noises and night droppings

Question
Dana

I have a dwarf lop rabbit who is eating,drinking, acting totally normal. I have 2 questions.

1) He makes noises that I refer to as "honking type noises" Especially when he is standing up and cleaning himself. I thought he sounded very congested so I brought him to the vet and they said he was fine. But sometimes when I hold him it sounds as if he may have fluid or something in his lungs b/c when he breathes it does not sound like a regular breath but almost phlegmy. What do you think about this?

2) He does not eat his night droppings. He is in a cage where most all of his droppings fall below the cage into the bottom pan so I guess he just never got accustomed to ingesting them? Should this be something they do instinctively? I have tried to pick them up and put them in his food bowl but he wont touch them. Also, if he happens to do one on the floor he will sniff at it but never seem interested in eating it. I know these droppings are good for them but will it be okay if he doesnt have these?

Thanks in advance!

Kelly

Answer
Dear Kelly,

If the vet listened to his lungs and sinuses and pronounced him fine, then your bunny probably is afflicted with a congenital condition more common in short-faced breeds such as lops:  a "floppy" soft palate.  This will make him "honk" when he is in an unusual position, but it's not something to worry about.

If in doubt, you can get a second opinion from a rabbit-savvy vet you can find here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

Not eating cecotropes is often a sign of a diet too rich in protein.  What type of pellets are you giving him?  Compare his diet with that of a healthy bunny here:

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

and see where you might be going a bit astray.

I hope that helps.  Please write back if you have more questions.

Dana