Rabbit Snuffles

How can you tell if a young rabbit has snuffles?

My daughter purchased a new bunny (Dwarf Holland Lop) today and we noticed he was sneezing. So the bunny's name is Mr Sniffles.

Searching on the web I saw references to a bunny cold called snuffles that was deadly; but very little info on how to determine if this is what's wrong with our new bunny.

I'm trying to find out because if he died my daughter would come unglued. She still get upset over the loss of her last bunny last summer.

Here's the best picture I could get. He is still quite shy being he just came home. He is 8 weeks old. Gray fur. Nose outlined with tan and an off-white under side.

 

Are his nose or eyes running at all? Does his nose twitch in response to new smells? Does he keep shaking his head, or repeatedly scratching at, or rubbing/grooming, his ears, or face?

You should call around to local vets and see if they will treat, or at least know anything about rabbits. Some vets are real cool, and will just give you some info over the phone.

I don't really know anything about bunny colds, but knowing if he's bothering his ears, or face might help some one else. The worst thing that ever happened to my rabbits was when Betty thought she should sniff a wasp that was in her cage (she had a yellow ball that the silly thing would not shoo away from!).

He may just have gotten cold, or breathed in some fine powdery stuff.

 

Thanks Akari.

Have not noticed runny eyes, but his nose is a bit runny. Not too bad though. Store told my daughter that their cages often got dusty and some bunnies were allergic. Not sure if that is true, or if it may be caused by their use of pine, but I am not a bunny expert.

We have a great vet!! Saved my old dog from death!! At 11 the old dog is more active and healthier than she's been for several years. This vet also helped care for my daughter's other bunny that died last summer. I will suggest the new bunny be taken in to be on the safe side.

 

Thanks Akari.

Have not noticed runny eyes, but his nose is a bit runny. Not too bad though. Store told my daughter that their cages often got dusty and some bunnies were allergic. Not sure if that is true, or if it may be caused by their use of pine, but I am not a bunny expert.

We have a great vet!! Saved my old dog from death!! At 11 the old dog is more active and healthier than she's been for several years. This vet also helped care for my daughter's other bunny that died last summer. I will suggest the new bunny be taken in to be on the safe side.

You're welcome

At the very least, ask how to take his temp, and what a normal temp should be. You actually should be able to ask Google.

It could very well be that he just inhaled some dust from the litter in the pet stores cage. Even still, pet stores can sell sick pets, and not even know it, because they may not show symptoms until they are put under stress, like being taken to a new home. I'm pretty sure only PetSmart has their animals run by vets before they are sold, so you can never be too safe

Be sure he's drinking. Don't be too worried if he doesn't eat for a few days, but he should if its just a case of dust inhalation, and even just a slight bunny cold. Just watch him. You know how normal rabbits should act

 

My bunny, Nestle, looks almost exactly like yours. He's almost 8 and has had a weird wheezing, snuffling noise that he's made all of his life. The first time I heard it I panicked and took him to our bunny vet and she said that lops are notorious for wheezing due to their body shape. We also have a dutch bunny and they have incredible differences in their body composition. I would agree that you should take him to a vet just to make sure but it may be something that he'll have all of his life. Our bunny is happy and active…and just happens to wheeze when he's sitting still!

 

My bunny, Nestle, looks almost exactly like yours. He's almost 8 and has had a weird wheezing, snuffling noise that he's made all of his life. The first time I heard it I panicked and took him to our bunny vet and she said that lops are notorious for wheezing due to their body shape. We also have a dutch bunny and they have incredible differences in their body composition. I would agree that you should take him to a vet just to make sure but it may be something that he'll have all of his life. Our bunny is happy and active…and just happens to wheeze when he's sitting still!

Lops can't help they're awkward shaped XD I loved watching my girls trying to groom around their dewlaps LOL

 

Lops can't help they're awkward shaped XD I loved watching my girls trying to groom around their dewlaps LOL

I adore my lop! He's such a sweet boy…my other bunny (the Dutch), Cookie, is so mean to him. He loves her…constantly grooms her and is super affectionate. He will spend HOURS grooming her and then will put his head under her nose and ask for a grooming (or even just a little nuzzle!) and she'll just hop away. Poor guy...

 

I adore my lop! He's such a sweet boy…my other bunny (the Dutch), Cookie, is so mean to him. He loves her…constantly grooms her and is super affectionate. He will spend HOURS grooming her and then will put his head under her nose and ask for a grooming (or even just a little nuzzle!) and she'll just hop away. Poor guy...

Aww no love for him lol

Princess was very dominate. To the point where I started to have to let them out separately. She would pick fights with poor Betty all the time. Tore her open a few times Betty was so sweet, liked to be held, and petted. Princess was like a cat. Wanted things HER WAY and wanted things RIGHT THEN, or she threw little bunny fits XD hated being picked up, and some times, petting resulted in getting charged lol When she was in heat, good God, you better watch out! XD

I think Princess stressed Betty out to a point where she was over grooming herself. Poor girl! She straightened herself out though, with my help.

My rabbits were weird

 

I adore my lop! He's such a sweet boy…my other bunny (the Dutch), Cookie, is so mean to him. He loves her…constantly grooms her and is super affectionate. He will spend HOURS grooming her and then will put his head under her nose and ask for a grooming (or even just a little nuzzle!) and she'll just hop away. Poor guy...

Oh that's sad. No love for him.

Question: This Holland Lop has longer fun, so I am assuming he will need brushing. How ofte.? Fur flies around from petting and I asked my daughter to brush him.

Late last night, after sleeping all day, Mr Sniffles had very clear eyes and I didn't notice any sneezing. If this was dusty conditions then I expect the sneezing to stop.

Thank you both!

 

I went to the grocery store and bought a cheap cat slicker (wire) brush. The bristles are real soft. You could also buy a puppy slicker brush. I brushed my girls mainly in the summer and spring, every few days, but in the colder months, once every few weeks. But they lived out side, and knew how to groom themselves according to the whether. Their fur wasn't very long, but it was dense. Just find a schedule that works for you. Grooming is very important in bonding, in the bunny world, especially around the face. You should get a small comb for his face

Sounds like he's doing better! You're welcome!

 

I went to the grocery store and bought a cheap cat slicker (wire) brush. The bristles are real soft. You could also buy a puppy slicker brush. I brushed my girls mainly in the summer and spring, every few days, but in the colder months, once every few weeks. But they lived out side, and knew how to groom themselves according to the whether. Their fur wasn't very long, but it was dense. Just find a schedule that works for you. Grooming is very important in bonding, in the bunny world, especially around the face. You should get a small comb for his face

Sounds like he's doing better! You're welcome!

That's a great idea! We cannot find the bunny brush from the last one.

Funny you mention about grooming the face. I was rubbing his face and cheeks last night.....and he fell asleep!!

This rabbit loves attention, and doesn't seem to mind how he is held or picked up. My daughter is already able to lay him on his back. We could never do that with the other bunnies we've kept.

 

That's a great idea! We cannot find the bunny brush from the last one.

Funny you mention about grooming the face. I was rubbing his face and cheeks last night.....and he fell asleep!!

This rabbit loves attention, and doesn't seem to mind how he is held or picked up. My daughter is already able to lay him on his back. We could never do that with the other bunnies we've kept.

My rabbits looooooved having their cheeks rubbed! Even Princess would get upset if I stopped lol

I would only my my rabbits on their backs to clip their nails. They didn't like it, but they were good about it I tried that Peddi-Paws thing on them, ans they didn't like the feel of it. They didn't care about the noise though lol So we just used small dog nail clippers.

He sounds like a sweetheart! A lot like Betty <3

 

Yes, he is a sweetheart. Very cuddly.

Talked with my daughter about taking him in to the vet to be safe. She didn't want to believe that he could have something seriously wrong. She said "he only has a cold. Big deal". I had to go so far as to ask her how she'd feel if he died in a few weeks because she didn't take him to the vet to be checked.

Adult children can be difficult to live with!!!!

 

Yes, he is a sweetheart. Very cuddly.

Talked with my daughter about taking him in to the vet to be safe. She didn't want to believe that he could have something seriously wrong. She said "he only has a cold. Big deal". I had to go so far as to ask her how she'd feel if he died in a few weeks because she didn't take him to the vet to be checked.

Adult children can be difficult to live with!!!!

We can't help that we are pains in the butts LOL

 

We all have our moments!!!

 

We all have our moments!!!

Very true lol But as children, its our job ;D

I would some better pics of the little guy!

 

I'll see if I can get better pictures for you.

 

I'll see if I can get better pictures for you.

I'll show you mine if you show me yours

 

you might already know this but pine and cedar shavings are bad. the only type of shavings that are safe is aspen, and some that are kiln dried or something like that.

it hurts their respiratory system or something like that. I can find the info if u want. my vet also said to only use aspen.

 

Here's the best picture so far....

 

you might already know this but pine and cedar shavings are bad. the only type of shavings that are safe is aspen, and some that are kiln dried or something like that.

it hurts their respiratory system or something like that. I can find the info if u want. my vet also said to only use aspen.

We are already aware of that, but thank you for the reminder. We use shredded paper. Our way of recycling. Then, it gets composted.

 

Oh, gosh! He's so cute! Ima kid nap him, 'kay? =D

Here's Betty. If she were a male, I would have renamed her Thumper when I got her LOL




And here's Princess. This was after Betty died. She was getting a little special attention, as she got a little depressed after Little brat tried to eat my candy! XD

 

Adorable!!!

Bunny napping? Think my daughter will have something to say about that!!

Once he is adapted to our home, I need to figure out how to introduce him to our dogs. The 2 year old puppy is going to be trouble!

 

Adorable!!!

Bunny napping? Think my daughter will have something to say about that!!

Once he is adapted to our home, I need to figure out how to introduce him to our dogs. The 2 year old puppy is going to be trouble!

LOL I thinking about bunny napping every time I walk in to a pet store that sells rabbits. One time, a Pet SuperMarket had a CALICO BUNNY!!!!!! He could have fit into my purse too (just kidding )

We introduced Betty and Princess to the dogs (3 of them, 75 to 130 pounds ), by holding the rabbits, and standing where all the dogs could sniff them. Once they all calmed down, I'd kneel to the ground, and let them get a 'closer look.' If they got too excited, I'd stand back up, and move away.

Once they got better around the rabbits, we'd let the rabbits down, and follow them around the yard, shooing the dogs away if they got too close, or too playful. Pretty soon, all 5 of them would be running around the back yard together, unsupervised for the most part. I'd leave the blinds of the back doors open to watch them, and go out and check on them every now and then, but they were all good together. My dogs know what I expect of them.

Sometimes my 130 pound RottI mix would try to play with Princess, and would charge her, and turn a few inches from her, and bolt off, and she'd just stare at him, completely un-amussed XD My pets are weird

 

Well, took him to the vet today as they were open. Put him on antibiotics. And will go back in if he isn't getting any better in 3 days. Also, looks like he has mite bites/welts. The vet checked several times to pick up a mite, but couldn't find any. Just to be safe he was treated for them too.

Came home and my daughter laid the bunny in her lap to give him the meds. He laid there, upside down, loving his tasty treat. And, when finished, fell asleep. Took this picture....



Once he woke up and started moving about, we took these pictures too....





His paws too too big for him! He weighs 2 pounds 12 ounces and if he grows into his paws like a dog does, he is going to be a big boy.

It's hard to see, but his nose is completely lined in a light tank color. It almost looks like he has a small smile painted on his face.

 

Yep, I definitely have to bunny nap him ;D