Allergies or something more?

[cindymomo]

Hey everyone, recently about a week ago my rabbit has started to sneeze a little more often than I'm used to.

I have monitored her since noticing these sneezes and there hasn't been any signs of decreased food/water intake. She doesn't have any eye or nasal discharge either. However, I noticed that one of her nostrils has become slightly bigger than the other.

My main concern is if this warrants a trip to a vet or if this is just due to a recent change in her bedding (wood chips). The bedding is still aspen wood chips (same as before) but with a different company. I'm not sure if that will affect anything. I'm suspecting it's the wood chips for now because I changed to this kind of bedding around the same time her sneezes came into effect...

I've been very paranoid as of late, please give me your opinions about this situation :s Thank you

 

[Watermelons]

Most people here do not use any bedding at all for their rabbits. Only in the litter box. This helps to cut down on extra dust and mess.
Have you used any new or different hay as well?

 

[cindymomo]

Most people here do not use any bedding at all for their rabbits. Only in the litter box. This helps to cut down on extra dust and mess.
Have you used any new or different hay as well?

I haven't changed the hay she usually has, so I'm kind of perplexed as to why she's started to sneeze. Do rabbits get seasonal allergies as well?

 

[Watermelons]

Rabbits can certainly get allergies, seasonal possibly. But reducing the dust around them in regards to hay and bedding are usually your best options. Is your rabbit litter trained? Are they a chewer? A lot of people just use fleece or towels as bedding, no shavings. And then wood stove pellets for litter. My guys are chewers so they are on ceramic tile with just litter in the litter boxes.

 

[cindymomo]

Rabbits can certainly get allergies, seasonal possibly. But reducing the dust around them in regards to hay and bedding are usually your best options. Is your rabbit litter trained? Are they a chewer? A lot of people just use fleece or towels as bedding, no shavings. And then wood stove pellets for litter. My guys are chewers so they are on ceramic tile with just litter in the litter boxes.

Ah okay, thanks for the advice! I will try using less wood shavings for bedding and see if she reacts positively towards the change. I notice she has been trying to sit in the areas with the least amount of wood shavings so it's probably a sign it's bothering her. She is litter trained and I line the litter tray with shavings under the grate that she stands on.

 

[Watermelons]

If shes litter trained you can ditch the shavings in the rest of the cage totally. Try her with a towel or fleece or a small door carpet.
Watch for chewing

 

[cindymomo]

If shes litter trained you can ditch the shavings in the rest of the cage totally. Try her with a towel or fleece or a small door carpet.
Watch for chewing

Hi, I just wanted to update on this. I cleaned out her cage yesterday and removed the shavings from the floor and just kept some in the litter tray. I replaced the shavings on the floor to a small hay mat and she has stopped sneezing since.

I was completely worried about her but I'm glad it was just dust Again, thanks for the advice! The new wood shavings must have had more dust than my rabbit was used to.