Pasteurella multocida causes chronic upper respiratory disease in rabbits, requiring lifelong management and representing a significant welfare burden.
Chronic pasteurellosis in rabbits causes cumulative welfare burdens that owners may underestimate. Constant nasal discharge and sneezing disrupts normal rabbit social behavior including grooming. Inner ear infections cause head tilt, rolling, and loss of balance that profoundly affect quality of life. Abscesses, which rabbits are particularly prone to developing, are painful and difficult to treat due to the thick, caseous nature of rabbit pus that doesn't drain well. The chronic, recurring nature of pasteurellosis means affected rabbits may experience repeated illness throughout their lives. Excellent husbandry that minimizes stress, maintains good nutrition, and provides appropriate housing significantly reduces disease expression even when the bacteria are present.