Chief is breathing noisily again! U/d June, eye issues now too

[twistedtiggerz69]

Thank you Bunny Momma. Yes I managed to get a good night's sleep and feeling much better today. Chief has been eating and pooping fine. He is grumpy still and does get moody throwing his bowl around which is a heavy pyrex bowl. He is very strong. I wonder can teeth cause sneezing? He had his teeth filed down October last year. I have been assuming it is Snuffles x

 

[twistedtiggerz69]

PDSA rang and we have an appointment at 4.50pm for Mischief. I also mentioned his weepy eyes so that vet will check them too. So relieved they gave us an appointment as did not want to ring them again as the line is to be kept free for emergencies

 

[InspectorMorse]

Thank you. I rang PDSA this morning to push that I don't want to leave him too long without seeing a vet as a respiratory infection with rabbits can be easy to miss as they hide their illnesses. She asked me if I had requested an appointment and said yes we have submitted a request.

The receptionist said we are going through the list now so we will probably give you an appointment today. I feel awkward pushing it any further as he has been looking fine for the last 2 days and they probably have emergencies to deal with. But I also know that Snuffles can be hidden until it's too late. She said it was fine to call if I am concerned and we should hear back soon. I just hope he is seen today and get his runny eyes sorted aswell. His runny eyes are just a little and we clean them but I think he should have them checked aswell and get a daily eye drops maybe?

Runny eyes can be dental related - elongated tooth roots press on the nasolacrimal ducts preventing them from draining. Elongated tooth roots can only be diagnosed from skull radiographs. The Vet will need to establish if the ducts are draining and if not why not. It there is an active bacterial infection then abx eye drops would be required. The Vet will also need to check that there isn’t any damage/ulceration to the corneas.

 

[twistedtiggerz69]

Thank you for that information. I will ask the vets to check if his teeth may need doing or whether it is related to his sneezing and noisy breathing x

 

[a reader of books]

I hope he gets seen tomorrow. I will question his weight then to see how much he still needs to lose.

Aw I hope Sophie has better health from now on. It is such a worry isn't it? x

We weighed him today and he has now lost 800g since 4 weeks ago and is so spritely running about. Is that too much to lose so quick do you know? He is geting quicker when he runs I am sure. And he does his binkies again where he jumps up and turns so is facing the other way and shakes his head and you see his ears suddenly appear the other side of the bed as he jumps then his ears disappear again. I love it when he does that ❤

Aww, I'm so glad to hear that he's moving better and doing binkies again. He sounds so adorable. I'm not sure if 800g in 4 weeks is too much. It depends on how big he is, I suppose. I mean, if Casper lost 800g in 4 weeks that would obviously be very bad, but I know Chief is a lot bigger. I'm sure the vet can tell you today. I'm really glad they can see him today. I hope it'll be a good appointment and that they can figure out what's happening with his breathing and sneezing and runny eyes, and that they can help you figure out a good weight for him.

 

[Pets mum]

Glad to hear that you have a vet appointment, fingers and paws crossed here that all goes well for him x

 

[Omi]

I hope that the vet appointment goes well for Mischief.

 

[twistedtiggerz69]

Thank you Omi for your message

 

[twistedtiggerz69]

Glad to hear that you have a vet appointment, fingers and paws crossed here that all goes well for him x

Thank you so much Pets mum

 

[twistedtiggerz69]

Aww, I'm so glad to hear that he's moving better and doing binkies again. He sounds so adorable. I'm not sure if 800g in 4 weeks is too much. It depends on how big he is, I suppose. I mean, if Casper lost 800g in 4 weeks that would obviously be very bad, but I know Chief is a lot bigger. I'm sure the vet can tell you today. I'm really glad they can see him today. I hope it'll be a good appointment and that they can figure out what's happening with his breathing and sneezing and runny eyes, and that they can help you figure out a good weight for him.

Sorry I meant 800g in total. Sorry my brain gets really foggy since my mini stroke and my meds make me very drowsy. I was worried about falling about everywhere at the vets! My OH was told he had to lift him up etc but I could stroke him to pacify him.

Thank you for your message a Reader of Books x

 

[twistedtiggerz69]

We took Mischief and Lillabelle to the vets. We have to take them in seperate carriers but when we get to the vets we have them facing each other at the vets. I like to think it helps Chief as he gets so stressed. Lillabelle was a nightmare to catch though! She was on to us at the start after already having to go to the vets on Monday. Chief was fast breathing from the moment he got in the carrier but Lillabelle seemed quite chilled.

The vet checked his heart, his lungs, his temperature and looked in his eyes and ears. She said he was in good health and she thinks it is most likely to be an allergy or something up his nose like a spike of hay or dust.

She asked about his environment. I said that we had realised yesterday that the dry herbs and flowers we feed him can be very dusty and could be what affects his nose. We had decided to put their herbs through a sieve to see if that helps. She agreed it could be that.

She also said his eyes seem fine and maybe we could get eye drops for dry, irritated eyes from a chemist. Is that safe for rabbits does anyone know please? She said it would be fine for a rabbit. His hair is so fine and flies everywhere and the triage nurse commented about it. I realised then that his hair gets in our eyes all thr time and I actually have eye drops for this myself. I feel a bit dumn that I didn't see this for myself

I then asked about his weight. They weighed him and he 5.55 kg. That means he has lost 745g so far. She said he is a good weight for an older bunny as can feel his spine and ribs ok. I said he still has a tummy though and she agreed and said maybe 5.4 kgs would be a good target weight for him but it would be good for him to have a little weight on him now he is older.

So we have done it. He is now a good weight. And I am so proud of him for only being a little grumpy even though he had his food reduced every week or two. Maybe he growled and pounce at us whenever we cleared away any dry herbs they had left overnight but he saw it as protected his food even though it was only dust

I am so happy it is not an infection. I realise he may have an allergy but hopefully it is just the fur that makes him sneeze. He is moulting and he has an extremely thick, long coat and the fur is like candy floss. It gets in our eyes and it is too fine to see so hard to remove. We will get him drops and hopefully that will help him.

PDSA did not charge us anything. Mischief is our main pet that we have registered so we are not charged for the appointment. And he needed no medication. I think they are marvellous. They are so good with Mischief. We gave them £30 donation happily. I wish we had more. So happy he is well and has no horrid infection ❤

 

[Pets mum]

That's a lovely update, I'm so pleased it was a good vet visit, they sound really thorough. Good news that an infection has been ruled out, hope Mishief stays well now, and hope Lillabelle has forgiven you

 

[twistedtiggerz69]

no she hasn't yet bless her. She has finally come out for her dinner after hiding under the bed all evening. And as yet has not come for her pellets. Oh hold on. She has just jumped up but Daddy is watching footie. I think it will be me feeding her then

Poor Chief is bushed. He has fallen asleep in the sphinx position and is squeaking like Sooty the dog puppet. He is so adorable when he does this. His little face twitches, his body shakes and he squeaks. He does this all the time and we just sit there listening to him going 'awwwww'.

 

[bunny momma]

I am so pleased Mr Chief had a good appointment. Perhaps you can ask the chemist if artificial tears ( some come in little vials and have no preservatives ) would be safe to use on Mr Chief.
Sending him and Mrs Chief lots of vibes.
Good job controlling his weight.

 

[KCG]

I'm so glad Mischichef was seen by the vet. We have the same problem, so we visited the vet very frequently for the first 2 years, it is very confusing to understand whether it is an allergy or a respiratory infection, it is a real tricky mode. So I understand your concern. I'm so glad it's just allergies, I hope little Mischichef will make a full recovery soon 🩷🩷🩷🩷

 

[a reader of books]

Sorry I meant 800g in total. Sorry my brain gets really foggy since my mini stroke and my meds make me very drowsy. I was worried about falling about everywhere at the vets! My OH was told he had to lift him up etc but I could stroke him to pacify him.

Thank you for your message a Reader of Books x

That's really okay. I'm sorry you were so worried about falling at the vets, though! I'm so glad Mischief's appointment went so well. Sounds like the vet looked him over really well, and I'm glad he doesn't have an infection and that his eyes seem fine. And that's so wonderful that he's a good weight, yay! Well done, you and Mischief!

 

[twistedtiggerz69]

I'm so glad Mischichef was seen by the vet. We have the same problem, so we visited the vet very frequently for the first 2 years, it is very confusing to understand whether it is an allergy or a respiratory infection, it is a real tricky mode. So I understand your concern. I'm so glad it's just allergies, I hope little Mischichef will make a full recovery soon 🩷🩷🩷🩷

Yes it is confusing. I get advice off here though which really helps but this forum always says to take them to a vet if you don't know. Which I think is best advice. Our buns can't tell you how they feel so yes this forum really helps us to make the right decision for the bunny. I hope Cookie is ok and his poops stay big but I am not one to give you advice as I don't know enough. But I can give Cookie lots of vibes

 

[twistedtiggerz69]

I am so pleased Mr Chief had a good appointment. Perhaps you can ask the chemist if artificial tears ( some come in little vials and have no preservatives ) would be safe to use on Mr Chief.
Sending him and Mrs Chief lots of vibes.
Good job controlling his weight.

Thank you Bunny Momma. I asked my OH to check at the pharmacy for artificial tears. He forgot today though. There are eye drops on Amazon that say they are safe for rabbits, cats and dogs. Would they be safe? I don't know how to check that artificial tears are safe for bunnies though. Is there any drops that we know are safe we can order online please? I don't go out much except for appointments right now.

 

[twistedtiggerz69]

That's really okay. I'm sorry you were so worried about falling at the vets, though! I'm so glad Mischief's appointment went so well. Sounds like the vet looked him over really well, and I'm glad he doesn't have an infection and that his eyes seem fine. And that's so wonderful that he's a good weight, yay! Well done, you and Mischief!

Yes I am really happy since the vets. Yes I was really worried they thought I had been drinking! So I mentioned I was on lots of drugs and asked my OH to get him out his carrier. They seemed fine about it.

I am pleased his eyes are not red but they did go red in the past. I need to sort him some eye drops as it is really uncomfortable when his fine hair gets in your eyes. I need to know which wye drops are safe. Or artificial tears if they are safe.

He still has quite a big tummy though. I can feel his spine and ribs but he has a big tummy. Does he need to lose a little more then? Or do older rabbits get tummies? He is 5 and a half. As french lops live usually 5-7 years I am mindful he is an elderly bun now. He really looks like an old man bless him. But he is still spritely and does half jumps and turns 90° but he chases Lillabelle about and nearly catches her by cutting a corner off. They are fun to watch. Lillabelle is like lightning though. So fast.

 

[a reader of books]

Yes I am really happy since the vets. Yes I was really worried they thought I had been drinking! So I mentioned I was on lots of drugs and asked my OH to get him out his carrier. They seemed fine about it.

I am pleased his eyes are not red but they did go red in the past. I need to sort him some eye drops as it is really uncomfortable when his fine hair gets in your eyes. I need to know which wye drops are safe. Or artificial tears if they are safe.

He still has quite a big tummy though. I can feel his spine and ribs but he has a big tummy. Does he need to lose a little more then? Or do older rabbits get tummies? He is 5 and a half. As french lops live usually 5-7 years I am mindful he is an elderly bun now. He really looks like an old man bless him. But he is still spritely and does half jumps and turns 90° but he chases Lillabelle about and nearly catches her by cutting a corner off. They are fun to watch. Lillabelle is like lightning though. So fast.

Aw, I understand that worry. I start walking like a drunk when I've done too much; my legs go in all the wrong directions! I'm glad they were understanding.

I hope you can get Mischief some eye drops. Maybe you can call or email the vets and ask which ones are safe for him?

Aww, old man Chief. Sounds like he's in wonderful shape, though, though it also sounds like Lilabelle is just a bit too fast for him, haha. I think I wouldn't worry too much about his belly if the vet said he was a good weight now. The vet said he can lose a little more, right? So, maybe try that? But maybe he's just built very solidly. Sophie was like that when she was young; she always had a very round belly, even when she was a good weight.