Hi all, my female Holland lop who is 1.5 years old is secreting some sort of milky substance, but from where I don’t know. I have seen it a few times over the course of a few weeks. I assumed it was drops of her calcium in her pee as she is not spayed and sometimes pees tiny drops on surfaces. However just now she was sitting right next to me and she shook her paws to clean her face and I noticed a white dot fly on to the table. It’s definitely not calcium or her pee as her bottom was not near the spot. I checked her nose and eyes there’s no discharge and they are not wet either. Could it be from her mouth? Or is it milk lol? From her nipples? It’s like a watery milky spot quite tiny like smaller than a pea. Her appetite is fine and she is acting fine and like I said I have noticed this a few weeks ago too so if it was something that serious she’d likely show other signs?am I right?
Any idea what this is?
- Thread starter Littlebun
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It's impossible to say without having an idea or suspicion where it's coming from, as that will determine if it's something to be concerned about or not.
White discharge from the nose, eyes or mouth indicates a likely bacterial infection. Even if you aren't seeing discharge from the nose, your rabbit could be wiping it away before you're able to see it. Check the inside area of the front legs/paws for a matted dirty crusty look to the fur. This will happen from the white sticky discharge from the nose, being wiped and accumulating there on the fur.
https://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/rabbit-snuffles/
https://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Eye_diseases/Differential/Runny_eyes.htm
https://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Respiratory/Bacterial/URI.htm
From the nipples could possibly be milk, as they can lactate while having a false pregnancy. But from an unspayed doe, there's also the concern about abnormal reproductive issues, particularly as a doe gets older. And then there's white discharge from the uterus indicating a likely uterine infection.
https://www.stortvet.com/uterine-problems/
If the white substance is from the urine and it's thickened or dries thick and pasty or sticky, this indicates likely bladder sludge. If it's a watery consistency with some white cloudiness, or when it dries it's chalky, this is usually just normal calcium being excreted and not usually an indication of bladder sludge issues.
https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Urine
https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Bladder_sludge_and_stones
But if you have any concerns about a potential health issue, it's best to consult with a knowledgeable rabbit vet.
https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Veterinary_emergencies
https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Choosing_a_rabbit_veterinarian
White discharge from the nose, eyes or mouth indicates a likely bacterial infection. Even if you aren't seeing discharge from the nose, your rabbit could be wiping it away before you're able to see it. Check the inside area of the front legs/paws for a matted dirty crusty look to the fur. This will happen from the white sticky discharge from the nose, being wiped and accumulating there on the fur.
https://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/rabbit-snuffles/
https://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Eye_diseases/Differential/Runny_eyes.htm
https://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Respiratory/Bacterial/URI.htm
From the nipples could possibly be milk, as they can lactate while having a false pregnancy. But from an unspayed doe, there's also the concern about abnormal reproductive issues, particularly as a doe gets older. And then there's white discharge from the uterus indicating a likely uterine infection.
https://www.stortvet.com/uterine-problems/
If the white substance is from the urine and it's thickened or dries thick and pasty or sticky, this indicates likely bladder sludge. If it's a watery consistency with some white cloudiness, or when it dries it's chalky, this is usually just normal calcium being excreted and not usually an indication of bladder sludge issues.
https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Urine
https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Bladder_sludge_and_stones
But if you have any concerns about a potential health issue, it's best to consult with a knowledgeable rabbit vet.
https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Veterinary_emergencies
https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Choosing_a_rabbit_veterinarian
Thanks for your reply, if it’s from the nose wouldn’t she be sneezing as well? I’ve not seen or heard her sneeze at all. I’ll try to take a photo of the substance next time it happens and send it to my vet and share it here
Hey, so I started this post back in September 2024. My bunny didn’t have any other noticeable symptoms so I forgot about the white discharge. I didn’t really see it after that either. However just now she was eating a yellow pepper and I was filming her and I noticed white discharge spray out of her nose and then she wiped it off quickly. I caught it on video. She’s not showing any other symptoms and her appetite is normal. She’s not hiding or acting unusual. Is this a cause for concern? Or is this just some pepper juice or something coming out from her nose
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White discharge from the nose is always a cause for concern as it's a definitive sign of a bacterial infection (pus from infection is white in rabbits). This is extremely unlikely to clear up without the proper rabbit safe antibiotic. Even if you don't see anymore white discharge for a while, it doesn't mean it's gone. There's still an infection up there in the nasal cavity and you just aren't seeing the discharge.
https://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Respiratory/Bacterial/URI.htm
https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Snuffles
The problem with not getting this properly treated in a timely manner, is the infection can worsen and spread to other places like the tear duct, eyes, lungs (causing pneumonia), or brain. Or it may have stemmed from a tooth root infection that has spread to the nasal cavity. Which can continue to worsen. An untreated upper respiratory infection can also cause erosion of the tissue and cartilage in the nose, which can eventually spread to the blood stream causing sepsis. This can all happen quickly, or it can develop over many months.
So it's important that you get your rabbit checked by a knowledgeable rabbit vet very soon, so the proper treatment can be started. Usually this involves looking up the nose with an otoscope to try and see the infection visibly, possibly doing a swab and culture of the bacteria, and possible head xrays. Then treatment will usually be a rabbit safe antibiotic, meloxicam (anti inflammatory), and a mucolytic or antihistamine. In more severe cases, a heavier duty rabbit safe antibiotic may be needed, along with possible nebulizing.
https://www.medirabbit.com/Safe_medication/Antibiotics/Safe_antibiotics.htm
https://www.medirabbit.com/Unsafe_medication/dangerous_antibiotics.htm
You want to find as knowledgeable a rabbit vet as possible, as improper treatment can delay or stop recovery. At worst, cause worsening of illness or possibly risk of life. If you aren't sure if this is an infection or if anything is going on, and you do have access to a good rabbit vet, my opinion is it's better to be safe and have the rabbit checked out.
https://www.rabbitvet.net
https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Category:Asia
https://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Respiratory/Bacterial/URI.htm
https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Snuffles
The problem with not getting this properly treated in a timely manner, is the infection can worsen and spread to other places like the tear duct, eyes, lungs (causing pneumonia), or brain. Or it may have stemmed from a tooth root infection that has spread to the nasal cavity. Which can continue to worsen. An untreated upper respiratory infection can also cause erosion of the tissue and cartilage in the nose, which can eventually spread to the blood stream causing sepsis. This can all happen quickly, or it can develop over many months.
So it's important that you get your rabbit checked by a knowledgeable rabbit vet very soon, so the proper treatment can be started. Usually this involves looking up the nose with an otoscope to try and see the infection visibly, possibly doing a swab and culture of the bacteria, and possible head xrays. Then treatment will usually be a rabbit safe antibiotic, meloxicam (anti inflammatory), and a mucolytic or antihistamine. In more severe cases, a heavier duty rabbit safe antibiotic may be needed, along with possible nebulizing.
https://www.medirabbit.com/Safe_medication/Antibiotics/Safe_antibiotics.htm
https://www.medirabbit.com/Unsafe_medication/dangerous_antibiotics.htm
You want to find as knowledgeable a rabbit vet as possible, as improper treatment can delay or stop recovery. At worst, cause worsening of illness or possibly risk of life. If you aren't sure if this is an infection or if anything is going on, and you do have access to a good rabbit vet, my opinion is it's better to be safe and have the rabbit checked out.
https://www.rabbitvet.net
https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Category:Asia
Thank you for the detailed response. Unfortunately a rabbit savvy vet in my city is impossible to find. A lot of them claim to treat rabbits but I don’t find them reassuring. I guess I could try and take her to one but he might just make things worse. What if i start her on treatment without consulting a vet? Could you guide me on the dosage etc? I live in a third world country and I honestly don’t trust the vets here and until now I’ve not needed one
It depends what medications you have access to. If you can get enrofloxacin and metacam (meloxicam), that's a place to start. Though enrofloxacin may not work and a different antibiotic may be needed.
I can share common doses used and the link where the info is found.
Check the vet links I posted above too. The ones listed are supposedly knowledgeable rabbit vets. Maybe you'll find one is near your location.
I can share common doses used and the link where the info is found.
Check the vet links I posted above too. The ones listed are supposedly knowledgeable rabbit vets. Maybe you'll find one is near your location.
I think these medicines should be available. Are they injectable or given orally? And would you still advise I use them given my rabbit is active, eating and pooping normally and not sneezing? Or would you advise I wait a few more days and monitor her symptoms? I mean, if I give her these meds, & let’s assume she doesn’t have any infection, would I be doing her harm?
Enrofloxacin and meloxicam are typically considered safe to give orally to rabbits, unless you have some different type of formulation than what is commonly used in the US/Europe, and has added ingredients that might not be safe for rabbits, like high levels of artificial sweeteners. But there is also the possibility in rare instances, for any person or animal to have a negative reaction to any medication. So though these are common meds generally considered safe for rabbits, there's always the potential for a negative reaction.
But in normal circumstances they're usually considered safe for rabbits and are 2 of the most common medications used to treat minor to moderate infections and inflammation in rabbits. I've had a vet prescribe both on many occasions to several of my rabbits with no ill effects. Though do be aware that meloxicam is a NSAID, so should be given when a rabbit has food in their stomach and is drinking well, as to minimize gastric irritation or irritation to the kidneys. And as a NSAID, shouldn't be given if a rabbit has potential or known, kidney issues or gastric ulcers. Also be aware that rabbits generally detest the taste of enrofloxacin, so it usually isn't taken willingly by them even when mixed in a sweetened suspension to give orally.
https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Common_drug_dosages_for_rabbits
It's your rabbit, so your choice. I've just shared my opinion of what I think the sign of possible white discharge likely is, but without actually seeing it for myself in person especially, I could be wrong and maybe there isn't actually white discharge. This could also be the possibility if your rabbit isn't sneezing more than normal and doesn't have matted fur on the insides of the front paws from wiping sticky discharge off.
But if it is an infection, your rabbit could go on for several more months without it worsening or causing complications, or it could suddenly worsen and/or spread and cause the complications I went through above. These are just common likely outcomes when a rabbit has a URI, but nothing is a certainty.
If you think your rabbit does have a likely URI, my opinion as a normal rabbit owner and non medical person, would be to treat while it's not yet worsened, as you would have a better chance of getting it cleared up more easily. But being your rabbit, the choice is yours to make. You can certainly decide to wait and see if it wasn't what you thought and your rabbit is fine, or if the white discharge shows up again and you'll know for sure at that point.
But in normal circumstances they're usually considered safe for rabbits and are 2 of the most common medications used to treat minor to moderate infections and inflammation in rabbits. I've had a vet prescribe both on many occasions to several of my rabbits with no ill effects. Though do be aware that meloxicam is a NSAID, so should be given when a rabbit has food in their stomach and is drinking well, as to minimize gastric irritation or irritation to the kidneys. And as a NSAID, shouldn't be given if a rabbit has potential or known, kidney issues or gastric ulcers. Also be aware that rabbits generally detest the taste of enrofloxacin, so it usually isn't taken willingly by them even when mixed in a sweetened suspension to give orally.
https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Common_drug_dosages_for_rabbits
It's your rabbit, so your choice. I've just shared my opinion of what I think the sign of possible white discharge likely is, but without actually seeing it for myself in person especially, I could be wrong and maybe there isn't actually white discharge. This could also be the possibility if your rabbit isn't sneezing more than normal and doesn't have matted fur on the insides of the front paws from wiping sticky discharge off.
But if it is an infection, your rabbit could go on for several more months without it worsening or causing complications, or it could suddenly worsen and/or spread and cause the complications I went through above. These are just common likely outcomes when a rabbit has a URI, but nothing is a certainty.
If you think your rabbit does have a likely URI, my opinion as a normal rabbit owner and non medical person, would be to treat while it's not yet worsened, as you would have a better chance of getting it cleared up more easily. But being your rabbit, the choice is yours to make. You can certainly decide to wait and see if it wasn't what you thought and your rabbit is fine, or if the white discharge shows up again and you'll know for sure at that point.
Thank you for the transparency and you’re absolutely right. I think I’ll observe her for another day and then decide. thank you once again! You’ve been a great help!
