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Dave (Rabbit) is potentially quite ill - but no idea what it is. Can anyone help?

chrisjones

New Kit
Hello everyone, this is my first time on a thread like this so any help will be greatly appreciated! My rabbit, Dave, is about 4 years old. The other day he started producing like a crackling/rattling sound, which gets worse when he is anxious or is breathing more heavily, he also keeps coughing - like something is stuck. He also has some slight dribble around his mouth. It does not occur 24/7 but alot of the time. I took him to two vets today. The first one had no idea, and the second has put him on anti-biotic/inflammatory meds. She said it could maybe be something to do with her throat/nasal area and that what ever the rattle/noise is, it hasnt hit the chest area yet.

She has said that if he stops eating, then I have to take him back tomorrow for an x-ray and to be knocked out etc. Failing that give it a couple of days then potentially take him back anyway. Now I do not want to seem like a bad owner as I love Dave he is family! But the vet wasnt very convincing in what was wrong with him and Xrays etc cost alot. Therefore I am wondering if anybody has had experience with this before? Is it worth putting Dave through the stress of further action?

Any help would be really appreciated.
 
What area do you live in. It might be worth putting something in rabbit chat with the title "rabbit savvy vet needed in XXX".

I do think your bunny needs to see a savvy vet.

Abx and metacam may help but you also need to know what you are dealing with.
 
What area do you live in. It might be worth putting something in rabbit chat with the title "rabbit savvy vet needed in XXX".

I do think your bunny needs to see a savvy vet.

Abx and metacam may help but you also need to know what you are dealing with.

Thank you for your response. I live in Newcastle upon tyne. The second vet was meant to be a renowned when it comes to rabbits, which was the disappointment. Obviously I know rabbits are not easy creatures to work with.

I will go on chat now though and see if anybody knows any others. What are abx and metacam please? Thank you again.
 
We have the same problem with two of our's they have been on antibiotics for a week and was no better and now have had x-rays. They are both Sisters and started with the breathing and like clearing their throat at roughly the same time and they both have abnormal lungs but clear lungs.

It could be a number of things, we had a rabbit that was the same that needed a dental, it could be that Dave is producing a lot of saliva due to needing a dental, he may have a dental spur on a back molar did the vet's check his teeth at all?
 
We have the same problem with two of our's they have been on antibiotics for a week and was no better and now have had x-rays. They are both Sisters and started with the breathing and like clearing their throat at roughly the same time and they both have abnormal lungs but clear lungs.

It could be a number of things, we had a rabbit that was the same that needed a dental, it could be that Dave is producing a lot of saliva due to needing a dental, he may have a dental spur on a back molar did the vet's check his teeth at all?

Hey Tucker,

Thank you for replying to both of my threads, what your describing is very similar, in that Dave also sneezes/coughs. It almost sounds like a duck quacking at times? Based on this, would you advise still going through with the xrays? The vet looked at his teeth. She said they weren't the best but was not overly concerned as he was still eating.

Are your two still breathing with a crackle? How long have they had it? sorry the the all questions, but my final one, i promise, is after the dental did your rabbit return to normal?

Thank you for your time.
Chris
 
Firstly I'd get them to a vet that will check the back molars as well as the front teeth as some vet's don't check the back molars. Take him if you can to see Honor at Vets4pets in Sunderland as she will know what it is. If Dave has been on antibiotics for a week and no better he may need what is called a 'culture and sensitivity' test where the vet will take a swab this will help her find the correct antibiotic to treat Dave. It could be a tooth root problem, is there any discharge coming out of his nose if so it could be snuffles. It does need sorting and I would get him to another vet. Rabbits can still eat even with a dental problem so I would get another vet to look at Dave's teeth.

My two girls Dotty and Cleo started together a couple of weeks back, they went to see Honor and she said straight away they had abnormal lungs, Cleo's being the worse and she is breathing the worse. They have been on Septrin for a week as well as Metacam and were no better so they went back for x-rays but nothing showed everything was clear. They are still on Septrin and if they are no better then have to have more tests done, it could be a heart problem with them both.

Usually when they are crackly it's from the nose and can be a nasal infection. Our Bridge bunny 'Pud' was like that and he would be worse when eating or excited. He was on meds most of the time as it would clear and then come back.

Get Dave to a good vet. :)
 
I have exactly the same thing atm. approx. 6weeks ago he had an acute sneezing fit. Took him in to work with me (I'm a vet nurse who specialises in bunnies) and we put him on baytril daily and depocillin every other day along with metacam. Well he stopped eating in the early stages and had to go on intravenous fluids. We have done several xrays (partly because I'm paranoid and convinced it was pneumonia) and also because I wanted to make sure his chest was clear. I also did x-rays of his nose as was and still am convinced that he has possibly breathed something into his nose as that is where the noise is coming from. It is not present all the time (more prominent when he is relaxing - so evenings are the worst time to hear the noise and he often wakes me in the night sneezing and coughing). The whole time he has been sneezing and now coughing there has never been any discharge so have been unable to do any culture and sensitivity to work out what is the causative agent. We have since changed his oral antibiotic from baytril to septrin and we are possibly thinking of changing his depocillin to betamox LA however this has more risk of diarrhoea.

I am also steaming him daily in the shower room and also in the bedroom. I have contacted Richard Saunders to see if he has any other thoughts as the next step otherwise is a CT scan. His bonded partner is ok. He has been on antibiotics once since this episode with Beast as he has had one sneezing fit.

I do hope Dave is ok and will be watching this thread closely as its a noise I have never heard before and is not classic noise of snuffles. Keep us updated.
 
If you do go for an xray then getting his head in as well as chest would rule out teeth too - it can be hard to judge teeth just by looking whilst they are awake - when they knock them out they put something in to old their mouth much wider so they can get a better view.

Another option would be some sort of obstruction eg a grass seed or bit of hay - that wouldn't show up on an xray.

Rabbit's are good at cleaning themselves so crusty fur on the inside of their front legs is sometimes the only sign of snot as they wipe it away quick.
 
Hey. So Sorry for my massively late reply. I took Davey to Firstvets in Newcastle, to a specialist called Judith. it turns out it was a spur on one of his back molers. the noise disappeared after the Operation etc. X-rays showed nothing. So they think the noise was becasue he had swalled excess spit due to the spur.

I hope this helps anyone with the same problem with their rabbits! Take care guys. Thank you!!
 
I'm glad it was something simple to sort out and good to know for others who may have similar problems in the future.
 
Hey. So Sorry for my massively late reply. I took Davey to Firstvets in Newcastle, to a specialist called Judith. it turns out it was a spur on one of his back molers. the noise disappeared after the Operation etc. X-rays showed nothing. So they think the noise was becasue he had swalled excess spit due to the spur.

I hope this helps anyone with the same problem with their rabbits! Take care guys. Thank you!!

Yours is the third similar case I have come across within the week :shock:

Glad it's all sorted for Dave :thumb:
 
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