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Nose In The Air

bunnygirl75

bunnygirl75

New Kit
My rabbit started moulting last week and for several days lost alot of hair.That's slowed down now but ever since she started moulting she has her head flung back and seems to be breathing harder.She does it all day then at night she's fine.She's eating,using her tray ok and the vet said she has good teeth.In short,she isn't ill.So what is the head in the air for?Is it all the loose hair getting to her?I brush her several times a day until the hair stops coming out.She's not sneezing but washes alot and shakes her head when loose hairs get in her ears.
 
bunnygirl75 said:
My rabbit started moulting last week and for several days lost alot of hair.That's slowed down now but ever since she started moulting she has her head flung back and seems to be breathing harder.She does it all day then at night she's fine.She's eating,using her tray ok and the vet said she has good teeth.In short,she isn't ill.So what is the head in the air for?Is it all the loose hair getting to her?I brush her several times a day until the hair stops coming out.She's not sneezing but washes alot and shakes her head when loose hairs get in her ears.
Click to expand...

Generally rabbits do this when they are in respiratory distress. Has she been to the vet since she started this or was she checked over because of her putting her head in the air? If she has been seen, did the vet listen to her heart/lungs?
 
Vegan_Bunny said:
Generally rabbits do this when they are in respiratory distress. Has she been to the vet since she started this or was she checked over because of her putting her head in the air? If she has been seen, did the vet listen to her heart/lungs?
Click to expand...

this.
 
I read about someone's rabbit that had an issue with ingesting it's fur and having difficulty breathing. The ingested fur was getting caught on a tooth spur and blocking the rabbits airway, so definitely something to see your vet about right away.
 
Is your vet rabbit savvy? Unfortunately there are a lot that aren't. It sounds as though your rabbit is struggling to breath and really needs to see a rabbit savvy vet for further investigations.

Lots of vibes.
 
nose in the air

she doesn't have her nose in the air all the time just when she's sat relaxing.The vet said she's got good teeth.She eats very well and goes in her tray ok.
 
Sorry, just to clarify, are the vets comments general ones from past visits or from a visit after the symptoms started?

I expect the moulting is coincidence, it's not normal moulting behaviour and not a reaction to fluff in the air. It could be a tooth problem (as the grow quickly in rabbits it only take a couple of weeks to go from fine to a problem), it could be some sort of blockage in her breathing passages eg something could in her throat of nose. Or it could be an infection or something effecting her lungs, or even something heart related can effect breathing. There are a lot of different options so it really needs the vet to investigate to start ruling things out.

Don't be afraid to be tough with the vet an insist they give a thorough checkup. It might also help to take a picture or even better video so the vet can see - they never repeat the odd behaviours for the vet when you want them too :)
 
I took my rabbit to the vets and asked to see a rabbit specialist.I got one who said that my rabbit was holding her head in the air because she was struggling to breathe.She said her teeth was fine but there was a mass in her stomach and chest.She said she had to be put down.My rabbit was whisked away into a back room and put to sleep leaving me distraught.I got no time with her.I was told the mass had developed within 3 weeks (she'd had a full check at that time and nothing was there).I wish now I'd had a full investigation cos she was otherwise a happy healthy rabbit.It could have been fur in her throat,it could have been something else.All I know is I'm now very confused and upset.
 
Thats awful!! I would definitely complain to the manager, a pet should never be whisked away and put to sleep withoit the owners concent!
This is awful and extremely bad practice from the vet in question.
I am really sorry for your loss.
Please ensure that you never use these vets again.
 
Sorry to hear this. Do they know what the mass was? Could you ring the vets and ask to chat with the vet that put her to sleep? If the vet was a specialist, I would hope that they knew what they were doing. It sounds as though she might have had a tumour or something in her abdomen which was pressing on her lungs/heart and this was why she was struggling to breathe. I am only guessing here, as I am not a vet. If this was the case, putting her to sleep was probably the best thing for her.

Binky free. x
 
I'm so sorry for your loss, how awful for you :cry: Binky free at the bridge little one xx

It may help you to post a tribute on the rainbow bridge section when you feel ready xx
 
I'm so sorry.

I think, if I were you, I would ring and ask if the vet concerned could give more information/details - this might at least put your mind at rest.

It is particularly sad that you weren't allowed to be with your rabbit at the end - you should have been asked what you wanted to do - but please don't dwell on this.
 
I'm so sorry to hear this. I would be distraught too, and understand why you wish you had more information. I would ring and discuss your concerns with the specialist when you're feeling up to it, they should be able to explain their reasoning better. I too am suspecting what vegan_bunny said to be the case, but it will help put your mind at ease I hope.

Binky free bunny xxx
 
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