Bad Coughing

Question
I just got my bunny Baxter 6 days ago. He came from a very good pet store and when there he seemed to have no problems. But after the first day I noticed him making a sound at first I thought Baxter was snezzing but after hearing him its really a cough. It sounds like hes a cat trying to hack up a hairball. It sounds kinda painfull and while couhging he'll run and go get water. I would really like to know all possibilitys that this could be and how serious it could get. Im guessing Baxter will probley have to go to the vet. But I wanna know how soon I have to get him in there. Seeing that I cant really do it to soon. Thank you so much for your help.

Answer
Dear Miranda,

If he's coughing that badly, he needs to be seen by the vet VERY SOON before this becomes life-threatening.  If he is coughing, he may have pneumonia (which he likely had at the petstore; there's no such thing as a "good" pet store!), and that must be treated NOW before it's too late.

Please read:

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

and go here to find a good rabbit vet:

www.rabbit.org/vets

If he is also running to get water when he coughs, this suggests that he could have something caught in his throat.  I know of an instance in which a bunny was getting an oral exam because of choking, and the vet saw a very tiny, dark band at the base of a molar.  He pulled on it, and it was a strand of fur wrapped tightly there. As he continued to pull, the strand came up out of the bunny's throat, attached to a massive wad of fur and food that had been dangling in the poor bunny's throat, causing her to choke and cough!

So it's really important to get Baxter to the vet for a complete checkup.

Hope this helps.  Please write back if you have other questions.

Dana