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My rabbit struggles to breath when out of her cage

174Mandy

New Kit
hi I have a rabbit she's approx 6yrs old she shares her hutch with her mummy . The last 3 times I have taken her out of her cage to let her have a run round the garden she seems to struggle to breath !!! Her mouth opens quite far as if she is gasping for breathe but within 15 minutes of putting her back in her cage she's fine as if nothing has happened . She's eating fine drinking fine and very active eyes are clear too , does anyone have any idea why this could be happening ???
 
No but I would take her to a vets to check her over. My rabbit runs around the house all the time and she certainly isn't gasping for breath. She may have an infection, rabbits can get pneumonia so she may need a course of antibiotics.
 
hi I have a rabbit she's approx 6yrs old she shares her hutch with her mummy . The last 3 times I have taken her out of her cage to let her have a run round the garden she seems to struggle to breath !!! Her mouth opens quite far as if she is gasping for breathe but within 15 minutes of putting her back in her cage she's fine as if nothing has happened . She's eating fine drinking fine and very active eyes are clear too , does anyone have any idea why this could be happening ???

Hello

You need to take your Rabbit to a Vet as a matter of urgency. Mouth breathing is a very serious symptom in Rabbits. If it occurs only during/after exercise and the Rabbit is in all other ways well within themselves then a heart problem is one strong possibility.

Is your Rabbit spayed ? If not then unfortunately Uterine Adenocarcinoma is another possibility. Cancer of the uterus is common in older (5+) unspayed Does and the cancer often spreads to the lungs. This would cause a compromised lung function-ie the 'struggling to breathe'.

I hope that you are able to get your Rabbit seen by a Vet this afternoon

Good luck x
 
I have no idea, My Rabbits sprint across our house and sadly don't have breathing problems. Is she panicking about something? A nervous Rabbit? I would defo get her to the vets with that and I really hope you get to the bottom of it, you must be worried sick :(. Best of luck. xx
 
hi I have a rabbit she's approx 6yrs old she shares her hutch with her mummy . The last 3 times I have taken her out of her cage to let her have a run round the garden she seems to struggle to breath !!! Her mouth opens quite far as if she is gasping for breathe but within 15 minutes of putting her back in her cage she's fine as if nothing has happened . She's eating fine drinking fine and very active eyes are clear too , does anyone have any idea why this could be happening ???

Hi Mandy and welcome to RU :wave:

I don't know how long the problem has been going on with your rabbit mouth breathing, but you should take her to see a vet as soon as possible.

Look here, published by the Rabbit Welfare Association:
http://www.rabbitwelfare.co.uk/reso...When your rabbit needs to see the vet now.pdf

Mouth breathing is one of the rabbit emergencies!

Good luck at the vet xx
 
I can only echo what others have said, it really is urgent that you get her to a rabbit knowledgeable vet. I have had a bunny who would mouth breath with exertion and also when stressed, with him it was a bacterial infection in his lungs.

I hope your bunny will be OK and whatever is causing her mouth breathing is treatable.
 
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