My old rabbit breathes loudly but seems fine. Should I see a vet?

I'm sorry to hear that Flower isn't feeling well! These signs can be an indication of an infection, and are concerning because she may be having trouble breathing. The fact that she is not eating or drinking can cause her to become very sick, because it is important for a rabbit's gut to be moving regularly. I recommend having Flower seen by a vet as soon as possible to determine what is going on and begin the appropriate treatment. You should keep a close eye on her and have her seen immediately if you think she is having trouble breathing.

It sounds like she has a respiratory infection so I suggest you take her to your vet for an exam. I don't think it's an emergency like you have to take her now but I would try to get her in tomorrow. If this is a respiratory infection she is going to need antibiotics and you can only get those from your vet. The other option is asthma/allergy but again, you would need to get medications to treat this from your vet. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Rabbits can become sick quickly with upper respiratory infections. I would highly encourage you to have him evaluated by your veterinarian as soon as possible. In the meantime make sure his cage is cleaned daily as the ammonia from the urine can cause irritation to the respiratory tract. You may also consider taking him into the bathroom when anyone showers to allow the humidity to help as well. Best of luck and I hope he improves soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

Sorry to hear about Onyx! You should take her to the vet as soon as possible. I suspect she has a respiratory infection. Rabbits are very prone to infection by a bacteria called pasteurella. The vet will be able to listen to her lungs and recommend further investigations. I imagine she will need an antibiotic and anti-inflammatory. In the mean time keep her comfy in a calm, draught free environment.

Hello, and thank you for your question. I'm so sorry to hear that Chubbs is so ill. It sounds like he is in a lot of discomfort. Unfortunately rabbits are obligate nose-breathers, which means that they cannot breathe through their mouths if their nose is obstructed. This makes snuffles (upper respiratory tract infection) very uncomfortable for rabbits. Surgery would not be the appropriate treatment for this guy. What he needs is antibiotic therapy to clear his infection, and to clear the secretions from his respiratory tract. Nebulization can help, which may be available at rabbit-specific veterinarians. He would also benefit from oxygen therapy, which would require hospitalization at the vet. I would call around and see if there are any other rabbit-savvy vets in your area that can provide these treatments. The only home treatments I could suggest for now would be steam therapy - e.g. put him in the bathroom with you while you take a shower, and let the steam help to open up his nasal passages. Gentle coupage may help as well, which involves gently patting him on the chest to help loosen any secretions in his lungs (only do this if it is not stressing him out, of course). If you are able to get him to a vet for hospitalization and he does not improve, I am afraid that euthanasia is a viable option at that point, since he will continue to be in distress from the inability to breathe. I hope this helps, and truly wish you luck with Chubbs.

Clover is a sweet name. Unfortunately the information you provided is a little limited and makes it hard to guide you. I would recommend having her spayed if you have not all ready. Rabbits run a high risk of cancer in their uterus if not spayed. However at this time if she is eating,drinking and using the restroom normally I would not be concerned. At any time if this changes I would recommend taking her to a vet for a better exam. You are more than welcome to try a pet coach consult. This will allow you to provide more information and maybe get better guidance.

Hello, sorry to hear about Binky. There could be a variety of reasons why he is doing this. My biggest concern is that he could have an underlying heart disease or an upper respiratory infection. Binky should be evaluated by a veterinarian to make sure that he does not have the above conditions. He may require chest x-rays and bloodwork. Hope this helps and best of luck.