cough

Question
My dwarf rabbit just got over a hairball about three weeks ago. I know that they don't have a gag reflex wich is one of the reasons they get hairballs but I heard him "gag" or "cough" today. Is that possible or do you think it's something else? He seems fine otherwise.

Answer
Dear Kate,

One of the biggest myths in rabbit circles is that they get "hairballs."  They only rarely do, and then only the long-haired breeds.  A true hairball is very rare in a rabbit.

What you *probably* were witnessing was ileus:

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

(please print this one for your vet:  www.bio.miami.edu/hare/ileus.pdf)

...in which the normal movement of the intestines stops.  This is usually caused by some other health problem, and two of the most common reasons are incorrect diet and dental problems.  You can check his diet here:

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

but of even greater importance is this article:

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

which explains how molar spurs can cause exactly the symptoms you're describing:  gagging, coughing, drooling, and...ileus.

You will need a good vet well versed in rabbit dental medicine to examine and file the molars, if they need it.  You can find one here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

This problem is more prevalent in short-faced breeds such as dwarf rabbits.  I'm really certain that his teeth are causing this problem, and the sooner you have them checked and filed, the sooner he'll be back to normal.

I hope these articles help.

Dana