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Something stuck in mouth / nose?

RT

Young Bun
We adopted a pair of male rabbits last week (Norman and Arthur) who are about 6 months old. They came with a health check but pretty quickly we noticed that Norman would occasionally 'sneeze' or perhaps more accurately, try to blow something out of his nose.

I took them to my vet for a check up. I have been using the vet for about 9 years with our previous 2 rabbits so I trust her.

The vet said to give it time as they had only just moved in with us and she couldnt see anything obviously wrong such as an infection.

One week on and the 'sneezing' has suddenly got worse after I had thought it was much better. He tried to wash his nose after its happened and licks his tongue around his mouth. I rushed Norman to the vets again today and she couldnt see anything in his mouth although he wasnt the most obliging of patients.

She has prescribed metacam for 5 days and then we can try and have an operation on his mouth to have more of a look. The vet was of the opinion that something could be working its way out of his nose / mouth and that is why it is irritating him even more. Also, he has definitely been a bit bad tempted towards his brother in recent days (normally there are no issues) so I think it is bothering him.

He had a dose of metacam a couple of hours ago and if anything, when he sneezes now it is even more violent. It is quite distressing to watch but once he stops he is happy and will happily eat / run around and create havoc outside of his hutch (he is a house rabbit).

So how long should I give it before going back? The vet seemed to think I should try the metacam before rushing into an operation but I hate to watch him sneeze so violently.

Any advice much appreciated.

Thanks
 
When he sneezes does he produce any nasal discharge ?

Is he a 'short nose' breed Rabbit such as a mini lop or a Netherland Dwarf ?
 
He is a Dutch and no sign of any discharge at all

Does it happen at random times or when he is doing something specific ? Could he be coming into contact with an allergen such as air fresheners in the house ?

Was he kept indoors before you adopted him and if not is he now in a centrally heated house ? Central heating can sometimes play havoc with a Rabbit's upper respiratory tract.
 
We adopted a pair of male rabbits last week (Norman and Arthur) who are about 6 months old. They came with a health check but pretty quickly we noticed that Norman would occasionally 'sneeze' or perhaps more accurately, try to blow something out of his nose.

I took them to my vet for a check up. I have been using the vet for about 9 years with our previous 2 rabbits so I trust her.

The vet said to give it time as they had only just moved in with us and she couldnt see anything obviously wrong such as an infection.

One week on and the 'sneezing' has suddenly got worse after I had thought it was much better. He tried to wash his nose after its happened and licks his tongue around his mouth. I rushed Norman to the vets again today and she couldnt see anything in his mouth although he wasnt the most obliging of patients.

She has prescribed metacam for 5 days and then we can try and have an operation on his mouth to have more of a look. The vet was of the opinion that something could be working its way out of his nose / mouth and that is why it is irritating him even more. Also, he has definitely been a bit bad tempted towards his brother in recent days (normally there are no issues) so I think it is bothering him.

He had a dose of metacam a couple of hours ago and if anything, when he sneezes now it is even more violent. It is quite distressing to watch but once he stops he is happy and will happily eat / run around and create havoc outside of his hutch (he is a house rabbit).

So how long should I give it before going back? The vet seemed to think I should try the metacam before rushing into an operation but I hate to watch him sneeze so violently.

Any advice much appreciated.

Thanks

I had a rabbit who when he came to me would sneeze violently. There was no discharge and no infection present that we could see. It seemed to get worse and worse, then suddenly began to abate.

We felt that it was due to a change in environment/temperature and also him having hay at his disposal - he hadn't ever seen it before!

From my rabbit's behaviour, I would say it's possible that it's worse for you seeing him than him sneezing, as my rabbit got over it immediately. As I said, it also tailed off, but probably took several weeks till he adjusted.

Good luck - I hope it settles down :thumb:
 
I had a rabbit who when he came to me would sneeze violently. There was no discharge and no infection present that we could see. It seemed to get worse and worse, then suddenly began to abate.

We felt that it was due to a change in environment/temperature and also him having hay at his disposal - he hadn't ever seen it before!

From my rabbit's behaviour, I would say it's possible that it's worse for you seeing him than him sneezing, as my rabbit got over it immediately. As I said, it also tailed off, but probably took several weeks till he adjusted.

Good luck - I hope it settles down :thumb:

Thanks for this, I feel slightly more relieved as it is really awful watching him sneeze.

Funnily enough I had forgotten about it until today when I was at home so I could see what he was doing in the day. Also, I have had the heating on all day today which is very unusual, it is usually on just in the evening.

Before he came to us, he lived outside but the RSPCA said he would be suitable for homing indoors as all they wanted to do when they were at the foster home was to be inside.

We don't have any air fresheners but I had wondered if I was setting him off as it seems to be worse with me than when my partner is around even though his deodorant is more fragrant than mine!

It seems to get set off when he is excited about food and when he is truffling in his hay. Also, if I appear suddenly it seems to happen but it does also occur randomly. He is currently hoping around the front room doing one sneeze every so often which is better than the endless sneezing that nearly got me reaching for the vet's number an hour ago when he was in his hutch.

I have got some nice meadow hay in which my previous rabbits loved but it does appear to be a bit short stranded so that might not have helped.

Should the metacam ease his symptoms? When you say your rabbit was sneezing, how awful was it and how long do you think it should take to resolve?

Could it be something up his nose? If so, will it work its way out?!

Thanks
 
Does the sneezing look and sound like this. This is NOT my Rabbit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O39--9HR3go

Metacam is a non steroidal anti inflammatory. So if there is inflammation in Norman's nasal passages the Metacam should help reduce it. I think if he is continuing to have numerous sneezing episodes after another couple of days on Metacam I would be inclined to take him back to the Vet sooner than initially suggested by the Vet. If he starts to produce a nasal discharge and/or if his general demeanour deteriorates, or if he goes off his food then he needs to be seen by the Vet again promptly.

In my experience if there is a FB stuck up the nose there is usually a nasal discharge too. So it could be allergy related or due to him not coping too well in a centrally heated environment. Rabbits are obligate nose breathers and central heating can dry out the atmosphere which in turn can irritae the membranes in the nasal passages of some Rabbits. In such circumstances room humidifiers can help. As can turning the central heating down low/off.
 
Does the sneezing look and sound like this. This is NOT my Rabbit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O39--9HR3go

Metacam is a non steroidal anti inflammatory. So if there is inflammation in Norman's nasal passages the Metacam should help reduce it. I think if he is continuing to have numerous sneezing episodes after another couple of days on Metacam I would be inclined to take him back to the Vet sooner than initially suggested by the Vet. If he starts to produce a nasal discharge and/or if his general demeanour deteriorates, or if he goes off his food then he needs to be seen by the Vet again promptly.

In my experience if there is a FB stuck up the nose there is usually a nasal discharge too. So it could be allergy related or due to him not coping too well in a centrally heated environment. Rabbits are obligate nose breathers and central heating can dry out the atmosphere which in turn can irritae the membranes in the nasal passages of some Rabbits. In such circumstances room humidifiers can help. As can turning the central heating down low/off.

Yes its a bit like that in terms of violence but its not as raspy or chesty.

The episodes are quite prolonged today whereas before, he would let one sneeze or a couple of sneezes out and then that would be it for ages. Today, he seems to have quite a fit of sneezing, then something distracts him and then he starts again. Also, today, when he sneezes its much more powerful and like there is actually something to sneeze rather than a huffing noise which you wouldnt really notice that much.

Interestingly, he was better outside of his house tonight and didn't sneeze at all when he was out in the kitchen which is not carpeted and the air is much fresher in there.

I have turned the heating down in their room, opened a window (its freezing!) and also hoovered the carpet.

Norman is back in his house at the moment due to the hoovering and he is currently stuffing in hay. I was about to type that he wasn't sneezing but unfortunately he has started again.

Really hoping the second does of metacam in the morning helps as I can't watch him go through this much longer even though I suspect I am more bothered about it than he is!

I was just about to post this and I realised that at the weekend, I moved a hyacinth plant into his room which was on the window sill. Whilst it wasn't next to his hutch, it is strongly perfumed. I have moved that into another room just in case that wasn't helping.
 
Hi

we have a rabbit that sneezes randomly - he is an outdoor bun and sometimes has little fits of sneezes as well. We think its either an allergy or a small polyp or something high up in the nose. He has been like it since we got him years ago.

By the way hyancinths are very very toxic to animals. All parts are toxic.
 
Hi

we have a rabbit that sneezes randomly - he is an outdoor bun and sometimes has little fits of sneezes as well. We think its either an allergy or a small polyp or something high up in the nose. He has been like it since we got him years ago.

By the way hyancinths are very very toxic to animals. All parts are toxic.

Yes its OK, I know about the plants, they were well out of their way where they never go and now they aren't even in a room where they go at all at the moment. Funnily enough, since I move the hyacinth, Norman has barely sneezed although that could be just luck!

Also useful to know that some bunnies do just sneeze. Our previous ones never did so we didn't realise it could happen unless there was a big problem.

When you say your bunny does have fits of sneezing, how regularly is that?
 
Thanks for this, I feel slightly more relieved as it is really awful watching him sneeze.

Funnily enough I had forgotten about it until today when I was at home so I could see what he was doing in the day. Also, I have had the heating on all day today which is very unusual, it is usually on just in the evening.

Before he came to us, he lived outside but the RSPCA said he would be suitable for homing indoors as all they wanted to do when they were at the foster home was to be inside.

We don't have any air fresheners but I had wondered if I was setting him off as it seems to be worse with me than when my partner is around even though his deodorant is more fragrant than mine!

It seems to get set off when he is excited about food and when he is truffling in his hay. Also, if I appear suddenly it seems to happen but it does also occur randomly. He is currently hoping around the front room doing one sneeze every so often which is better than the endless sneezing that nearly got me reaching for the vet's number an hour ago when he was in his hutch.

I have got some nice meadow hay in which my previous rabbits loved but it does appear to be a bit short stranded so that might not have helped.

Should the metacam ease his symptoms? When you say your rabbit was sneezing, how awful was it and how long do you think it should take to resolve?

Could it be something up his nose? If so, will it work its way out?!

Thanks

I didn't find that Metacam made any difference at all to his sneezing. It began to settle down and after a couple of weeks was very much less, even though the hay was still there. (which was possibly what was making him sneeze).

When I took him to my vet, she was as at a loss as I was, and we decided to leave it for a while to see if it settled, which it did.

I know it's hard to watch but i do hope it will either resolve itself or the vet will have some useful suggestions for you xx
 
Hi there
I had exactly the same thing with one of my rabbits.
The sneezing sounds very similar.
I kept taking him back to the vets and being sent away saying it was allergies or something stuck in his nose as apart from the sneezing he appeared to be normal.
It turned out that he had spurs on his teeth which were not visible until he had a GA and the inside of the mouth was looked at properly.
Unfortunately the first vet I saw was not a specialist and he ended up getting an abscess.
It was not until I went to an exotic specialist who were bunny savy that he managed to get sorted and made a full recovery.

It is a tricky one, but if you are not happy with what your vet is saying then it does not hurt to get a second opinion.

Good luck
 
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