Bunnies off their greens?

[queenadreena]

Just as the title says, my two rabbits haven't been touching their greens lately when I offer it to them. They usually love cabbage and celery and the like, but they're just turning their noses up at it. Could it be because of the hot weather lately? They seem to be eating their pellets (though not as much) and are drinking just fine.
Also, this morning I got the two out to play, and after a run in the hall, Milly came up to me and I noticed she had yellow stuff around her nose (not much) She didn't have this when I took her out, nor has she or her sister ever had snotty noses. I was looking in a book about 'snuffles' but Milly doesn't have any eye discharge, and she's breathing just fine(not wheezing) and doesn't have a fever.I wiped away the mess with some cotton wool, should I be worried or just keep an eye on her over the week?

 

[Bassetluv]

Definitely keep an eye on her, and I'd play it on the safe side and separate her from her sister for the next little while. If she continues to have discharge, you would probably want to take her to the vet for a culture. Snuffles (pasteurella) is highly contagious to other rabbits. Your bunnies could be off their feed a bit because of the heat (though when mine go off theirs, it tends to be the reverse...they still eat their greens but ditch the pellets). If it's too warm for them, they need protection from the heat...some sort of cooling system in their cages - air circulation (fans), frozen water bottles, cold ceramic floor tiles that they could lie upon, etc. I start taking precautions for my rabbits once the temps get past 27 deg. C. here, and watch for the humidity too, as it can make the air temperature seem much hotter, and can affect the rabbits.

Hope that helps somewhat...

 

[naturestee]

It could be the hot weather, but definately keep a close eye on them. If it continues, you'll need to take them to a vet to get the mucous cultured and probably to get antibiotics. "Snuffles" rabbits will often have either eye or nose problems and won't usually have a fever.

 

[queenadreena]

They're in seperate hutches anyway, and I make sure to mist their ears and give them a frozen bottle to lay against. Get the mucus cultered? What does that mean?

 

[naturestee]

The vet takes a swab of the mucous and uses it to grow the bacteria that are in it, then identifies them. It's the only way to know for sure what the problem is and what antibiotic should be used.