My sons rabbits has gone quite quiet and has stated to make a noise like he is grinding his teeth he is walking around but does not seem himself.He is also not that bothered if i pick him up as weve only had him for a week i thought this might be weird as he was at one point running away when we tried to pick him up.can anyone tell me what this noise is/why he is doing it. THANX
2007-02-20 03:39:25 · 13 answers · asked by scouser 1 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
Hi, it sounds like the bunny is sick. A rabbit grinds its teeth when it is in pain. Sometimes when it is being petted and is feeling very relaxed it will grind its teeth softly sort of like a purr, but this doesn't sound like that.
Since rabbits generally don't like being picked up (his running away when you brought him home is "normal"), the fact that he is letting you do that is a signal that something is off. Is he eating and drinking? peeing and pooping? If so, that is a good sign, but if not, it is much more serious. A bunny that doesn't eat for 12 hours needs to get to a vet immediately.
One of these articles might help you to figure out what is going on:
Is my bunny sick? http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/sickbun.html
Help! My rabbit is sick and I can’t reach my vet! http://www.petfinder.com/journalindex.cgi?path=/public/animalcare/samllanimal/1.3.287.txt
Not all vets are skilled at treating rabbits. You should find out if your vet is "rabbit savvy." Here is a link with some questions you can ask the vet:
http://www.rabbit.org/faq/sections/vet.html
2007-02-20 05:53:46 · answer #1 · answered by Martha G 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's probably either one of two things:
The first thing could be a respiratory problem such as a cold or pneumonia. Sometimes when a rabbit has a respiratory problem you will hear a rattling sound almost kind of like a faint version sound of the mucus in your nose bubbling when you blow your nose. If you listen real closely it should sound like the rattling is coming either from the rabbit's chest or possibly nasal area. If it is rattling like I described then take your rabbit to the vet and see about getting it treated very soon. Pneumonia can kill a rabbit in 1-2 days. If you notice your rabbit is breathing hard (taking long deep breaths) it is probably pneumonia, otherwise it is probably a strong cold. But if it is either it definitely needs checked out soon.
The other possibility might be wolf teeth or a broken tooth. Sometimes when a rabbit has wolf teeth (teeth that curl or don't line up properly) or when the rabbit has just broken a tooth it will grind its teeth and you will see the rabbit act like it is constantly chewing a lot. Flip the rabbit over and examine the teeth. If it is a broken tooth, don't worry, it will probably grow back pretty soon. If the rabbit has wolf teeth then try keeping the teeth clipped to about normal length (around 3/8-1/2" long). Sometimes if a rabbit has wolf teeth they will occasionally break a tooth.
My first guess would be the respiratory problem since your rabbit is not acting himself and it would be more easily heard. Your rabbit will still primarily act itself if it had a tooth problem. Normally when you see a rabbit acting different and sitting in one spot and not moving as much as they normally do they have a problem that needs to be cured soon.
2007-02-20 04:01:10 · answer #2 · answered by devilishblueyes 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rabbits grind their teeth and growl when they are upset about something. Such as being in a new environment. Seeing you have had him only for a week. I would take him to a vet just to have him looked at to make sure he's healthy. Even though rabbits do not have shots they are required to have it's still wise to do a yearly check up. Rabbits in a new situation will try to run away, till they get used to you. Our rabbit marshmallow is this way and even though we have had him almost a year he still will run the other way when he doesn't want to be bothered. Princess is about a year and we've had her for about six months she only growl and runs from us when she doesn't feel good, and knows that she has to take her meds. Then there's Thumper he comes to us when the mood strikes him. He's the size of a small cat so we don't carry him around much. I hope this helps.
2007-02-20 04:03:53 · answer #3 · answered by BiancaRose 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
are you sure its grinding teeth or could it be the breathing like rattling or wheezing. My guinea pig had this a week after we bought it.the stress of moving to a new home can cause pneumonia.sadly ours died within a few days after this started. if your worried please take it to the vet, we did,and they gave an injection but it was too late. If it is the teeth thats irritating the rabbit the vet can cut these too. Either way it's best you visit the vet.
2007-02-20 03:48:39 · answer #4 · answered by thundercatbabe 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just Not Used To His Surroundings By The Sound Of It
2007-02-20 03:46:04 · answer #5 · answered by dO yOu wanna piece Of me :-D[8]? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't worry unless he is not eating and pooping. However, if he IS not eating and pooping, then he needs to see a vet asap. I mention this because sometimes teeth-grinding can indicate physical discomfort so he could be sick. It's also possible though that he is just nervous about his new environment.
2007-02-20 18:15:36 · answer #6 · answered by learning_to_live_616 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2016-10-16 02:31:04 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rabbits don't make much noise, but they can "scream" if in extreme situations. Your rabbit is probably doing what is equivalent to complaining. He might have teeth issues tough. Better see a vet.
2007-02-20 08:10:49 · answer #8 · answered by amamom 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
He probably is grinding his teeth. As they are constantly growing it's what he has to do to keep them short and sharp. Try putting a small piece of soft wood in his cage (pet shops sell special wood shaped like carrots for this) for him to chew on. Hope this helps. If not seek advise from VET!
2007-02-20 03:48:46 · answer #9 · answered by MellowMan 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Please listen to Martha G's answer. Rabbits do not grind their own teeth to keep them short, they chew on things to keep their teeth short. They grind their teeth softly when they're happy (rabbit purring) and they grind them loudly when they're in pain. If no one is petting him while he's grinding his teeth, it sounds like he is in pain. Go to www.rabbit.org and click on vets, type in your area, and find a list of reputable rabbit vets around you. It sounds like he needs to see a vet immediately, if only to make sure everything is alright.
2007-02-20 09:11:01 · answer #10 · answered by greecevaca 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋