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My sick rabbit is breathing fast, shaking, and has a fever. Why?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Small Animal | Rabbit | Female | unspayed | 7 lbs

Diva got put on enrolxacin yesterday, after being on trimethroprim sulfa (?) last week! The vet thought she had pasteruella and she had a 103.7 fever. Everyone else is saying that temp is normal? She does have a wet nose but it’s clear not colored discharge. She’s eating & pooping.. but she is breathing pretty fast to where it looks she’s shaking a bit. Not all the time though! Could that be due to stress because she is sick? She was sneezing a bit a few days ago not anymore. thinking snuffles?

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Todd Cecil

Veterinarian

Published on November 15th, 2019

Thanks for reaching out about Diva. Increased respiration can be due to other conditions other than pneumonia. Heart disease, metabolic disorders (kidney, liver) and neoplasia need to be considered. If no diagnostics were performed, radiographs and blood work would be recommended. If an older female and intact, uterine cancer can cause anemia, metastatize to the lumps or be painful.
Good luck.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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