Pasteurellosis in Rabbits: Snuffles, Abscesses, and Other Signs

Quick Answer
  • Pasteurellosis is a bacterial infection, usually caused by *Pasteurella multocida*, that can affect a rabbit's nose, eyes, ears, lungs, skin, jaw, and internal organs.
  • Many pet parents first notice sneezing, white or yellow nasal discharge, matted fur on the front paws, or noisy breathing often called "snuffles."
  • Some rabbits develop deeper problems such as head tilt, tear duct issues, pneumonia, or firm abscesses around the face, jaw, or under the skin.
  • Diagnosis often involves an exam plus testing such as deep nasal culture, PCR, cytology, skull imaging, or abscess sampling because not every sneezy rabbit has pasteurellosis.
  • Treatment is often management rather than a one-time cure. Your vet may recommend antibiotics, pain control, flushing or surgery for abscesses, and supportive care.
Estimated cost: $120–$2,500

What Is Pasteurellosis in Rabbits?

Pasteurellosis is an infection caused most often by the bacterium Pasteurella multocida. In rabbits, it is best known for causing upper respiratory disease called snuffles, but it does not stay limited to the nose. The infection can also involve the eyes, tear ducts, middle ear, lungs, reproductive tract, skin, jaw, bones, and internal organs.

One tricky part is that some rabbits carry Pasteurella in their respiratory tract without looking sick. Stress, crowding, poor ventilation, other illness, dental disease, or a weakened immune response may allow the bacteria to flare into active disease. That is why one rabbit may only sneeze occasionally while another develops chronic discharge, pneumonia, or abscesses.

Pasteurellosis can be short-term, recurrent, or chronic. Some rabbits respond well to treatment and then relapse later. Others need long-term management. Because rabbits are obligate nasal breathers, even "mild" nasal disease can become more serious than it looks at first, especially if breathing becomes noisy or effortful.

Symptoms of Pasteurellosis in Rabbits

  • Sneezing or repeated snuffling sounds
  • White, yellow, or thick nasal discharge
  • Matted or crusted fur on the inside of the front paws from wiping the nose
  • Watery, sticky, or pus-like eye discharge
  • Noisy breathing, congestion, or open-mouth breathing
  • Reduced appetite, lower activity, or weight loss
  • Head tilt, balance problems, or ear scratching if the middle ear is involved
  • Firm lumps or abscesses under the skin, around the jaw, or behind the eye
  • Fever, lethargy, or signs of pneumonia

See your vet immediately if your rabbit has labored breathing, blue-tinged gums, stops eating, seems weak, or develops a sudden head tilt. Rabbits can decline quickly when breathing is affected. Even milder signs like sneezing with discharge or tear overflow deserve an appointment, because chronic infection, dental disease, and ear disease can look similar at home.

What Causes Pasteurellosis in Rabbits?

The usual cause is infection with Pasteurella multocida, a bacterium commonly associated with rabbit respiratory disease. It spreads through close contact, respiratory secretions, contaminated surfaces, and sometimes from a mother rabbit to kits early in life. Not every exposed rabbit becomes ill, and some remain carriers without obvious signs.

Disease is more likely when a rabbit is stressed or has another health issue. Common contributors include overcrowding, poor air quality, dusty bedding or hay, sudden environmental changes, dental disease affecting the tear ducts or sinuses, and other infections. Outdoor housing and contact with unfamiliar rabbits can also increase exposure risk.

It is also important to know that "snuffles" is a syndrome, not a single diagnosis. Other bacteria, dental root disease, foreign material in the nose, allergies or irritants, and ear disease can cause similar signs. That is why your vet may recommend testing instead of assuming every sneezy rabbit has pasteurellosis.

How Is Pasteurellosis in Rabbits Diagnosed?

Diagnosis starts with a careful history and physical exam. Your vet will look at the nose, eyes, ears, teeth, breathing pattern, body condition, and any swelling or abscesses. Because dental disease and tear duct problems can mimic or worsen pasteurellosis, the mouth and skull often need close attention.

Testing depends on the signs. For nasal disease, your vet may recommend a deep nasal culture collected under sedation or anesthesia, PCR testing, or cytology. Superficial swabs from the nostril can miss the true bacteria involved. If your rabbit has an abscess, your vet may sample the material for cytology and culture. Bloodwork may help assess overall health, especially in a sick rabbit.

Imaging is often useful in chronic or complicated cases. Skull radiographs or CT can help find tooth root disease, sinus involvement, middle ear disease, or bone changes. Chest radiographs may be recommended if pneumonia is a concern. In many rabbits, diagnosis is really a combination of exam findings, test results, and response to treatment rather than one single test.

Treatment Options for Pasteurellosis in Rabbits

Spectrum of Care means you have options. Here are treatment tiers at different price points.

Budget-Conscious Care

$120–$350
Best for: Mild upper respiratory signs in a stable rabbit when finances are limited and there is no breathing distress, major swelling, or neurologic sign.
  • Office exam with rabbit-savvy vet
  • Basic assessment of breathing, hydration, appetite, and weight
  • Empirical antibiotic trial chosen by your vet
  • Pain relief or anti-inflammatory medication if indicated
  • Home supportive care such as syringe feeding guidance, hydration support, and gentle cleaning of discharge
  • Recheck visit if signs are not resolving
Expected outcome: Fair for symptom control in mild cases. Some rabbits improve quickly, but relapse is common if the infection is chronic or another problem is driving the signs.
Consider: Lower upfront cost, but less diagnostic certainty. This approach may miss dental disease, resistant bacteria, ear involvement, or deeper abscesses.
Most Common

Recommended Standard Treatment

$350–$1,000
Best for: Most rabbits with persistent snuffles, eye discharge, recurrent symptoms, suspected abscesses, or reduced appetite.
  • Comprehensive exam and weight-based treatment plan
  • Deep nasal culture or PCR when appropriate
  • Abscess sampling if present
  • Targeted antibiotics based on likely cause or test results
  • Pain control and supportive feeding plan
  • Skull or chest radiographs if dental disease, pneumonia, or ear disease is suspected
  • Follow-up exam to adjust treatment
Expected outcome: Fair to good for control of uncomplicated respiratory disease; guarded if disease is chronic, recurrent, or linked to dental roots, pneumonia, or middle ear infection.
Consider: More complete and often more efficient than empirical care, but requires more testing and a higher initial cost range. Some rabbits still need long-term management.

Advanced / Critical Care

$1,000–$2,500
Best for: Rabbits with breathing distress, head tilt, severe weight loss, pneumonia, facial swelling, jaw abscesses, recurrent disease, or cases not improving with first-line care.
  • Hospitalization for oxygen, warming, fluids, and assisted feeding if needed
  • Advanced imaging such as CT or expanded radiographs
  • Sedated deep culture, full abscess workup, and broader lab testing
  • Surgical debridement, marsupialization, or removal of abscesses when feasible
  • Treatment of concurrent dental disease, tear duct disease, otitis media, or pneumonia
  • Intensive rechecks and long-term management planning
Expected outcome: Variable. Some rabbits do well with aggressive management, while others have a guarded long-term outlook because rabbit abscesses and chronic respiratory infections can recur.
Consider: Most thorough option and often necessary for complex disease, but it has the highest cost range and may involve anesthesia, surgery, and repeated follow-up.

Cost estimates as of 2026-03. Actual costs vary by location, clinic, and individual case.

Questions to Ask Your Vet About Pasteurellosis in Rabbits

Bring these questions to your vet appointment to get the most out of your visit.

  1. You can ask your vet whether my rabbit's signs fit pasteurellosis, dental disease, ear disease, or another cause of snuffles.
  2. You can ask your vet if a deep nasal culture, PCR, or abscess sample would change the treatment plan.
  3. You can ask your vet whether my rabbit needs skull or chest imaging to look for tooth root disease, pneumonia, or middle ear infection.
  4. You can ask your vet what warning signs mean I should seek urgent care, especially around breathing, appetite, or head tilt.
  5. You can ask your vet how long treatment usually lasts and whether relapse is common in my rabbit's case.
  6. You can ask your vet how to safely clean nasal or eye discharge at home without causing stress.
  7. You can ask your vet whether my other rabbits are at risk and how to handle quarantine, cleaning, and ventilation.
  8. You can ask your vet what the realistic cost range is for conservative, standard, and advanced care in my area.

How to Prevent Pasteurellosis in Rabbits

Prevention focuses on lowering exposure and supporting respiratory health. Good ventilation, clean housing, low-dust bedding, high-quality hay, and avoiding overcrowding all matter. New rabbits should be quarantined before direct contact with resident rabbits, especially if they sneeze or have eye or nasal discharge.

Routine wellness visits with your vet can help catch early dental disease, tear duct problems, weight loss, and subtle respiratory changes before they become harder to manage. Prompt care for wounds is also important, because Pasteurella can contribute to abscess formation when bacteria enter damaged tissue.

Stress reduction helps too. Keep your rabbit's environment predictable, avoid sudden housing changes when possible, and make sure diet, hydration, and enrichment are consistent. There is no widely used routine pet rabbit vaccine for pasteurellosis in the United States, so prevention depends mainly on husbandry, quarantine, and early veterinary attention when signs appear.

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