Rabbit breathing problems

[LadyB]

Hi everyone!

Apologies for the long post but I need some advice/your knowledge on rabbits to set my mind at ease or increase my panic. All vets are closed and the appointment I have set is a bit over a week away. I’ll try to structure this nicely and not give you a headache!
Rabbit/backstory:
I have an entire female blue Rex rabbit that I got a month back. Ive known her for a year and a half and rescued her from my previous place of work as she wasn’t living in good conditions. She was exposed to the elements and predators as well as being stored with guinea pigs. (Please note I legally took her) the animal park has a bad reputation for all its animals that is only known by the volunteers.
Health prior to me:
The only care she was given prior to my taking of her was irregular mite sprays (they did not use the dosage on the back and just sprayed willy nilly) For any animal at the place I worked at to be sent to the vets she/they would need to be on their death beds. They fed her every second day and gave her a constant supply of alfalfa hay. She ended up peeing red which I am still trying to fix.

She has 2 clear issues. 1) is the hair loss she is experiencing. She had a small amount of hair loss behind the neck when I got her that has recently seemed to grow. Her skin is fine and has no irritation or dandruff. 2) she shakes her ears a lot. Her ears and mostly clear but I have noticed flaky looking skin on the I side deep down. Her coat has gotten thicker/messier looking but that just might be because we’re coming into a hotter season.

This is my main reason for posting this and seeking help. Recently (past 4 days) I’ve noticed her wheezy breathing every time I pat her, now it goes to when she cleans herself or is just existing. I noticed 2 days ago she started wheezing loudly while I was on an online class. Her eyes and clear and her nose is not running however her nostrils do flare up when wheezing. She also seems to be breathing a bit fast.
Weight:
When I got her she was a 4/5 on the weight scale but I have since got her down to a nice 3.5/5. She’s got a big tummy that feels like a water bed.
Digestive/toilet health:
She has a problem with her pee. She has a bad habit of peeing red which is starting to clear up but I still see a lot. I finally had the money to switch her hay over from the emergency one I was given and it has started helping. She recently digested some of my hair and I later found it stuck to her butt while intertwined with two balls of poop. I squished the poop and the hair definitely went through her system. Her butt looks fine but when I tried to check her genitals that night she wasn’t having it.
Temperament:
Ever since living with me and being away from predators she has flourished in personality. Such a people’s bunny and loves splooting! I have noticed that within the past few days she no longer does zoomies or binkies. She has been slightly more aggressive than she has been before.
Vet appointment:
Before she started wheezing I had booked a vet appointment for her vaccines and a check up since I finally had the money. It’s in a bit over a week but I’m worried she needs to get their sooner
Dietary:
She gives a mixed diet of pears, apples, blueberries, kale, spinach, celery, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and corn. She adores corn and sometimes has a go at eating the cob. She has also been a switched over to a Timothy/rye hay that will be switched to a fully Timothy hay when she finishes her 2kg of her current stuff. She was switched over a week ago from the emergency alfalfa I had to give her. She really enjoys the new hay but all these problems have started and I’m worried she might be allergic.
Other animals:
I have no other animals besides her but I’m looking at getting another rescue when I have the chance. I’m a rescuer of native animals and often bring dying birds home. Since having her I’ve only brought 2 animals to my house. A dying galah of which she had no interaction with and today a possum of which she had no interaction with. I make sure to strip after touching wild animals and wash myself so I don’t spread anything to her.
I’m sure I missed something but will be happy to answer any questions!

[Bam]

Thank you for rescuing this rabbit!

I think you should call your vet when they open (on Monday, hopefully), because wheezing can signify serious illness that needs antibiotics.  You can test the urine for blood by dripping some hydrogen peroxide on it. If it foams, there’s blood present. If it doesn’t foam, the red color is just plant pigments and not an indication of a problem. Have you any idea as to how old she might be?

Hair loss without dandruff or scabs etc is most often normal molting.  Rabbits can molt in patches. It’s important that you brush her during a heavy molt, to prevent her from ingesting too much hair. Fur mites is very common in rabbits though, but you tend to at least be able to feel some thickening of the skin in the area, if you feel gently with your fingertips.

[LBJ10]

Hmm… without a proper diagnosis, it’s hard to know what is causing the wheezing. It could be an infection, like pneumonia. This would require antibiotics. While pneumonia is serious, there are also much more sinister things that could cause the wheezing. How old is she? Do you have any idea? If she is unspayed, then something to consider would be cancer.

The fur loss might be due to the change in environment. If her ears are itchy though, I would have her checked for mites. There is usually skin thickening, as Bam mentioned, but it’s best to be safe than sorry.

I would not be concerned about red urine. Plant pigments can cause urine to be orange or red. As Bam said, you can check for blood by pouring some hydrogen peroxide on the urine to see if it fizzes a lot. You should start transitioning her to a better diet. You are switching from alfalfa hay to grass hay, which is a good start. But you will need to adjust the other foods she is eating as well. Pears, apples, and blueberries are OK to feed in small quantities (1-2 oz per day). Carrots are the same, only small amounts. And, as much as she loves corn, it isn’t good for her. The casings around the kernels can obstruct the intestines. The others are OK, but I would suggest trying leafy greens like romaine lettuce, etc. New foods should be introduced slowly, of course. Here is a guide to safe fruits and veggies: https://binkybunny.com/bunnyinfo/veggie-list/

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