• Forum/Server Upgrade If you are reading this you have made it to the upgraded forum. Posts made on the old forum after 26th October 2023 have not been transfered. Everything else should be here. If you find any issues please let us know.

  • Please Note - Medical Advice

    Please keep in mind that posts on this forum are from members of the public sharing personal opinions. It is not a replacement for qualified medical advice from a veterinarian. Many illnesses share similar symptoms but require different treatments. A medical exam is necessary for an accurate diagnosis, without which appropriate treatment cannot be given.

    You should always consult your vet before following any suggestions for medication or treatment you have read about. The wrong treatment could make your rabbit worse or mean your vet is unable to give the correct treatment because of drug interactions. Even non prescription drugs can do harm if given inappropriately.

    We are very grateful to members who take time to answer other members questions, but please do be clear in your replies that you are sharing personal experience and not giving instructions on what must be done.

    Urgent Medical Advice: If you need, or think you might need, urgent medical advice you should contact a vet. If it is out of working hours phone your vet's normal number and there should be an answer phone message with instructions on what to do.

Choking?

N

NikkiBaron

Warren Scout
Been reading a few threads about rabbits choking.
So if your rabbit is choking what do you do to help stop it?
Rabbits are not able to regurgitate so what do you do?
Would like to know for future reference.
Thanks
 
I read that you are suppose to hold the rabbit upside down with both hands and gently swing it to dislodge what's in the mouth.

It's on a rabbit website. Luckily I've never had to do this.
 
It really depends on what has caused the choke and the precise presentation of the Rabbit

In the case I have dealt with I had to pick the Rabbit up with his back toward me and hold him so his head was much lower than his bum. I then had to do numerous downward/forward thrusting movements with him to try to dislodge the pellet he was choking on. The first time it worked quickly and a load of mucus/fluid came out of his nose/mouth along with the pellet. He was given a shot of steroid and a covering antibiotic (full 7 day course of abx given). His lungs were listened to with a stethoscope every few hours during the first 48 hours after the choke.

The second time it happened it took much longer to clear the obstruction, he very nearly died. I no longer feed pellets to this particular Rabbit as advised by my Vet.

It is obviously important to consult a Vet ASAP, but when faced with a choking Rabbit getting to a Vet immediately is not necessarily going to be possible, not until the obstruction has been cleared. A choking Rabbit is likely to die in transit :cry:

I would not wish dealing with a choking Rabbit on anyone. It is utterly horrific :cry:
 
:wave: can this be a sticky? It's helpful to know, Jane's advice helped me save parsley when he choked.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Jolysium
Choking / diet change
Replies
18
Views
1K
Jolysium
Jolysium
Amy Sanders
New Rabbit Owner
Replies
3
Views
903
Zarla
Zarla
twistedtiggerz69
Breathing noisily (from nose?)
Replies
18
Views
1K
a reader of books
a reader of books
Back
Top