Pasteurella multocida is the bacterium behind 'snuffles' in rabbits — nasal discharge, eye discharge, head tilt, abscesses, or pneumonia. It's not curable in most cases; the goal is suppression with long courses (4 to 6+ weeks) of culture-guided antibiotics plus environmental and stress management. Common first-line antibiotics include enrofloxacin or trimethoprim-sulfa, but resistance is common — culture and sensitivity often guide the choice.
Last reviewed: May 2026
Why Pasteurella Is So Stubborn
Pasteurella multocida is carried subclinically by a large share of pet rabbits — surveys put carriage rates around 30 to 70 percent. Most rabbits never show signs; disease appears when stress, poor husbandry, dental disease, or another illness allows the bacterium to overgrow. Because the organism lives in nasal sinuses, middle ears, and lungs, antibiotics often need 4 to 6+ weeks to penetrate effectively. Stopping early almost guarantees relapse.
Clinical Forms
Snuffles (upper respiratory infection) is the most-recognized form: sneezing, white-to-yellow nasal discharge, matted fur on the front paws from wiping, and watery eyes. Lower respiratory infection (pneumonia) causes increased respiratory rate, open-mouth breathing, and lethargy. Inner-ear involvement causes head tilt. Subcutaneous abscesses appear as firm, painful lumps that don't resolve with oral antibiotics alone. Genital infections occur in breeding rabbits.
Culture and Sensitivity First
Empirical antibiotic choice often fails because of resistance. The current standard is to swab the deep nasal passages or aspirate an abscess, send for culture and sensitivity, and base antibiotic selection on results. Enrofloxacin (Baytril), trimethoprim-sulfa, and azithromycin are common starting choices; chloramphenicol and penicillin G (NOT oral — only injectable in rabbits) are used for resistant cases. Per the framework in the AEMV Pet Care Guides, 2024, oral penicillin and amoxicillin are dangerous in rabbits because they kill protective gut flora — never use them orally.
Surgical and Adjunctive Care
Abscesses need surgical debridement; rabbit pus is thick and antibiotics cannot reach it through the capsule. Surgeons often pack the wound with antibiotic-impregnated beads. Nebulization with saline (and sometimes antibiotics like gentamicin) thins nasal secretions. Pain control (meloxicam) supports recovery. Dental disease (overgrown molars, tooth-root abscesses) is a common driver of chronic pasteurella and needs concurrent treatment.
Long-Term Management
Many rabbits with chronic pasteurella stabilize on 4 to 6 weeks of antibiotics plus environmental management — clean low-dust bedding (avoid pine and cedar), reduced overcrowding, good ventilation, and stress reduction. Some need lifelong prophylactic antibiotics. Vaccines are not commercially available. Recurrent flares are common; owners learn to recognize early signs and treat promptly.
Cost of Treatment
Exotic-vet exam runs $75 to $200, culture and sensitivity costs $80 to $200, and skull x-rays are $150 to $400. A 4- to 6-week antibiotic course typically costs $40 to $150 depending on the drug. Abscess surgery runs $300 to $1,500 depending on size and location. Hospitalization for pneumonia is $500 to $1,500 a day. Catching a flare early during an outpatient visit is dramatically cheaper than emergency hospitalization for pneumonia.
When to See a Vet
Call your vet today if:
- Sneezing with thick nasal discharge for more than 3 days
- Matted fur on the front paws or chest from wiping eyes/nose
- Swollen lump anywhere on the face or body that does not resolve in a week
- Head tilt, balance loss, or eye discharge
- Reduced appetite or weight loss in a rabbit with respiratory signs
Go to the ER immediately if:
- Open-mouth breathing, mouth breathing, or visible respiratory distress
- Lethargy plus refusal to eat for more than 12 hours
- Sudden head tilt with rolling or severe balance loss
- Pale gums, collapse, or unresponsiveness
- Severe facial abscess with eye involvement or trouble eating
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can pasteurella be cured?
Rarely. In most rabbits, treatment suppresses signs and the bacteria persist subclinically. Some rabbits with mild early disease do clear it after 6 to 8 weeks of culture-guided antibiotics. Long-term, the goal is preventing flares by managing stress, dental health, ventilation, and overall husbandry.
How much does treating pasteurella cost?
Initial exotic-vet exam runs $75 to $200, culture and sensitivity $80 to $200, x-rays $150 to $400, and a 4- to 6-week antibiotic course $40 to $150. Total for outpatient management is typically $400 to $1,000. Abscess surgery adds $300 to $1,500. Hospitalization for pneumonia is $500 to $1,500 per day. Pneumonia treatment can total $2,000 to $5,000 in severe cases.
Why can't I give my rabbit amoxicillin?
Oral penicillin-class antibiotics (amoxicillin, ampicillin, oral penicillin) kill the helpful gut bacteria rabbits need for digestion, leading to fatal Clostridium overgrowth and severe diarrhea within days. Injectable penicillin G is sometimes used carefully for specific infections, but oral penicillins are absolutely contraindicated in rabbits.
Will all my rabbits get sick if one has pasteurella?
Possibly. Pasteurella spreads through nasal secretions and direct contact. Co-housed rabbits should be considered exposed even if not yet showing signs. Most won't develop active disease unless stressed, but a thorough vet check and good husbandry for all rabbits in the household is recommended.
How can I tell early when my rabbit's pasteurella is flaring up?
Subtle signs first: a few more sneezes than usual, slightly damp fur around the nose, reduced grooming, sleeping more, eating slightly less hay. Owners who weigh their rabbits weekly catch flares 1 to 2 weeks earlier than those who wait for visible discharge. Treating an early flare for 2 to 3 weeks is far easier than treating an established pneumonia.
Still Not Sure if Your Rabbit Needs a Vet?
When you're not sure if this is wait-and-see or call-tonight, Voyage AI Vet triages in under 2 minutes. Describe what you're seeing in chat, share photos of any nasal or eye discharge, matted front paws, and a wider photo to show breathing pattern, or hop on a live video call if you want a second pair of eyes. Every answer comes with citations to the actual veterinary literature it's pulling from — so you see exactly where the guidance comes from, not just a chatbot's word.