HELP! Huffing noise

[bumpkin93]

Hi!
I got my boys this past Sunday. They are neuteured males and brothers. One of them makes a huffing noise. I’m not sure if it’s a grunt or an oink. I’ve heard it twice and he does it repeatedly. I’ve only heard him do it outside the cage when he is exploring. He is eating and drinking normally too. It isn’t a sneeze either. Just sounds like a quick puff for lack of a better way to describe it. No signs of illness otherwise. Just concerned because I can’t find any evidence of what a grunt, oink, or honk really sounds like. His brother isn’t doing it though.
I guess the best way I can describe is the sound when you move cardboard across tile. Just a quick sound if that makes any sense.

Chewie is the one making the noise, while Snickers isn’t. They are out currently for floor time, and about 20 minutes later, I witnessed Chewie mount Snickers face after Snickers bent down a bit, and then Snickers ran off and thumped at Chewie. So could this actually be hormonal even though they are neutered?
Thank you all in advance.

[Bunny House]

Hi and congrats on the boys!
Here is a video of a bunny honking. See if this is what Chewie and doing and let us know! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9d8JViSZ9vY

[bumpkin93]

Thank you! They’re awesome, and thank you for your reply! I watched the video, and I wouldn’t say that he’s honking necessarily. Chewie sounds like a cross between this bun, https://youtu.be/1qEWr47yt2o and the honking. He isn’t sitting like the bunny sneezing, nor is he making quick movements like that either. He is calmer like the rabbit who was honking.

[Bunny House]

He might have allergies. It might be from the litter you are using. What type of litter are you using and the type of hay? I know depending on the type of cut and the time it was cut it can make them sneeze!

[Wick & Fable]

I haven’t looked at the links, but maybe there’s something caught in his nose, whether it’s hay, nasal discharge, or something else. Maybe when he’s exploring, he’s consistently inhaling excessive dust or an airborne allergen?

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.

[Wick & Fable]

Rabbits can also huff to express discontent. So if he does it around you or the other rabbit, he may be expressing he didn’t like what was just haopening/is happening. For example, when Wick is sleeping and I’m loud and wake him up, he huffs at me before going back to sleep.

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.

[Rain]

Rain does it too. She started doing it when she turned about six months old. She just starts doing it whenever she’s excited about something to maybe angry. Some buns are just more vocal than others I think. You said he does it when exploring and things like that. Same with Rain!

[bumpkin93]

Hi everyone,
Thank you for your replies. I use yesterday’s news in their litter tray. The house is fairly free of dust. The buns have no nasal discharge or wet noses. I checked their paws as well. Their hay is 2nd cut Timothy hay.

I’m hoping it’s just them exploring. They seem to be a very vocal pair. More than I’ve seen in other rabbits.

[Bunny House]

Yeah you’re using great litter so maybe they are just very expressive. I would say if they don’t calm down in a while maybe a trip to the vet could help! If one of them keeps being vocal, he might have something in his airway he wants gone!

[bumpkin93]

Will do! I’m hoping they are just vocal. They are still eating, drinking, and pooping and playing as usual.

[Bladesmith]

Clover makes a honk/huff/grunting noise in the mornings when I first get up and she’s dancing around, circling my feets. They’re happy good morning honks, as I call them.

Vocalizing rabbits are cool.

[kurottabun]

Do you know how old are they, how long ago were they neutered and whether they have gone through a proper bonding process?

After a neuter, the hormones take some time to die down. Following that there needs to be an intentional bonding process so that the buns can live happily together. Although they are brothers, bunnies don’t recognise family units and would still fight if they aren’t properly bonded.

[bumpkin93]

Hi there! Thanks for the reply. They are 1 1/2-2 years old.They were neutered about a full year ago. The rescue said that yes they went through the correct bonding process as well. They have been together for over a year. I haven’t seen either of them nip or pull fur. The most I’ve seen is one bow his head which I believe is submission correct? Then his brother briefly mounted him and then that stopped quickly. From what I have researched and heard, even in bonded pairs, isn’t this not necessarily common, but not unheard of periodically?

[Rain]

If it increases during behavior such as mounting, exploring, treats, then it’s most likely just a bun who is more vocal than others. They have no discharge from their noses, good litter, good hay, they eat and drink well with good poop, so I don’t think there is a health issue. They seem active and normal, but like to “talk” more. And mounting once in a while is normal. Sometimes the rabbit might feel the need to enforce its dominance again. It’s normal, though. Just keep an eye to make sure it doesn’t cause any fighting.

[bumpkin93]

Thanks! I will definitely keep my eye out. They seem to be doing well otherwise, and I haven’t heard the noise in a few days. 

[Author]

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