Why does my rabbit have a clear runny nose sometimes? Allergies?

Hello! A wet nose in a rabbit usually indicates nasal discharge. Nasal discharge can result from allergy, inflammation, or infection of the nasal passages or even from an infected tooth root. It is very common for rabbits to carry a bacteria called Pasteurella (often referred to as “snuffles”). This bacteria can flare up in times of stress. Most rabbits have at least been exposed to this bacteria, and there are also other bacteria and viruses that could cause similar respiratory illness. The best thing to do for Buddy would be to have him examined by your local vet who can assess the discharge and Buddys breathing and teeth. the vet may recommend blood work, X-rays, or even a CT scan of his head since that will give the best information about the nose and terth. Remember that an oral exam in an awake rabbit is fairly insensitive to disease and any root disease is not visible except with X-rays for a CT scan. Since rabbits can only breath through their nose, it’s important to get this evaluated while Buddy is doing well, since potential profession of disease could be serious. Good luck to you and Buddy!

Thanks for reaching out about Chloe and including pictures. By the photos, it is difficult to identify the discharge, but yellow nasal discharge is often an indication of a nasal infection. Try cleaning with a warm wet cloth, and monitor for sneezing and continued discharge. If discharge continues, a veterinary visit is recommended. Good luck.

Separate him for now just in case it is infectious. Snuffles is extremely contagious. Have Ollie examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating rabbits. A culture of the discharge can be collected and submitted for culture to identify the bacteria responsible for snuffles (Pasteurella spp or Staphylococcus spp). Treatment can be administered as indicated.

HI, at home you can clean his nose gently with cotton wool and lukewarm water and encourage Buster to eat with food or syringe feeding, but I recommend to see your vet for more specific treatment for this condition. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach !

Hello. Rabbits very commonly have upper respiratory infections. They can be from dental disease, specifically the roots, or sometimes there is a primary rhinitis. Rabbits make a very thick pus that doesn’t drain well, so when an infection is present inside the nose or nasal passages, it can be extremely hard to clear. Sometimes surgery or anesthetized nasal flushing is required. Since nothing has really helped before, I would recommend a thorough exam by a veterinarian along with blood work, skull radiographs, a deep nasal swab or nasal flush for cytology and culture. From there, any additional procedures can be recommended (dental trim, extraction, rhinoscopy, etc). Likely, Hangy will need a long course of medication (4-8 weeks) and may have relapses throughout his life. At home you can make things a bit easier on him by reducing airway irritants, keeping his cage clean, and supporting good dental health with high quality grass hay. Good luck!

Hello. Thank you for using PetCoach. It looks like Ruby has an upper respiratory infection called "snuffles". You need to get her to a vet for an exam and treatment. She will need antibiotics to get this clear up and to keep it from getting worse. Snuffles is caused by a very aggressive bacteria and it can be fatal. Be sure to take her to a vet that is used to treating rabbits. http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=18+1803&aid=2686 http://plantationcentreah.com/exotics-and-pocket-pets/ Hope this helps. Best wishes.

With the discharge from her nose I would suspect that she has some sort of respiratory issue going on. Rabbits are very prone to pasteurella infection and this can cause weight loss over time and make them generally unwell. With any disease rabbits will be under stress which puts them at risk of gut stasis. Running bloods could help to establish if their is an active infection and if any other organs are involved.