Bunny does something weird when eating

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 8sd replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 7 years, 10 months ago by Sorrel.

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- 05/10/2018 at 5:29 AM
  Sorrel
  Participant
  20 posts
  If this is relevant, my bunny Lily is seven years old with dental issues; she’s had eight teeth out, although I’m not sure whether some had grown back, as they often do.
  
  I’m not overly worried, but since she’s been having her teeth regularly filed down (the last two or so years), she’s occasionally done something strange when eating. It doesn’t happen very often, but it seems to happen mostly when she’s eating her favourite treat, grapes. Sometimes when eating a grape, her head and ears move back and her mouth stretches wide open, as if struggling to swallow it. It frightens me a little, it can last a few moments and she does it a few times, but eventually she swallows the grape and acts perfectly normally, looking for the next one. She doesn’t make any suspicious noises when she does it, and she’s been doing it only occasionally for the past few years. I’m just curious to know what it could be and what I can do to stop her doing it, because it scares me to see it happening. I’ve started cutting up her grapes smaller, to try and prevent it. Can rabbits choke? I’m not sure whether it is choking, because she has always gone back to normal afterwards. We mentioned it to the vet and he didn’t seem too concerned, mentioning the fact that she has less teeth so she might be swallowing a bit too big than she can chew.
  
  I’m just wondering what this could be and what I can do to prevent it. As I said, it’s non urgent and she’s been doing it for the past few years without any problems as a result.
- 05/10/2018 at 7:01 AM
  Deleted User
  Participant
  22064 posts
  Rabbits can not vomit and therefore choking is a very extreme issue with them. Grapes aren’t really the best thing either but if you rabbit has been eating them for a while I guess its okay.. try cutting them up into small pieces and give them one at a time so she dosent have trouble chewing and swallowing. Thats the best advice I can give for now I will do a little research and get back to you
- 05/10/2018 at 11:33 AM
  Wick & Fable
  Moderator
  5834 posts
  Definitely cut grapes and similarly sized/textured food into smaller pieces. Grapes are gushers and their texture is very fitting to just cling to the inside walls of the mouth and throat. Choking is very dangerous, and that’s what your rabbit is trying to avoid. There are stories on these forums where rabbits literally die in front of their owners from choking on pellets and other items.
  
  The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.
- 05/10/2018 at 12:18 PM
  Sorrel
  Participant
  20 posts
  Thank you so much for your quick responses. I’ll be avoiding giving her grapes from now on, but if I do give her any, I will be cutting it up into very small pieces. Are there any signs that they’re legitimately choking? If it were to happen (god forbid), is there anything I can do to dislodge the food?
- 05/10/2018 at 12:24 PM
  Wick & Fable
  Moderator
  5834 posts
  People describe very scary things. Some people say the rabbit begins spitting out foamy goop and looks like they’re having a seizure. I found this list:
  
  1 Rabbit lifting its head and pointing its nose to the air – this is them trying to breathe, it is also seen in rabbits with heart issues.
  2 Making gurgling or whistling sounds.
  3 Laboured breathing, panting and gasping type breaths (like you’d see in a human choking)
  4 Turning blue – their gums that is, not fur! This is lack of oxygen, and again something you might see in a human.
  5 Rabbit pawing at its mouth and moving around whilst chewing
  
  The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.
- 05/12/2018 at 7:59 AM
  Sorrel
  Participant
  20 posts
  Thank you so much for the signs, luckily I’ve never seen her do any of these. Is there anything I can do if she were to start choking?
- 05/12/2018 at 9:29 AM
  Wick & Fable
  Moderator
  5834 posts
  Binny heimlich. You can watch videos in how to do it!
  
  The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.
- 05/13/2018 at 6:09 PM
  LittlePuffyTail
  Moderator
  18092 posts
  Here is some good info. Make sure to read all of it. The article points out that there are some misleading and incorrect info and pictures out there about how to do the Heimlich.
  
  https://www.vgr1.com/choking/
- 05/15/2018 at 3:28 AM
  Sorrel
  Participant
  20 posts
  Thank you so much!
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