Jack seems to be sneezing a lot

[NZminilops]

Well, after getting Jack yesterday, I started to notice that every now and then he would let out a little sneeze. This was mid afternoon; by the evening he was sneezing about 6 times in a row once every 30 minutes or so and also made another funny noise -sort of like a cough but it was hard to tell what he was doing as I wasn't looking at him at the time.

His nose seems dry, and his eyes aren't goobering up, though he did have a teeny bit of crust in the corner of each eye this morning. His front paws aren't matted, he's very energetic and breathing fine. I put his chest to my ear to see if I could hear any rattling or odd breathing - it sounded normal, as far as I could tell not being a vetor anything.

I am wondering, could this be a hay allergy? His cage was full of hay when he was dropped off - about 3 inches thick everywhere in the cage.I removed it all and just put in a small hand full for him to nibble and I haven't heard him sneeze since. He seemed to sneeze when rooting in the hay for bits to eat.

Is this an emergency an do you reccomend an immediate vet visit?

 

[naturestee]

I'd be guessing it's from the hay. Is it dusty? Maybe take it outside and shake it out.

 

[AngelnSnuffy]

I would just wait and see if it stops now that the hay for the most part was removed. If you shake out the dust, that might just be the problem. Since he doesn't have white or yellow discharge or matted paws, it may not be a respitory(sp) issue.

Angel has always had a bit of runny eye, always clear, it's just her,she's always been a healthy girl, so that's why the tiny bit of wetness around her eyes once in a while doesn't concern me. Plus she was at the vet for a week not long ago, and they didn't mention it tome.

I notice that both of mine sneeze, sometimes in succession when they are grooming. Have you noticed him grooming and sneezing?

 

[TinysMom]

I don't worry about them (much) if they're sneezing but have no discharge. Sometimes I find it is hay...some time sit is the air is dry...sometimes it seems to be allergies to something here (like when our cypress is causing everyone fits).

However, I consider it worth a vet visit if I see discharge.....

Peg

 

[NZminilops]

Hi guys, thanks for the helpful replies .

I noticed he had a sneezing fit when nosing in the hay, again when cleaning himself, and yet again when drinking water from his bottle.I've never had a rabbit that uses a bottle before, and it looked a bit like he bumped it with his nose perhaps? maybe he got a bit of water up his nose.

He hasn't sneezed at all this morning, I've been up since 5:30 and it's 9:50 now.

The bit of crust in his eyes was white, it was in the corner and my other buns get this too - but they only have it maybe once a week or so. He seems to have a weeks worth in one day.

I'm being very careful with handling him, just in case! I will keep a close eye on it in the next day or two and see if there are any changes.

 

[AngelnSnuffy]

Mine both have water bowls and they have gotten water in their nose before and made the, sneeze, so, that can happen from time to time as well.

Sounds like you have a good plan!

Like Peg said, if you do see a colored discharge, I would then consider a check w/ the vet.

 

[NZminilops]

I think I spoke too soon, he just sneezed 5 times (on me) :?. I'm really hoping he is ok!

 

[AngelnSnuffy]

Hhmmm, so you were holding him? Was his nose wet after the sneezes? Any colored discharge?

 

[NZminilops]

He was in his cage, and I was patting him with one finger through the bars. He sniffed my hand a bit then sneezed,then hopped away. It wasn't a very wet series of sneezes - and nothing green or yellow came out. I immediatly ran off to clean my hands and arms and changed my shirt.

 

[AngelnSnuffy]

I wonder if he's a bit allergic to something in the house and you smelled like it and that made him sneeze.onder:

 

[NZminilops]

Might be the cats? :shock: I had just been cuddling Brewster. What a clever suggestion . I will move him somewhere that the cats aren't allowed, and see if anything changes.

I don't wear perfume, but I will cut down on using smelly cremes etc too.

 

[AngelnSnuffy]

Thanks. I hope you are able to figure it out. I know that when my bag of pellets gets low, some of the dust gets in the bun's bowls and they will make them sneeze sometimes too.

 

[NZminilops]

He's now doing HUGE mushy poops - like semi firm cecals :?. They are massive! One was about half the size of a golf ball, the other was smaller. They don't smell that bad unless they get squashed.

I feel like the people were giving him away because he seemed to be getting ill now .

 

[AngelnSnuffy]

Ok, sorry I missed this for a min.That doesn't sound good. Hmm, what kind of pellets is he on? Are you feeding a lot of veggies? If so, you might want to stop the veggies for now. They add water, but his system may be rejecting that now. Try to get him to eat more hay. Sometimes when Angel doesn't seem to want her hay,I give less pellets, then she has to eat more hay.

Keep us posted. Could just be a temporary upset. I'm sure more will be along to pitch a comment to help.

 

[NZminilops]

Thanks for you continued support, it means a lot to me :hug:

He isn't eating any veg at all, he's still on the same hay and food he came with. The food is that awe ful stuff with cereal treats, corn and sunflower seeds. He nibbles on a bit of hay every now and then. I have put a few bits of my pellets in his dish (maybe about 10 pellets) and he has eaten two and ignored the rest.

I'm hoping it's nothing too bad, he hasn't sneezed again.

 

[AngelnSnuffy]

How old is this little guy? Did they tell you or do you have a guess? Just curious, b/c that can help determine what you should do for his diet.

 

[Snuggys Mom]

minilops wrote:

He's now doing HUGE mushy poops - like semi firm cecals :?.They are massive! One was about half the size of a golf ball, the other was smaller. They don't smell that bad unless they get squashed.

I don't want to scare you, but Toby did that last summer right before he got diarrhea. At first the poops were so huge, I don't know how he was able to pass them, and then the diarrhea started. The vet treated him with Albon which cleared it up quickly. They suspected intestinal parasites, but could not confirm.

I'm so glad he's with you. I know he's in good hands now.

Keep us updated.

 

[naturestee]

Can you sift out all the treats? Maybe that will help with the poop.

When I rescued Fey and Sprite, their poops ranged from itty bittys pecks to massive squishy fecals the size of their eyes. And they have big eyes! I brought a sample in to the vet, but he couldn't find any parasites or unusual bacteria. He thought it was dietary because they were eating really cruddy pellets, so he told me to take away all pellets for two weeks and feed only hay and veggies. It worked, although I ended up doing it for longer as it took a while for their poop issues to fully clear up.Then I slowly started adding pellets back into the diet.

 

[NZminilops]

Hi everyone! I wrote a post last night (after snuffles) but it seems to have disapeared?

He is between 4-6 months old. They say 6, I say 4 due to his size.

I am cautiously reporting that all poop age has been normal today, no sneezing has occured, and he's had some exercise and I saw binkies!It's hard for him to binky due to a spinal injury but he really gave ita shot. He looked so pleased with himself . I have to limit his exercise for the next few weeks but after that it's time to strengthen those back muscles.

I see he hasn't been eating any of the 'bad' bits in his old food anyway, so they have been removed. He's slowly eating more of my food,and seems to like it.

He's a real love-a-bun, I had got one kiss on my nose already from him :bunnydance:.

 

[Haley]

Wow, I somehow missed this thread completely! Heck, I didnt even know you had a new bunny-where have I been?!

How is he doing today? I would definitely sift out the candy, that should help with the poops. Are you gradually switching him over to something healthier?

Is he still sneezing?