Gizmo Update + Feeling Conflicted

[brianamonster]

Hello all!

The other day I had posted a video of Gizmo breathing. I had noticed he was snorting more than usual and sounding congested. I was going to take him to the vet today (which I still might..haven’t decided), but the last couple days the congested sound has decreased dramatically. I only hear him snorting when he is eating or sniffing around for something- not totally unusual of him although it is a little louder than I remember. He also squeaks when he is relaxing, again not totally unusual. He has not had a runny nose and his ears look great. He never sneezed, so I’m not sure if its possible that he just had debris or something in his nose? Interestingly, this started around the time that I started giving him botanical hay mix and my bag is mainly very small and dusty pieces.

The only other “symptom” that is making me lean towards taking him to the vet is that his eyes have been getting gunky.

He doesn’t seem distressed at all. He is eating, drinking, playing and napping like his normal self.

I know its better to be safe than sorry…and of course I would hate if I waited a couple more days and he did indeed have a URI. I know its stressful for him to go to the vet…and for some reason I get really anxious as well, which I know is not helpful for him

 

Oh, and my apologies, I feel like I have been posting so many questions lately! I am very appreciative of everyone’s input, though

[Sarita]

I think you should take him to the vet – these symptoms could be a multitude of things including among other things dental problems or URI.

Might want to get an xray of his chest as well.

[litheandgraphic]

I second Sarita. Ultimately even though it’s stressful, you want to know for sure what’s going on and I bet you’ll be very glad once you do. Have you tried throwing a towel over the front of the carrier when you take him places? I find it really helps keep the bun calm.

[brianamonster]

Yeah, y’all are right (as usual) I’m leaving in about 20 minutes to take him. It’s true, it is stressful but I feel relieved after the fact.

I haven’t tried putting a towel over over the carrier but I think I will today! I feel so bad because he will put his head in a corner and kind of bury it in his towel, so maybe covering the front of the carrier will help him.

[brianamonster]

We just got back from the vet. I took Gizmo to a different vet than we usually go to. He’s a little farther away but I trust his opinion much more than our local vet. He did a very thorough check up on Gizmo…looked at his eyes, in his ears, at his teeth, up his nosey, listened to his heart and his lungs. He said Gizmo looked and sounded very healthy! He asked if I had changed anything recently, and I told him I had started giving Gizmo a new type of hay. He said it was very likely Gizmo got some dust in his nose, but his body will slowly work it out..or perhaps he is allergic to the botanical hay! Anyways, Gizmo is totally fine! He even complimented me on how healthy Gizmo was, considering he is 7 years old

And thank you for the advice to cover his carrier with a towel! I’m so glad I did it, because there were multiple large dogs in the waiting room. One of the dogs I think could smell Gizmo, and kept trying to come over. I could tell just the sound of them was making Giz very nervous, so I ended up asking if I could sit on the other side, by the exit. It helped a lot keeping Gizmo out of sight from the dogs and also shielding his view of them

[LittlePuffyTail]

I’m glad your bunny is alright!

I always use a blanket over the carrier as well. It’s great for dogs, like you mentioned, but also keeping the direct sun out bunny’s eyes while in the car.

[Author]

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