Help - snorting bunny very blocked up!

Question
I have a 3 year old house rabbit (male) and two weeks ago bought a 2.5 month old female rabbit.
She has started grunting and snorting like a pig (when
she eats especially) and I am certain it is not out of anger or discomfort. This has been getting worse over the past few days. I took her to the vet today and typically she did not snort or grunt once, but on the way home her nose was running (watery, transparent
liquid, not coloured or thick) and I am worried she has breathing difficulties. The vet said that it is likely to be allergies but has not given me advice on how to determine what she is allergic too! I can't bear
to see her having difficulty eating and she seems quieter than usual too.
What do you recommend? Is there anything I can do to help unblock her?
Thank you very much for your advice, I really do appreciate it.
It ,ight also be important to add that she has sneezing fits where she might sneeze 20+ times repeatedly. We have changed her bedding to ensure that it is not ammonia, she lives inside so is exposed to some dust and of course the hay in her cage etc. My partner and I smoke but have been avoiding smoking in the same room as her.
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!!! Thank you!

Answer
Dear Alex,

I would certainly NOT smoke indoors while your rabbit is sick. This can be a huge contributor to her respiratory problems, and exacerbate a respiratory infection.  She is a very small animal, and the effects of second hand smoke will be stronger in her than in a human.  Consider that before you light up indoors.

I would also find a different vet who knows more about rabbits:

www.rabbit.org/vets

A good rabbit vet will not wait for a rabbit to make noise or sneeze in the office.  S/he will ausculate (listen with a stethoscope) the lungs, check the nostrils and paws for discharge, and even do chest radiographs to see if there is lung congestion.  If there is nasal discharge, a culture and sensitivity test is highly recommended:

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

Allergies are not common in rabbits, and I've never known a rabbit to block up and sound as if she's having trouble from an allergy.  She very likely has an upper respiratory infection, and possibly even pneumonia.  Please read:

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

and get her to a more experienced rabbit vet ASAP.  I hope she will be well soon!

Dana