Need a little help. (Rabbit breathes heavy)

[Offspring2099]

Hello,

I have a Neitherland Dwarf (Molly) that started to breathe heavy a few months back. Here is what I've noticed. She is ok during the day, when she rests, but when I let her out she runs around in the morning and the eventing and starts to breathe very heavy. I wet her ears but it doesn't seem to help.

We try to keep our room at around 75F. She eats good, poops good and seems happy, but have started to be more moody, like something is bothering her. I have taken her to the vet twice, and they keep telling me that its normal. I have had her for 2 years, and know that it is not normal, or at least she wasn't like this. She was spaded about a year ago at the age of about 1 year and 5 months.

If you have any suggestions please let me know. Thank you for your time.

 

[Spring]

Hey, and welcome to the forum!

Any coughing? Sound of congestion?

If it's just the breathing heavily while she's running, that's fine. My bun Pebbles after a few minutes of out time, her nose usually goes a mile a minute and she huffs and puffs after a nice long run.It shouldn't be anything to worry about, especially since the vet gave her the ok with her health.

Hmm. Did you change anything with her surroundings that may have made her moody? Rabbits do have their off days and she may just need a little space. Any scratching? Itching? What sort of behavoir is she doing that suggests she's moody?

 

[Offspring2099]

Thanks for a quick reply,

No coughing, no congestion. What is bother me is that it's turned into a little of walking around the room and then heavy breathing. She doesn't have to run around and be all nuts, to start panting heavy.

It's also day to day. For example today she seems more tired. She didn't run around much, just sat there and panted, after jogging and snooping around the room. But yesterday she was running crazy, but ofcourse panted heavly afterwards.

One thing I know for sure is the day that I noticed this was in May. It was sudden. One day she was panting pretty heavy for no reason. It did not come as a gradual change.

I'm stumped. So far two vet visits. There is another vet specialist in our area. I'm considering going, but my giftfriend and I just spend over $1000 for my other bun's mollar extraction, so I want to make sure if this is a false alarm or not.

Thanks again.

 

[bbgrl20]

:welcome1:hello

If this is something you are really concerned about, maybe you should ask if you could do a general health profile on your bun (blood work) this will check all levels and make sure they are normal. this could help put your worries at ease.

 

[Spring]

I'm really not sure. Someone with more experience in this could give you maybe better advice, because I'm just going by experience.

How much does she weigh?

I can't really see anything healthrelated because it only happends when she is active. It could be something with theweather change also.

I hope you get a second opinion soon!

 

[Offspring2099]

Blood work, I was thinking that too.

...

She weighs at about 2.5-3lbs. No signs of obesity, that I can see.

She was born and brought from Nebraska, now we are in southern California, but as I say before, we keep the room at 75. If it gets to 80, very rare, I put in iced bottles, wet ears.

 

[Starlight Rabbitry]

She could have a heart defect. Did the vet listen to her heart?

Sharon

 

[Pipp]

moved this to the infirmary... hope you get to the bottom of it soon.

 

[naturestee]

Definately needs a vet appointment. The tests shouldn't be too expensive. At my vet's a blood panel is about $20, although his prices are lower than a lot of other vets that forum members have. But you should have a blood panel done and have her heart checked out because heavy breathing can be a sign of heart problems. Also make sure he listens to her lungs, because sometimes deep lung infections have no outward signs except trouble breathing.

Oh, and how's her weight? When I adopted Loki he breathed heavy and wheezed a lot. He also couldn't lie with his head down. My vet said it was due to his obesity (he felt like furry jello). Sure enough, it went away as he got more healthy and now he doesn't pant or wheeze at all.

 

[Offspring2099]

She is at about 2.5lbs. I don't know if they checked her heart or lungs, but I'll ask this time. Thank you all. I'll be making an apt. for this week.

 

[bbgrl20]

If you are located in orange county the vet hospital I work for has a wonderful vet. ( She sees and treats all my buns) I won't lie though, treatment there is pretty expensive, just for a dr visit is 50 and blood work is about 130 (don't know if it is more for exotics) If you are in that area let me know I can PM you the info

~BRE~

 

[Offspring2099]

Molly went to the vet today. The vet said that she has good teeth, took an ex-ray, said that she looks good, her heart is good size, he couldn't see any problems with lungs or stomach. Last thing they did was take blood, and we should see the results on Sun. or Monday.

 

[naturestee]

She sounds pretty healthy. I hope your vet can get to the bottom of this.

 

[Offspring2099]

Well, another vet visit and no news. The blood work checked out fine. She still breathes heavy when not playing. And very heavy after even strolling from first to second level in her bunny home. Seems more tired too, sleepy. I have no clue. I know I can go get a cat scan done or mri but that’s just ridicules. Thanks for all the help and suggestions so far.

On another note the vet said that it could be some kind of environment problem. Maybe she developed some kind of mental reaction to my other rabbit. They never liked each other. So no they are separated so they can't see each other 24/7, a week has passed with no improvement.

 

[Bo B Bunny]

Have you changed anything you clean with, feed her, or even your own laundry aids?

My rabbit has allergies to dust and will sneeze and stuff when he's around it.

 

[Offspring2099]

I'll try to go over things again with my girl and see if we changed anything. I'm going to start dusting a lot more in that room. If its respetory, I hope we are not too late.

 

[pamnock]

The facial construction can sometimes be a factor in breathing noises. The round headed Netherland Dwarfs may be more likely to make heavy breathing noises.

Overweight rabbits are also prone to heavy breathing.

Pam

 

[Offspring2099]

Well, Molly is pretty small and doesn't lookover weight, I dont hear any weezing either. Lately (in thelast week) she is been very lazy. Doesn't run much on hermorning and evening outings. She walks around and then sitsin a ball. Right now is the time where she would be runningaround,( she was VERY active, ) well she is in her open cage anddoesn't want to come out.

Maybe another vet? I can't watch her like this anymore.

 

[Pipp]

Are you spending any less time with her than usual? Could she be depressed?

Any new pets in the house? Boyfriend/girlfriends/kids getting your attention?

(Grasping at straws, here, but mine is bonded with me and will mopewhen I don't have time for our long petting sessions, cuddles and whenI don't sleep with her).



sas

 

[Morgan223]

Hi—I saw this thread and I’m having a similar issue. I’ve had my bunny for 2 days now. She came to me via an airplane so she had to get a health certificate from a vet before she came. She seems to be breathing really quickly and her sides move in and out when she breathes and her head bobs sometimes. She lives inside and my heater is set at 70 degrees so she’s not overheating. She’s eating, pooping, playing with me, letting me hold her, and isn’t lethargic at all. She’s not wheezing, and has no discharge coming from her nose. I don’t think she’s stressed either. How worried should I be?