rabbit making loud coughing noises

Question
Hi Dana,
I am at my wits end. Charles my big black bunny is having frequent fits of what I would describe as coughing/honking sound.
The noise is so loud I can hear it upstairs. My vet has prescribed baytril for Charles. After 4 days of medication he is making the noise more frequently. It is not a sneezing sound.
I am trying to find the best words to describe the sound. I would compare it with someone having a hand cover their mouth and then being told to yell. He'll make these frantic sounds for approx 5 seconds and then it stops. It is scaring me very badly. I love him so much. He is eating his pellets normally and is eating less hay and greens. I don't know what to do. I hate seeing him suffer.
His bonded mate is distressed when he has these attacks.
I would appreciate any advice you could provide for me.
Thank you.
Ingrid

Answer
Dear Ingrid,

I think you need to find a very experienced rabbit vet:

www.rabbit.org/vets

to find the root of this problem.  I can think of several possible culprits:

1.  Upper respiratory infection (the sounds you describe could be violent sneezing)
2.  Pneumonia (chest radiographs will help diagnose this; ausculation is often insufficient)
3.  Molar problems deep in the mouth causing irritation and coughing
4.  Something caught deep in the mouth (near the molars)
5.  An abscess or other mass in the throat or mouth

There are other possibilities, but these sound the most likely for first try.  Please read:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/sneezing.html

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/dental.html

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/jawabscess.html

for more information and other possibilities.  I hope you can get to the bottom of this soon and begin appropriate treatment.  But diagnosis comes first, and you really need a good rabbit vet for that.

Hope this helps.

Dana