Odd behavior: loud breathing

Question
QUESTION: Hi Dana,
My rabbit, Marshmallow, have been sneezing a lot lately.  I don't know if she's sick, or maybe she is just allergic to something outside.  Also, for the past few days now, she kept on constantly making this weird noise.  I don't know what that means cause I never heard her make such noise before.  Also, she seems to want to be distant.  Before, whenever we pet her, she would stay there and let us pet her.  Now, whenever we pet her, she just walks away.  Another one is when we picked her up and put her on my lap.  Before, she would sleep on my lap for at least 3 hours and enjoy it.  Now, whenever we put her on my lap, right away she jumps off.

I don't understand this odd behavior.  My big concern as of now is that weird noise she makes 24/7. It's similar to the noise when a person snorts.  The noise isn't loud or anything.  I can only hear it when I'm no more then 2 feet away from her. Is that a sign of an illness? or rabbits make those kind of noise if they are annoyed or doesnt want to be bothered? i even hear that noise when she's drinking water =(

ANSWER: Dear Pauline,

The combination of sneezing, acting distant and making a snorting/wheezing noise all point to the possibility that your bunny may have a very serious respiratory infection--possibly pneumonia--and is in need of immediate, aggressive veterinary care.  Please read:

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

and find a good rabbit vet here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

DO NOT WAIT ANY LONGER TO GET HER TO THE VET!  If she is making noises, she may be having trouble breathing, and may require not only oxygen but nebulization with antibiotics and drugs to open her airways and loosen the congestion.  Please get her to the vet ASAP, before her life is in danger--which it may already be.

I hope this helps.

Dana

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Ever since I found out Marshmallow's behavior is not the same as usual, i realized that she is eating little to less timothy hay now.  I don't know if it is because she lost interest in the hay, or is it because she prefer the cheaper hay i got her (the cheaper hay is the hay I use in her litter basket). She seems to be eating the cheaper hay more now.  I don't know if all hays have the same nutrition or not.  Is there a way I could get her to eat Timothy hay more?
In addition, what do you think might cause Marshmallow to have pneumonia (if that's what she has)? Could it be something she eats, the weather is too cold (at night over here, the lowest is 55 degrees F), or just an allergy?  
I'm just confused how she could be sick when I'm certain that I've been taking good care of her the day I brought her home =/

ANSWER: Dear Pauline,

I don't *know* that she has pneumonia.  It's just something to check, since loud breathing isn't normal for a bunny.  No matter how wonderful her care is, she can still get sick from factors that are beyond our control.  So a trip to the vet for a good checkup would be a good idea.  If she's sick, it's certainly in no way a reflection on your care of her.  :)  These things happen.

The unusual eating patterns suggest another possibility:  dental problem such as molar spurs causing drooling and possibly being partly responsible for her loud breathing.  Please read this:

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

and find a good vet here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

Hope this helps.

Dana

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Dana.

I just got home from the vet.  I went to one of the vet on the HRS site you gave me.  He said that it's normal for a rabbit to sneeze, and that it's normal for rabbits to make that noise when they are stressed or excited... Marshmallow doesn't seem very excited to me.  
He gave Marshamllow a Baytril anti-biotic injection, then gave me Baytril medication for me to orally give her for 7 days. I have to give her .2 cc/mL per day. The vet also mentioned that Marshmallow has a small discharge, so he wants to see her again in one more week. Her teeth is in good health btw.
So basically, she has the snuffles =(
Do you agree that rabbits end to make a weird noise when they are stressed?  Do you agree that rabbit sneeze on a regular basis?  I have another bunny, Mocha, and she doesn't sneeze nor make a weird noise.

What I am concerned about now is her behavior when she got home.  She seems like she just want to be left alone, and she is hiding behind the trash can (which she doesnt usually do on a regular basis).  Is it because she was stressed from the trip to the vet?  Or is it the Baytril injection that made her distant?

Thanks for your help.

Answer
Dear Pauline,

Well, I have to disagree with the vet.  It is *not* normal for rabbits to sneeze repeatedly, and most rabbits do not make noise, even when stressed.  I hope she's not going to be dismissive about this, and that she was just trying to set your mind at ease.

It's good that Marshmallow is on Baytril, a good first choice drug--but if she has a serious respiratory infection, then 7 days might not be long enough to really knock it out.  Be *sure* to go back before the medicine runs out for another checkup so you'll have more if necessary (which I personally think it will be).

The standoffish behavior after the vet visit was probably just due to stress, and I'm sure she's better now.  It might not be a bad idea to find another vet for a second opinion:

www.rabbit.org/vets

The listings are not recommendations, and some vets are definitely better than others when it comes to rabbits.

Hope this helps.

Dana