Chins and Rabbits

[noreliahill]

why should they be kept in separate rooms:bunny:? is there a health reason?

 

[rcr]

I know lots of people who keep rabbits in the same room as chins. Not in the same cage but in the same room.

Where did you hear that it was a no-no?

 

[Ash]

Some people say it is a "no no" due to the possibility of rabbits being a carrier of a bacteria that can be fatal in chins. However, not all rabbits carry it. There are plenty of people who keep rabbits and chins and they're fine.

 

[menagerie]

Rabbits can carry pasturella, which can be fatal to chins.

 

[Carol~Anne]

^^ That's what I've been told about rabbits so I'd definitely keep them as separate as possible even if all of them don't carry that particular bacteria. Better safe than sorry for sure.

 

[Bostongirl'sChin75]

Is this the same reason for hamsters and chins not to be in the same room, as well? or is there something else?

 

[chinclub]

Yes, always better to be safe than sorry. We breed rabbits and chinchillas and I am always careful to wash my hands before handling chinchillas or their food after being with the rabbits.

 

[Bostongirl'sChin75]

Thanks! Two of my sons have hamsters and they were asking me why they could not be in the same room! I can tell them why now...and it helped me make a decision about my other sons birthday present too..

 

[Bethany]

Almost all rabbits (unless they are specific pathogen free and are being used in research) carry or have been exposed to pasteurella. They only get pasteuerellosis when they are stressed or catch it from another rabbit etc.

Having said that, unless there is a reason for me having a rabbit in the room, then I keep them separate. Only when it is full blown pasteuerellosis is it airborne, and regular washing between each species is enough. I just choose to keep them seperate because of the what if.

 

[Euphoric]

I have 2 rabbits and they are kept seperate from my chinchillas. Bethany is right when all rabbits carry pasteuerellosis but most of the time it doesn't not have ill effects on the rabbits.

It is the same with my parakeets and lovebird, I keep them seperate too.

 

[Linda]

Thanks! Two of my sons have hamsters and they were asking me why they could not be in the same room! I can tell them why now...and it helped me make a decision about my other sons birthday present too..

I'm not aware of any cases of Pasteurellosis in hamsters. I looked in Wikipedia (which isn't always correct), and it claims rabbits and chins can get it but doesn't list hamsters. I've certainly never heard of it in hamsters, and I've heard of a lot diseases hamsters can and do get.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pasteurellosis

Does anyone have any examples when this was transferred to hamsters? If not, I don't see this as a reason not to keep hamsters and chins in the same room (and even keeping them in different rooms if quarantine isn't complete could cause a transfer).

Now there are plenty of things that can transfer between species. The ringworm in the Arlington chins could transfer. Various parasites like giardia are common in chins and hamsters (especially commercially bred hamsters). But I wouldn't use Pasteurellosis as a reason not to keep chins near hamsters.

Linda Price, President
California Hamster Association

 

[MelodyR]

I have my chins, hamsters, mice, and rats all in the same (large) room and have never had a problem. They are in the same room because they are all nocturnals. They have no direct contact with each other. I do run an Oreck air purifier 24/7, and also have a clean-effects purifier added to my central air. I am scrupulously clean and wash my hands and change clothes when handling different species. No dishes or bottles are shared. I have never had a problem, and never really thought about it. I have guinea pigs (diurnal) in another room. No rabbits, though, I knew they carried something.