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Help needed!! Strange position of my rabbit

gene007man

New Kit
During this week, my rabbit has been in this strange posture. She would just sit on an upright four-legged position with her head stretching up. I just do not understand is there anything wrong or disturbing her. She is not lethargic, as she still eats her vegetables and hay (however slightly). And she have unformed cecotropes, yet no diarrhea was observed. Sadly, my rabbit has been diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease. Hence, I was wondering would this be the cause? Or is there any other underlying problem occurring? Or is this a posture of rabbit communication? My girlfriend and I are worried sick, hence we hope someone can tell us if this position is normal or not?

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I don't know what to suggest but sending vibes that she gets a bit better.

Hope some one reply's fast with answers :roll:
 
id get her seen by a vet, does her head look tlted in anyway, if does i would consider e-cuniculi, either way id get her to a vet to be checked asap, the positon if not tilted isn't normal and may be a signal she is in pain
 
id get her seen by a vet, does her head look tlted in anyway, if does i would consider e-cuniculi, either way id get her to a vet to be checked asap, the positon if not tilted isn't normal and may be a signal she is in pain

Thanks for the kind reply. Her head is not tilting, as she can still position is normally to eat her hay and vegetables. However, she would just lean it to this strange position. Yes, my gf and I think a trip to the vet would be needed early tomorrow.
 
Looks like she is mouth breathing-ie showing serious signs of respiratory distress

You need to get her to a Vet as her symptoms are serious, possibly life threatening

How old is she and is she entire ?
 
Looks like she is mouth breathing-ie showing serious signs of respiratory distress

You need to get her to a Vet as her symptoms are serious, possibly life threatening

How old is she and is she entire ?

I was thinking this too. It can be very serious. :(
I hope it's not though.
 
This upward tilt of the head is usually IMO an attempt to increase air intake ie she's having difficulty breathing. An immediate trip to the vets is called for.
 
After seeing my own rabbit do this we went to the vet and found he had a heart condition. I would definitely get her checked over.
 
My bridge bun Tommy sat like this before he started with a runny nose that ended up being serious, he ended up mouth breathing and we lost him, I would see if theres an appointment tonight with the vet, time is of the essence, dont want to alarm you but I would get to a vet.
 
What was the diagnosis given?

Not good tbh. He was a rex and it seemed he had been born with some sort of heart defect. He was on tablets for a while which bought him time ( five months or so) but I lost him recently. Your rabbit may have a perfectly healthy heart. But I commented because my rabbit had shown the symptoms ( air breathing) you are describing now.
 
How is she breathing??
My bun Malteser had his head tilted like this when we could him collapsed. His breathing was strained, his nose did not bob as usual but his whiskers moved in and out as he breathed. I would say get to a vet ASAP as my bun had E. cuniculi/ brain infection. I hope it is nothing serious but if I had a bun like that I would get them striaght to a vet

*vibes*
 
Looks like she is mouth breathing-ie showing serious signs of respiratory distress

You need to get her to a Vet as her symptoms are serious, possibly life threatening

How old is she and is she entire ?

Ive experienced this and yes, she does look like shes mouth breathing.Hope you see a vet and she gets better.xx
 
This looks either respiratory and/or heart related . .

I would get to a vet asap and have full tests carried out . . good luck
 
I agree with the above. This is my bunny Oidhche mouth breathing, you can see the posture is very similar.


She was diagnosed with an enlarged heart causing heart failure, and put on a diuretic and ACE inhibitors. It is not something most vets see a lot of so ideally your girl should see a specialist, but I understand they can be difficult to find. It may be connected to her PKD as I believe that in some cases PKD can also affect the heart, but it could equally be a seperate condition altogether.

I'm very sorry none of us have better news for you. :( Sending nose rubs to your wee girly.
 
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