close to 100%.

The idea behind culling our sick rabbits is not necessarily to reduce the prevalence of the germ, but to arrive at overall improved immunity to snuffles across the board in ALL domestic rabbits. Rabbits may always carry P. multocida, but with strong immune systems, far fewer of them would ever get sick.

And isn’t that what we really want - pet rabbits and breeding rabbits that never get sick??

Outwit Pasteurella through a careful breeding program that fixes HEALTH in every rabbit.

Visit our Pasteurellosis page to learn exactly how to
improve rabbit health in your own rabbitry.  

BunnyVac - a Pasteurella multocida
vaccine for rabbits in the USA

The BunnyVac might be the best news ever for pet rabbit owners!

The BunnyVac is designed and licensed by the USDA "for use in healthy rabbits as an aid in the prevention of pasteurellosis (snuffles)."

Off-label use as a therapeutic treatment of a sick pet rabbit is also possible, resulting in complete remission of symptoms in rabbits with adequate immune function. Yearly vaccine boosters are needed. Learn much more at BunnyVac.

(I don't recommend the vaccine for show rabbit breeders, who rely on excellent native immunity in their show rabbit stock.)