Vince has Syphilis

The vet just phoned me to say Vince has syphilis I thought he had a scabby lip from chewing the runaround tunnels but apparantly the trauma to his mouth is quite extreme to be a scab and she researched into it and has diagnosed syphilis. He has to have a course of injections over 3 weeks to treat it, the treatmentan cause gut probs so I need to keep an eye on his bowel movements and what he is eating. They also said to remove him form Hazel and Faline incase they get it too. Tbh, I think if they were going to catch it they would have had it by now but they seem fine, and I really don't want to seperate him for 3 weeks as I may not be able to put him back with them and where the hell am I supposed to put him anyway??? Arghhhh, poor poor Vincey babes. Has anyone ever heard of this in rabbits?

no never! I thought it was a STD

I hope he's ok

Oh poor Vince

It's not as uncommon as you'd think, and is a well recognised condition, not nec sexually transmitted. Medi rabbit has a really good info sheet on it
**link has distressing pics**
http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Skin_diseases/Bacterial/Syphilis.htm

Cuddles to Vince

Good news that it's so treatable.

Are you able to monitor Vince's appetite and toileting adequately while he is in with the others?

GWS Vince

Dirty Boy!

I am glad he can be treated, are the girls both ok at the moment?

I knew that bunnies got syphilis and that it is completely treatable, but didn't know what it looked like. Thanks for posting the thread Jay.

I do agree with Cheryl, has he been at those bunnies of the night again.

Thanks for that link Jay. I will post a photo of Vince's lip tomorrow so you can se how it manifested itself on him. I honestly thought it was just an injury from chewing the tunnels, had I have suspected anything else I wouldn't have waited until his vaccinations were due

He must have caught it from his mother as Faline and Hazel are fine, they had their vaccinations and health check recently and were given the all clear. I have decided not to seperate him from them as advised by the vet as I fearthat they may not accept him back into the group plus Vince is needed to mediate between Hazel and Faline when Hazel bullies her, so in the long run they are better staying together. I hope this is the right decision.


On a lighter note, of all the things to catch, why did it have to be syphilis???? It's not as if he is used for stud, or is unneutered and escapes with wild buns at night! It makes him sound like a right dirty dog Poor old Vince.

Oh poor vince the little stud muffin!

I hope he recovers quickly! I really wish I hadnt clicked on that link Jay put up, it made me feel do ill!

Vince the bunny wrote: It's not as if he is used for stud, or is unneutered and escapes with wild buns at night! .

That's what he tells you, you know what boys are like when it comes to hiding their bad habits from their mums.

lol, unless he is pimping Faline and Hazel at night and then caught it from them!!

Oh poor vince.... bless his heart x x x x x x


I think id keep them together too if it were me x

Feel better soon Vince!

Yeh he bribes the two girls and disappears off with his wild bunny hareem!!

We all know his secret now!!

It would have to be rabbits that get syphilis! Don't see hamsters or gerbils getting it! So not fair. They have such a reputation to live down.

I must aplogise for that picture, I was a bit tipsy when I did that, it's not very funny though, so I've removed it

aww poor vince hope you feel better son

Sending 'quick healing' Vibes for Vince xxxxxxxx

Vince had his first of 3 injections today, it took 40 to get there, 40 mins waiting for the appointment as they were running behind, then another 40 mins getting home. Poor Vince was not happy and was thumping his feet really loudly in protest. In the surgery, there was a dog howling and yelping like someone was killing it and poor Vince looked terrified. Now Vince isn't a cuddle bunny, he enjoys a nose rub and that's where he draws the line, but I picked him up to hold him close to reassure him and he snuggled into into me, it was really sweet.

I haven't taken a photo of his poor lip as he has had so much trauma today I don't want to add to it by picking him up again. It does look like scabs upon scabs upon scabs and his bottom lip is swollen.

Tomorrows job is to scub the living quarters to sterilise it, god knows how I'm gonna scrub 24 feet of runaround tunnel too Surely the girls would have caught it by now if they were going to. I checked Hazels mouth and genitals today and she is clear, need to check Faline too just for peace of mind.

Jay - I saw the piccy you posted on my phone so it wasn't too clear. but are you suggesting my Vincey babes is a floozy?

Dh asked me if was passable between humans and animals, now I'd like to think he was worried I may catch it from Vince, I sure hope he didn't think I had given it to Vince I love my bunnies, but in a motherly sort of way

You could do with a steamer and steam clean as these really get to the parts a cloth or sponge or brush can't always reach and they kill germs.

Poor Vince what a day! Topping up the Vibes for him xxxxxxx

Where would I get one of those from? Can you hire them and are they expensive? Thanks