rabbit making rattling breathing sounds

Question
last week my daughter's 4 year old female rabbit started making almost like a rattling sound breathing.  When she is sitting calm in her cage laying down you can't hear it, just when you pick her up or she eats.  She does not seem to have any discharge from her nose this week, but last week she did seem to be a little stuffy, although as I said it seems to have stopped.

She is eating normally and pooping normally.  We have been experiencing 90 deg weather recently and may explain her laying down alot.  Usually when we bring her in the house she plays around with the dog, but they both have been less active.  She still jumps up and comes over for her treats.  

Does this sound like something serious or could she have alleregies?

Thank you.

Answer
Dear Trisha,

Rabbits are *very* subtle about signs of illness, and if you hear respiratory noises, I would consider this a potentially serious problem.  It's not likely to be allergies.  But the heat can compromise a bunny and make them more susceptible to illness.  If there's no nasal discharge, I'd worry that this could be pneumonia.

Please find a good rabbit vet here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

and get bun there ASAP for the vet to have a good listen to her chest, and possibly to take radiographs of her chest, since some rabbits don't produce abnormal sounds upon auscultation even when they have severe pneumonia.  

I'm glad she's still acting healthy. That means you have caught this early and this will mean it's more treatable.  But I would not delay in getting her to a good rabbit vet to be sure she gets the help she needs.

Good luck,

Dana