My bunny is sneezing and wheezing. What is it?

Question

We took my bunny to the vet after he started sneezing and hacking, but not even the vet had any suggustions! Does anyone have a clue what's going on with my bunny?

Answer 1

Try changing the beddingto a different kind. My vet told me my guinea pig's bedding was too dusty-- and just like people, pets can have allergies too. Hope it helps!

Answer 2

You need to find a vet, even if you have to drive or go to an emergency clinic. It sounds like your rabbit has a respiratory infection. That will not get better with out antibiotics. Respiratory infections can kill so it is absolutely essential that you find a vet. In the meantime keep your rabbit away from drafts and at a good temperature (not too hot, not too cold). Make sure that your bunny is eating, try offering some favourite treats and foods. Try to make sure that your rabbit is drinking enough water and staying hydrated. Really, the only thing you can do is keep the bunny comfortable until you can get to a vet. I cannot stress this enough, you have to find a vet before Monday. Perhaps there's an emergency vet somewhere kind of close? Or a vet that does after hours emergency visits? Try calling your vet and seeing if they have an emergency number or a recommendation.

Answer 3

Hacking sounds more advanced than snuffles (pasteurella), possibly pneumonia.

Now...not all sneezing is snuffles! Yes, a lot of it is. Snuffles is accompanied by a white nasal discharge. However, rabbits can also sneeze because of allergies or getting something up their nose, such as feed dust. Cedar and pine shavings are very irritating to their respiratory tract, so if you are using these, stop.

Snuffles itself is very difficult to treat. Antibiotics can relieve some of the symptoms and help keep the infection from going systemic. HOWEVER, you aren't going to rid your rabbit of it completely because the bacteria lives in the cartilage of the nose. Cartilage doesn't get a good blood supply, so antibiotics can't travel there and kill bacteria.

It is estimated that 80-90% of rabbits carry pasteurella, but infection is triggered in those with weaker immune systems or who are subject to some sort of stressor.

Be careful with antibiotics and rabbits. They can get diarrhea from antibiotics and die quickly. Baytril is a very safe one to use, and I would choose an injectible over the pills. It is very difficult to give a rabbit a pill! Penicillin works also, but with that there is a greater chance of diarrhea so it should be your second choice.

Good luck!

Answer 4

Sounds like it might have the snuffles(rabbit cold). I treat my rabbit with teramycin (an antibiotic that you mix in water) when she gets the snuffles. You can get teramycin at a feed store. You just add a few teaspoons to a seperate water bottle and in a few days you rabbit will be fine. Mine use to get it all the time then I spoke to a rabbit breeder and she said this is what I should use and it works great. Hope you can find some teramycin. Good Luck!

Answer 5

I had a guinea pig for 8 years. Sometimes she would do the same thing if i bought a new bedding material. Try giving him a bath, cleaning the cage and using a new litter... one that specifies it is low on dust.

Answer 6

Your vet should have an idea. It could be that he has pastuerella. If left untreated without antibiotics he could die. check out this website and find out who your local chapter uses for rabbit care.

Answer 7

If it's snuffles, he needs to go back and get antibiotics ASAP. Check out www.rabbit.org for info on snuffles, or type it in in google. Hope the lil feller gets better.
Mark

Answer 8

well one it has flee or lice around it also, u need a cream ot put over the bunny and then yeah

Answer 9

may have the snuffels (like a cold)
keep it warm inside in a quiet place and see if it improves.
good luck

Answer 10

you know my ginnie pig was like that but I changed the litter for the little wood chips kind and she stopped