![]() Before culture results are known, obtain a gram stain of the infected area to potentially identify the organism. In rabbits, it is common to attribute all infections to Pasteurella multocida but numerous species of bacteria are cultured routinely from rabbits. ![]() Is this because the rabbit recently developed upper respiratory bacterial disease or because a chronic pasteurellosis infection is only now becoming apparent? Determination of acute or chronic bacterial disease is imperative as this dictates prognosis, treatment length, and choice of antibiotic. For example, a pet rabbit exhibits signs of "snuffles" at age three. In rabbits, one must determine if the bacterial disease is the result of an acute infection or an acute manifestation of a chronic infection. One must consider where are those other sites and therefore, what other organ systems are involved? Treating a jaw abscess without recognizing that this is not an isolated event will probably lead to antibiotic treatment failure. Jaw abscesses are frequently due to organisms that travel from other sites. Yet, very few jaw abscesses are caused by puncture wounds to the face. For example, jaw abscesses in rabbits are common. It may not be apparent if the site of infection is primary or secondary. Is the antibiotic safe for rabbits and rodents?īefore an antibiotic is chosen, identify the organ system involved. What is the dose and route of administration of that antibiotic?ħ. How much antibiotic is needed at the infection site?Ħ. What antibiotic is best against that pathogen?ĥ. What is the most likely pathogen at the infection site?Ĥ. There are seven questions to consider before empirical antibiotic treatment begins in a ferrets and rabbits:ģ. To accomplish this, choose drugs that are effective against aerobic, anaerobic, gram positive and gram negative organisms. Whenever antibiotics are used empirically, consider four-quadrant coverage. Institute empirical antibiotic treatment if a culture cannot be obtained or before results are known. Choose the antibiotic based on those results. Ideally, before instituting antibiotics, obtain a culture and a minimum database. For example, amoxicillin, a benign drug in most animals, can cause a fatal enterotoxemia in rabbits. An important difference to consider is that there are fewer safe antibiotics to use in rabbits than there are in dogs and cats. The principles of antibiotic use in dogs and cats apply similarly to ferrets and rabbits. It is therefore not surprising if antibiotic treatment failure occurs in these patients when the very basics of antibiotic administration are unknown. Veterinarians who treat ferrets and rabbits must rely largely on empirical data and anecdotal information when using antibiotics in these animals. There are no drug company brochures guiding veterinarians as to the indications of certain antibiotics in ferrets and rabbits. Veterinarians do not have studies directing them to either dose or length of treatment or frequency of administration of antibiotics in ferrets and rabbits. Although, this does not change the fact that antibiotics are important medications for ferrets and rabbits, it is best that owners be informed of this information.Īn important consequence of the lack studies to gain approval is that there are few pharmacokinetic investigations of antibiotics in ferrets and rabbits. It is likely owners of these animals do not realize the antibiotics they are giving to their small mammal pets are not approved for their pets. Presently, there are no antibiotics approved by the FDA in the United States for the small mammal pets classified as minor species. Importantly, not one single dose of any of these antibiotics is approved for the animals that are receiving the medication. Thousands of doses of antibiotics are dispensed each year for ferrets and rabbits.
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