Mimzy coughing sometimes

[fuzz16]

Mimzy, I've noticed while she's laying in bed or only when shes laying down, will start sneezing and coughing. Not a lot just a couple coughs or a sneeze then she starts what looks like hiccuping.

She's acting fine, a lot more outgoing than normal, but she's free-roaming now and happier I think. Just didn't know rabbits could hiccup, and don't know why she always does after she coughs or sneezes.

Any ideas?









Also, really off-topic but have no idea where to put it. My roomie's doctor asked him if he had any pets cause that could have caused the ammonia. Litter boxes are changed daily and cages cleaned and spot cleaned. Ammonia is somewhat a problem every now and then rarely though, but the dr thinks that it could have caused the lung infection. Any ideas? Or could he be allergic to thier waste? Or them in general?

 

[tonyshuman]

There are a couple of things that can cause coughing, sneezing, and hiccups. I think she needs to go to the vet and be checked for an upper respiratory infection. Here's our library link on them: http://www.rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=16807&forum_id=10

They really can only be treated by a good rabbit vet. The vet should swab the nose and culture the bacteria, then do a sensitivity test on them to determine what antibiotics they are susceptible to. They may put Mimzy on a broad-spectrum antibiotic initially while they're waiting for the results.

Ammonia of course is released in rabbits' urine, but ifyou change the boxes everyday it shouldn't be a problem. What do you use in the boxes to absorb pee and control odor?

 

[jamesedwardwaller]

a nasal culture is necessary to identify,any offending bacteria,,soas the correct antibiotic can be prescribed.:.prey animals would rather die than exhibit weakness(it is built in)-an exotic dvm specialist is required--donot waste time/money on a wanta-be vet,not worth the life of your bun,./let me know is (enterococcus) is the prognosis//if so/actions(sneezing/coughing)-will only get worse,it is an upper respiratory infection,,,sincerely james waller

 

[fuzz16]

i use a corn cob, i think, based litter. you can get it at petsmart. not sure what its made of though

only problem with taking her to a vet, which i know a rabbit savy vet, is right now i have about 5$ in my bank account and rent is due today. with my medicine and hospital bills i wont have money till friday, which most has to go to rent...so i couldnt take her to a vet until friday.

 

[Flashy]

Can you maybe call the vet and explain the situation and see if there is anyway you could work out a payment plan? Or maybe just pay on Friday after pay day?

 

[tonyshuman]

Yea, it's pretty important to get her in soon. If you can't, Friday is ok.

The corncob bedding doesn't have a lot of dust, but it can clog up a rabbit's GI tract. When wet, the pieces tend to clump together, which can cause a blockage. I'd change to a paper-based litter or kiln dried pine when you can.

 

[fuzz16]

do you know any types of bedding you can recomend me? thats not insanely priced. she free-roams so only goes to her litter box...sometimes...to poop and pee

 

[aurora369]

If you can find a feed store near you, they normally have compressed wood pellets for horses for very cheap. They are the same as wood stove pellets, so you can by them from a hardware store for cheap as well (although normally only during the winter).

I buy my litter in 40 pound bags for $5 each.

--Dawn

 

[Pipp]

Can you post her age, breed, medical history, anything else relevant?


sas :bunnydance:

 

[BethM]

fuzz16 wrote:

do you know any types of bedding you can recomend me? thats not insanely priced. she free-roams so only goes to her litter box...sometimes...to poop and pee

I use a kiln-dried pine litter called Cozy 'n' Fresh. I get it at the Tractor Supply Company, it's about $6.49 for a 20lb bag. It is made by the same company that makes Equine Fresh. (I have heard that the Equine Fresh can be purchased for about the same price, but in a 40lb bag, but I've never seen it at the store. Might be worth asking about.) I am ok with this price, as it's about half of what Petsmart's store brand pine litter costs. Just make sure whatever you get is kiln dried.

(I purchase mine at the Tractor Supply in Olathe, so it's available in the Kansas City area.)


As for the coughing.....Nick had some coughing problem earlier this year. He did have an upper respiratory infection, and required antibiotics. Mimzy should see a vet, though, for a proper diagnosis.

 

[fuzz16]

BethM wrote:

fuzz16 wrote:

do you know any types of bedding you can recomend me? thats not insanely priced. she free-roams so only goes to her litter box...sometimes...to poop and pee

I use a kiln-dried pine litter called Cozy 'n' Fresh. I get it at the Tractor Supply Company, it's about $6.49 for a 20lb bag. It is made by the same company that makes Equine Fresh. (I have heard that the Equine Fresh can be purchased for about the same price, but in a 40lb bag, but I've never seen it at the store. Might be worth asking about.) I am ok with this price, as it's about half of what Petsmart's store brand pine litter costs. Just make sure whatever you get is kiln dried.

(I purchase mine at the Tractor Supply in Olathe, so it's available in the Kansas City area.)


As for the coughing.....Nick had some coughing problem earlier this year. He did have an upper respiratory infection, and required antibiotics. Mimzy should see a vet, though, for a proper diagnosis.

o i didnt even realize you live like 20 minutes away from me. the tractor supply store is right down the street from where i live

what vet do you use? there's some that are talked about on HRS. also, I think i may check out the h&h post, if you know where that is. for bedding. i get thier food there.

 

[BethM]

fuzz16 wrote:

BethM wrote:

fuzz16 wrote:

do you know any types of bedding you can recomend me? thats not insanely priced. she free-roams so only goes to her litter box...sometimes...to poop and pee

I use a kiln-dried pine litter called Cozy 'n' Fresh. I get it at the Tractor Supply Company, it's about $6.49 for a 20lb bag. It is made by the same company that makes Equine Fresh. (I have heard that the Equine Fresh can be purchased for about the same price, but in a 40lb bag, but I've never seen it at the store. Might be worth asking about.) I am ok with this price, as it's about half of what Petsmart's store brand pine litter costs. Just make sure whatever you get is kiln dried.

(I purchase mine at the Tractor Supply in Olathe, so it's available in the Kansas City area.)


As for the coughing.....Nick had some coughing problem earlier this year. He did have an upper respiratory infection, and required antibiotics. Mimzy should see a vet, though, for a proper diagnosis.

o i didnt even realize you live like 20 minutes away from me. the tractor supply store is right down the street from where i live

what vet do you use? there's some that are talked about on HRS. also, I think i may check out the h&h post, if you know where that is. for bedding. i get thier food there.

Yeah, I live in Shawnee, work in Olathe.
I'm not familiar with the h&h post, but if they sell horse supplies, they might have a good kiln-dried pine litter (stall bedding). The Tractor Supply has the one I use, Cozy 'n' Fresh, in the small animal section. Like I said, it's much less expensive than Feline Pine (or Exquisicat) which is almost exactly the same thing. It absorbs really well.

I take my bunnies to KC Vet Care (used to be Hecker Animal Clinic) over in the Waldo area. It's a little of a drive, but the exotics vets there are excellent with rabbits. I believe an exotics exam is $40 or $45, I can't remember which. Of course, cultures, x-rays, etc. are extra. I don't know if they offer payment plans, you might call and ask them. There are some other good rabbit-savvy vets in town, but I've always just taken mine to KC Vet Care.