Hi, I first noticed my rabbit seemed to be having breathing difficulties about 5 weeks ago. She was drinking alot less than normal and faces her head in the air all the time and is breathing rapidly. Also she stops eating sometimes to get her breathe back for a few minutes before then continuing to eat. I have taken her to the vets and had x-rays done, blood test and urine test. Everything came back clear and normal. We had her results sent to a specialist and they said they don't know what it could be. She seems to still have a good appetite but is constantly breathing fast and heavy, which she wasn't before. She is 3 years old and sprayed. She is a house rabbit living in a room in her own hutch but there is a bonded pair living in the room in a separate hutch (both have no health issues). I feel I've tried everything and I'm running out of ideas, has anyone got any suggestions? Many thanks.
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Rabbit seems to have breathing difficulties
- Thread starter Icefly555
- Start date
Jack's-Jane
Wise Old Thumper
Hello, I am sorry to hear of your Rabbits illness. Has she received any treatment such as a course of antibiotics ? Are you located in the UK ?
When you say that the results were sent to a 'Specialist' do you mean an Exotics Specialist ? Has a cardiologist been involved at all ?
Do you have copies of the blood test and Xray results ?
Thanks for your reply. She had a course of antibiotics and metacam which doesn't seem to have improved her condition. I am based in the UK.
To be honest I think the specialist the results were sent to was a vet that specialises in rabbits based in London. As far as I know I don't think a cardiologist was involved and I didn't receive the copies of the tests that were undertaken but I may be able to get these from the vets.
To be honest I think the specialist the results were sent to was a vet that specialises in rabbits based in London. As far as I know I don't think a cardiologist was involved and I didn't receive the copies of the tests that were undertaken but I may be able to get these from the vets.
Jack's-Jane
Wise Old Thumper
Maybe the Specialist was one based here :
https://www.rvc.ac.uk/small-animal-vet/general-practice
If so they are very good.
Does your Rabbit have sneezing episodes ? Either with or without the production of mucus ?
When she puts her head down to eat or if you pick her up do you ever notice that her eyes appear to bulge at all ?
Yes that was who our vets contacted.
She occasionally has sneezing episodes without mucus but not very often.
I just fed her and when she put her head down I could slightly see the whites of her eyes but I wouldn't say excessively.
She seems to chew with her head up after taking a mouth full.
She occasionally has sneezing episodes without mucus but not very often.
I just fed her and when she put her head down I could slightly see the whites of her eyes but I wouldn't say excessively.
She seems to chew with her head up after taking a mouth full.
Jack's-Jane
Wise Old Thumper
Has any Vet mentioned a Thymoma ? Although I would have thought that would have shown up on a chest Xray and blood abnormalities are usually found too
https://www.michvma.org/resources/Documents/MVC/2018 Proceedings/graham_03.pdf
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Jack's-Jane
Wise Old Thumper
I did post this link above https://www.michvma.org/resources/Documents/MVC/2018 Proceedings/graham_03.pdf
Another one to ask the Vet about is Laryngeal Paralysis, rare in Rabbits AFAIK and a Laryngoscopy would be needed as part of the diagnostic workup. Xrays and blood tests would not be helpful to diagnose LP, but would be to identify other possible causes of the symptoms
Some info about LP here, although it applies to the condition in dogs
https://yarmouthvetcenter.com/laryngeal-paralysis.pml
and a bit more clinical info
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3671890
This probably does not apply unless your Bunny had a surgical procedure prior to the onset of symptoms
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1258/002367706777611415
