How do i tell if my bunny is getting a cold

[Ang]

How do i tell if Moreland is getting a cold? his nose was a little  damp when i got home but we are working on picking up and putting down.  hes doing excellent by the way finally.  it was a little damp again just a minute ago he has been breathing hard because hes scared of picking up and putting down.  i noticed the other day there was sleep in his eye.  not a huge crustie or anything just lke a small little hard dot that came off.  there is no wet fur by the eye or anything. his hair looks greesy but hes been getting petted am i freaking out? should i just watch him. i jsut dont want him to get a cold over thanksgiving holiday.  his eyes are clear. 

[Cassi&Charlie]

I don’t think bunnies can get colds and sleep in the eye is pretty common.
Have you heard him sneezing? Does he have any discharge from his nose or does it just feel damp? I’d be worried if he has discharge from his nose but if it feels a bit damp (not wet) then could it be water?
My bunnies have little sneezing fits because of the hays sometimes, and I get paranoid that they have snuffles, but poor little things get hayfever too.

[Ang]

maybe that is what it is its just damp. not water hes not much of a water drinker and he had no greens but like i said he was breathing hard because of stress we are working on picking up and putting down. ill watch him overnight and see how he is in the am. thank you.

[BinkyBunny]

If he continues to breath hard even when not stressed, then you will need to call a vet. Regarding is nose – does he drink from a crock or a bottle? If it’s a crock, sometimes that can make for a wet nose right after drinking.

Do you notice any other areas damp? Like around his mouth or is it just around his nostrils?

The “sleepy” in his eyes sounds normal from your description

 If his nose continues to show wetness tomorrow and there doesn’t seem to be an explanation, then  I arecommend calling the vet as he could be fighting a respiratory infection.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

C&C’s right, I’ve read that buns do not get colds like we do. But discharge from the eyes and nose is a sickness; What your describing sounds pretty normal, they do get sleep in their eyes from time to time;

The weirdest thing, I was driving a shelter bun and he was so *anxious* he drooled in the car. I was worried and watched him for hours later and of course he was and still is fine; I’ve never heard or read anything like it, but he was really terrified…maybe it’s not that uncommon for them to drool when really scared?

[somebunny]

off the topic, but can i ask how you are working on picking up and putting down?

[Beka27]

how is Moreland this morning? i think if you’re still concerned to see if you can get into your vet today for an exam… even if it turns out to be a false alarm, you’ll feel much better than letting it go over the long holiday weekend.

[Ang]

Moreland looked like he was doing fine today. He was hopping around like normal. I felt his nose again and its slightly damp when I feel it I just take my finger and run it across it and kind of press when im doing it. Could that be why it is wet. He was breathing hard because I just picked him up and it stresses him out.

NAZ – The way I am working on picking him up and down is I am using proper technique I have an arsenal of suggestions and proper technique videos and advice from BB members here. Little history about Moreland. He was a petting farm bunny who was totted and teased and probably not treated that well that was dumped off at a rescue. I came in the day he was dumped off and fell in love and took my little guy home. Hes two. I have had him for about 3 months now and he hated being picked up. He was aggressive and bit all the he would chase you down and bite your ankles totally bunnicula. I neutered him his hormones are calming no more psyco bunny now it was time to get him used to being handled again the proper way. When I say we work on picking up and putting down, I mean I pick him up with out him flailing and kicking and biting hold him for a few minutes and put him down. Yesterday we tried head by shoulders and feet by belly position. That freaked him out. He was flailing a little bit but I had a firm grip on him thus is when I noticed he was breathing hard. I put him down on my bed a neutral place so that I can try and trance him and do his routine look over. I always give him scratches on his nose and I was trying to peek at his teeth and I happen to touch his nose and noticed that it was slightly damp. Not super wet it dried on my finger very fast. Almost like a cat nose.

[Ang]

just as a percaution i made a vet apt. they dont have my vet in today she is the only one that i trust with moreland. she will be in friday though i think he will be fine for a day he is still eating and acting normal. I hope im over-reacting.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Aww I hope so too! That’s a good thing to take him to the vet just in case {{Moreland}}

[Ang]

his fur under his nose is damp on the upper lip a little not all slimy do you guys think he will be okay over tomorrow and untill friday afternoon? he is not sneezing and is eating

[KatnipCrzy]

Angelina- if he is acting normally otherwise- eating, drinking and activity normal he should be fine until Friday.  It sounds like you are describing that his nose is damp at times and not excessively draining- so you would be better off seeing a rabbit vet on Friday as opposed to an Emergency vet earlier that might not know what they are doing and not see it as a critical case that needs immediate treatment.  Of course, if anything changes get him in sooner- but from what you are describing you might get more answers from a rabbit savvy vet.

K&K-  If the bunny had ever been to the vet before that can explain the drooling.  Sometimes if a pet has been into the clinic and has an experience or medication that caused nausea (and maybe drooling at that time too)- sometimes we see them on repeats visits just drooling up a storm for no apparent reason other than the fact the vet visit triggered the reaction.  And this can go on for years- they associate the vet/carrier/car ride/etc with nausea so they drool like crazy.   Anesthesia can make pets nauseous- and then a car ride home….can start the cycle.  Doesn’t happen all the time- but we do see it once in awhile.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Thanks that makes a ton of sense! We got him as a young bunny from a lady who saved him being dumped in the forest, but she’s a bunny lady too, and I wouldn’t be surprised if she had them vetted.

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