Pasteurellosis ("snuffles") is the most common bacterial disease in domestic rabbits — caused by Pasteurella multocida and showing up as sneezing, white nasal discharge, watery eyes, head tilt, or skin abscesses. Surveys of pet rabbit colonies have found Pasteurella in the nasal passages of roughly 30 to 60 percent of clinically healthy rabbits (Oglesbee & Lord, 2010, JEPM). Stress, dental disease, and poor ventilation turn carriers into sick rabbits.
Last reviewed: May 2026
What Pasteurellosis Actually Is
Pasteurella multocida is a common nasal bacterium of rabbits. Many rabbits carry it without obvious illness; some develop chronic, flare-and-quiet infections of the upper respiratory tract, middle ear, eyes, joints, reproductive tract, or under the skin (abscesses). The classic "snuffles" presentation is sneezing and white nasal discharge that mats the front paws (rabbits wipe their noses with their paws — matted forepaws are a giveaway). Severe infection can extend into the lungs (pasteurellosis pneumonia) or the inner ear (causing a sudden head tilt).
The Signs Rabbit Owners Notice
Early disease looks like an "off" rabbit: less hay eaten than usual, fewer fecal pellets in the litter box, and a quieter, less active rabbit. Specific signs include sneezing fits, white-to-creamy nasal discharge, matted fur on the inside of the front legs, watery or sticky-eye discharge, conjunctivitis, audible breathing sounds at rest, head tilt or rolling (inner-ear involvement), warm swollen lumps under the skin (abscesses), and reduced appetite. The Quesenberry & Carpenter exotic animal medicine textbook emphasizes that any reduced appetite in a rabbit is an emergency-adjacent sign because rabbit GI motility shuts down quickly when calories drop.
Why the GI Connection Matters
A rabbit who stops eating because of pasteurellosis can develop GI stasis — a near-complete shutdown of the gut — within 12 to 24 hours. Treating the respiratory infection without addressing the gut is a frequent failure point. Pain control follows rabbit-specific evidence: studies show that NSAIDs (meloxicam at rabbit-specific doses) and prokinetic support during illness substantially improve survival (Benato et al., 2019, JSAP).
How Vets Diagnose Pasteurellosis
Diagnosis is a combination of clinical signs, deep nasal or eye swab cultures (Pasteurella does not always grow on superficial swabs, so deeper sampling is more reliable), skull or chest x-rays to assess sinus, dental, and lung involvement, and sometimes blood work and PCR. The AEMV Pet Care Guides, 2024 emphasize that "snuffles" is a syndrome with many possible causes — dental abscesses, foreign bodies, allergies, environmental ammonia — and Pasteurella is only confirmed by culture or PCR rather than assumed from signs.
Treatment That Actually Works
Pasteurellosis is not "cured" the way a strep throat is — even with full treatment, most rabbits remain carriers and can flare under stress. Treatment goals are to control symptoms, prevent complications, and extend symptom-free periods. Antibiotics: long-term (often 4 to 8 weeks) courses of rabbit-safe antibiotics like enrofloxacin, trimethoprim-sulfa, azithromycin, or chloramphenicol; never penicillin or amoxicillin orally, which kill the rabbit's gut microbiome and can be fatal. Supportive care: high-quality grass hay free choice, syringe-feeding of critical care formula if eating drops, subcutaneous fluids if dehydrated, and an environment with low ammonia, no smoke, and good ventilation. Abscesses are typically surgically removed (rabbit abscesses contain thick caseous pus that drainage alone cannot clear).
Prevention: Husbandry First
The biggest single factor in keeping Pasteurella under control is excellent husbandry. Keep ammonia low (clean the litter box at least daily — ammonia damages the nasal lining and lets bacteria invade), avoid overcrowding, quarantine new rabbits for 30 days, provide unlimited grass hay (which keeps dental wear correct and prevents nasal involvement from tooth-root infections), and minimize stress (predator-free, quiet space, consistent routines). Vaccination is not part of the standard companion-rabbit toolkit in the US.
When to See a Vet
Call your vet today if:
- Sneezing with white or yellow nasal discharge for more than 24 hours
- Matted fur on the inside of the front legs (the rabbit is wiping its nose)
- Watery, sticky, or discharging eyes
- Reduced hay intake or fewer fecal pellets in the litter box
- A new firm swelling under the skin or jaw
Go to the ER immediately if:
- A rabbit that has not eaten for more than 12 hours
- No fecal pellets for more than 12 to 18 hours
- Sudden head tilt, rolling, or inability to stand
- Open-mouth breathing or severe respiratory distress
- Collapse, weakness, or seizures
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much does pasteurellosis treatment cost?
A first vet visit for a rabbit with snuffles — exam, deep nasal culture, x-rays, and a starter antibiotic — typically runs $250 to $600 at a rabbit-experienced vet, with antibiotics adding $30 to $80 per month for ongoing treatment. Severe cases with head tilt, pneumonia, or large abscesses may require hospitalization, surgery, and 6 to 12 weeks of medication, totaling $1,200 to $3,500. Long-term carriers may need 2 to 4 vet visits per year for flare management.
Can pasteurellosis spread to other rabbits or to people?
Yes between rabbits and yes occasionally to other animals; rarely to people. Pasteurella multocida is transmitted between rabbits through respiratory droplets, direct contact, and shared bedding or food bowls. Infected mothers can transmit it to kits during birth. Human infections (usually skin or wound infections after a bite or scratch) do occur but are uncommon in healthy adults. Standard handwashing and avoiding face-to-face contact with a snuffly rabbit is enough.
Why can't I use amoxicillin on my rabbit?
Penicillin-class antibiotics given orally to rabbits kill the helpful gram-positive gut bacteria and allow overgrowth of Clostridium species, which release toxins that cause severe diarrhea and death. Even short oral courses of amoxicillin or penicillin can be fatal in rabbits. Penicillin can sometimes be given by injection under careful veterinary supervision, but oral penicillins are essentially banned in rabbits.
Will my rabbit ever be "cured" of Pasteurella?
Usually not in the strict sense. Most rabbits remain carriers for life, with the bacteria lying low in the back of the nasal passages and flaring under stress. The realistic goal is excellent control: long stretches without symptoms, good appetite, stable weight, and prompt treatment when a flare begins. With good husbandry many rabbits live full, comfortable lives despite being chronic carriers.
My rabbit has a head tilt — is it pasteurellosis or something else?
It can be either Pasteurella inner-ear infection or Encephalitozoon cuniculi, a protozoal disease that also causes head tilt. Both need same-day evaluation. Vets distinguish them with serology for E. cuniculi, otoscopic exam of the ear, skull imaging, and response to empiric therapy. Sometimes both are present together. The longer head tilt goes untreated, the harder it is to reverse.
Still Not Sure if Your Rabbit Needs a Vet?
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