Fretting new bunny mum: is it snuffles?

[Ticklebunny]

Hello bunny lovers!

I finally adopted a bunny after several years of grief from losing my last two. I picked him up for free 3 days ago from a farmer who 'accidentally' bred his rabbits before he intended to. Felt good to liberate a bunny that might have otherwise had a bad end.

The first 12 hours he refused to eat and was very shy. Since then he resumed eating timothy hay, pellets and various vegetables. Drinks from a dish as he hates the bottle. He's become very sweet (through the use of bananas), headbutts me, binkies and climbs over me.

Anyway, to the point!

He is 10 weeks old, flemish giant cross, not yet neutered. His eyes are clear, he is energetic, eating well, bathroom habits are normal. Unfortunately he sneezes a few times each hour and appears to have had some clear nose discharge. When I touched his nose it didn't feel wet, but the fur below looks like it had been (maybe the water dish?). His paws are not wet or matted. Today for the first time he made some quiet squeaks between mouthfuls of treats so I'm not sure if that was happy squeaks or pain?

I'm not sure if I'm jumping the gun on this one, but he seemed very rattled after our last car trip and I don't want make him endure it again, this time to the vet, unless it's necessary.

 

[Kipcha]

Glad to see you rescued a bun in need

First, if he's 10 months, he should not be having veggies until, at the very least, 4 months, but around 6 months would be prefered.

If it's clear then it isn't time to panic. It could be something like allergies.

 

[Ticklebunny]

I hope it's only allergies, then he will be just like mum! I'll cut back the vegetables until he's older.

He just now started circling, honking and spraying me so it looks like the poor thing will have to go for a car ride soon regardless. The vet I called today said to wait until he's 6 months to neuter....but if he's already hormonal this seems faaaaar too long to wait.

 

[ZRabbits]

Ticklebunny wrote:

I hope it's only allergies, then he will be just like mum! I'll cut back the vegetables until he's older.

He just now started circling, honking and spraying me so it looks like the poor thing will have to go for a car ride soon regardless. The vet I called today said to wait until he's 6 months to neuter....but if he's already hormonal this seems faaaaar too long to wait.

My Rabbit Vet wanted to wait a full year before neutering, which is understandable. I guess he wanted them to feel the hormones. I guess it may stimulate growth. But I did talk him into neutering at 4-1/2 months because of the spraying and marking and a bit of the aggression. My boys were living together and at 4 months, boy did the hormones kick in. Mounting each other constantly, and marking everything. I got just a bit nervous because of fights. Don't like bunny fights.

At 4-1/2 months the neutering was done, and there was no ramifications. Dr. Joe did an awesome job, as did our boys.

Talk to your Rabbit Vet. Explain your concerns. It help with me and Dr. Joe. He was very open to my issues and my concerns. He stated just wait til after 4 months and we did. Everything went well so far.

I'd talk to him again.

K

 

[Bunnylova4eva]

Keep an eye on his nose-do you use some sort of bedding the cage? Are the pellets at all dusty? My bunny (Ripley) has had a runny nose since he was little. When I took the litter box out, it got *much *much better. Still his eye and nose run sometimes, but not nearly as much or badly or constatly like before. If you're really concerned, it doens't hurt to ask the vet.