Breathing Rate

Question
At the end of September, we adopted a Holland lop, about two years old or younger, spayed.  She eats and drinks heartily, plays, binkies, flops, purrs.  When resting, she breathes at normal rabbit rates, but even minor activity raises the rate to over twice normal.  Perhaps she was always confined to a little cage and isn't used to execise.  OTOH, should I suspect heart trouble or a tumor pressing on a lung?

Answer
Dear Susan,

As long as she's eating well and acting healthy, I wouldn't worry too much.  But if the breathing rate increases that much with just a little bit of exertion, it is possible that something's amiss.  I'd keep a close eye on her for now, and schedule an appointment with an experienced rabbit vet:

www.rabbit.org/vets

who can give her lungs and heart a listen to see if there is anything unusual.  If there is any suspicion of pneumonia, then chest radiographs should reveal this, and proper medication can be given.  (Pneumonia can be nearly asymptomatic in rabbits until it's too late, so this might be something to consider.  And in my experience, some of the affected rabbits don't have abnormal lung sounds.  It's *very* hard to diagnose without chest radiographs.)

It's possible that she's just out of shape, and needs a bit more conditioning before her breathing is normal.  But it's best to rule out medical problems before they become serious.

I hope this helps.

Dana