Rabbit Antibiotic

A majority of rabbit owners at some point come across the statement that their rabbit should never be given antibiotics or antibiotics can be fatal to a rabbit. As a matter of fact some drugs can have grave side effects whereas other drugs are exceptionally beneficial to the health of the animal. It is imperative as a dependable pet owner to be sentient of some of the drugs that your rabbit should not be administered with.

Why Antibiotics are Unsafe for Rabbits?

An evaluation of rabbit bodily processes helps us to comprehend why antibiotic use in rabbits is linked with risk. Rabbits have an atypical digestive system, inhabited by a variety of crucial microorganisms that work together to digest food. The balance of microorganisms in the digestive system is influenced by various factors, including diet and at times medications. Adverse affects of some antibiotics are seen on intestinal flora of rabbits. Beneficial bacteria are killed and resident pathogenic bacteria are given way. In case, pathogenic bacteria belong to certain strains, they will generate toxins that can slay the rabbit. As long as ten days can be taken by this process after the treatment is over. It can make the actual cause of problem ambiguous to the vet not acquainted with rabbits. Before antibiotics come up in full flare of their hazards, you rabbit will appear normal up to 1-2 days.

Effects of Rabbit Antibiotics

Before the attack of antibiotics, your rabbit will have loss of appetite, reduced movement, rapid dehydration, watery diarrhea and can eventually die.

Unsafe Antibiotics for Rabbits

The antibiotics along with some other drugs that should be completely avoided to be given to your rabbit are-

• Penicillin : It upsets the gut flora (micro-organisms living in the intestines) which results in an overgrowth of the bacteria Clostridia. Species of these bacteria produce toxins which lead to serious health conditions.
• Amoxicillin : After oral administration, it causes diarrhea.
• Clindamycin : It causes 50 to 100% lethal enteritis depending on the dosage given.
• Cephalexin : It causes diarrhea after oral administration.
• Lincomycin : It results in 30 to 100% fatal enteritis that depends on the dosage.
• Minocyclin : It results in reduction of growth rate.
• Vancomycin : It causes acute toxicity with 100% mortality.
• Ampicillin : It results in 40 to 100% deadly enteritis which depends on the dosage given.
• Spectinomycin : It leads to diarrhea.
• Tylosin : It also causes diarrhea.
• Tilmicosin : Grave adverse reaction has been noted.
• Erythromycin : It causes diarrhea.
• Spiramycin
• Fipronil (Frontline)

Safe Antibiotics for Rabbits

It is not the scenario that the antibiotics only cause some or the other harm to your pet rabbit. There are plenty of antibiotics available in the markets that are safe for your rabbit. At the same time it should be kept in mind that none of the antibiotics should be given to your rabbit without the consultation and prescription of a qualified veterinarian. Antibiotics recommended to be safe for rabbits include Azithromycin, Amikacin, Amoxicillin (it should never be given orally as mentioned above, it should only be injected), Bicillin (in units), Chloramphenicol, Ciprofloxacin, Cephalexin (it should only be injected), Chlortetracycline, Danofloxacine and Clopidol.

Steps to Minimize Negative Effects of Antibiotics

Take your rabbit always to a vet well-versed in rabbit medicine. The best way to decide the type of antibiotic which will be most successful against an infection is to take a sample of infected tissue and send it for culture and sensitivity testing to a laboratory. Perform aerobic and anaerobic bacterial tests to determine effective medications.

There are much more chances to cause harmful effects to gut bacteria by antibiotics that are given orally than antibiotics that are injected. Thus, the use of rabbit antibiotic supplemented foodstuffs that have proved to produce no harmful results, particularly among breeding stock but which assist in reducing mortality are to be recommended. Seek medication for your rabbit only from the vet who is an expert of rabbits.