Rabbit tilting head up

[Dasher]

Dasher has been sitting a lot more in a loaf position and tilting her head up and she closes her eyes more than usual. She hasn’t been lying down or flopping as much as she usually does. She also makes this wierd sound that I don’t know how to describe but its making me think she might be congested. Her sneezes have been sounding a little more pig like too. Could this be some sort of respiratory infection? I don’t know if she is in pain. She been eating, pooping, running around and binkying like normal. We are going to get her a check up but we can get her in sooner if we need to.

[Wick & Fable]

It’s good that you’re analyzing her health behaviors, like activity level, eating, and pooping. From my experience and reading other experiences, if it is a URI, it wouldn’t really impede those typical health behaviors until it’s very severe. You wouldn’t want to wait that long though, as the longer a URI goes untreated, the more it multiples and spreads, increasing the duration and intensity antibiotic treatment would have to be.

It does sound like URI, making it difficult for her to breathe. Her positioning does seem to indicate a sort of build up in the body though, and I’ve heard of congestion in the actual lungs, in addition to/in lieu of the nasal passages.

Is she creating any nasal discharge?

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.

[Dasher]

There isn’t any nasal discharge.

[Wick & Fable]

Either it’s still a minor infection, or it’s more in the body, which I am not experienced with because Wick’s nasal-y sounds and infection did not affect his lungs; only his nose.

I think an earlier vet appointment is best, rather than later.

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.

[Bam]

IT does sound like the typical symptoms of a chest infection. You should book her an appt within a week (sooner if you can) so she can get antibiotics and a decongestant or bronchodilator. My Bam had a respiratory infection in August, he got Bactrim and terbutaline and Metacam. It cleared up like magic ?

[Dasher]

Ok we’ll get her to a vet before it gets worse. She usually tilts her head up more but it’s hard to get a picture.

[Wick & Fable]

I think you should go just in case, especially if you hear sounds when she’s not in this particular position, but if you said this happened once, I’d say she’s actually asleep and snoring. Rabbits do cock their heads back sometime when they fall into deep sleep, though it usually happens more when they’re laying on their side.

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.

[Dasher]

She’s been doing that a lot which worries me. She has a vet appointment tomorrow.

[Bam]

Good vet visit vibes for (((((Dasher)))))

It’s wise to take her, because respiratory infections can become very serious if not dealt with swiftly.

[LittlePuffyTail]

Poor Bun. Good luck at the vet.

[Dasher]

So we took Dasher to the vet and he said that she does not have a respiratory infection but by the way she sits and tilts her head she may have trouble breathing which is a concern. He said it could be from the paper bedding which is bad and to use feline pine instead. I wonder if hay could be causing it too. He said it could be cancer since she is 3 and not spayed. We do want to get her spayed soon but if it is cancer then there’s nothing really we can do so I’m really hoping it’s not cancer. He said until we get a video of her sitting with her head up and making that weird sound then it’s really hard to know what it is. If she doesn’t improve in a week then we are going to take her back and get an x ray. She also has earmites but we got Revolution for that. She probably got it from playing outside but the vet said it’s still good for her to be outside. I won’t be letting her out for now until the earmites are gone. Is there anyway to prevent earmites? She has a play pen inside but it’s not the same as being outside and being free.

[Dasher]

I changed to wood pellet litter. Dasher is sneezing a lot less and she is tilting her head less but she still sits in a loaf position a lot which worries me. I saw her flop 3 times yesterday and once today which is improvement. I’ve seen her almost lie down but she doesn’t stretch her legs out so I’m not sure why she is doing that.

[Deleted User]

Loafing could just be a comfortable position for her. Asriel flops a lot and rests/observes the majority of the time on his side with his legs out, however when he’s sleeping he loafs.

[Dasher]

She does like to loaf but it worries me that she is loafing more than usual and closing her eyes and sometimes making a wierd sound. It’s different than her usual loaf. I’m still trying to record her making that sound but she has been doing it less often. She binkied like crazy yesterday and flopped a lot and has been binkying more in general. She hasn’t been lying down as much and I’m worried that she may still hav trouble breathing but it does seems to be improving. I’m taking her outside for a little bit today and cleaning up around her area to make sure there is no dust.

[Bam]

My Bam often loafs when he sleeps. He looks like a little duck ?

I hope it’s dust that caused her breathing probs. If it was, the airway mucosa could still be a little bit irritated, it takes some time for the irritation to subside completely.

[jerseygirl]

It’s good you are seeing some positive changes and binkies too! {{{Dasher}}}

A chest x-ray would be a good idea. They may even be able to do a conscious x-ray. I usually ask if that is possible now, rather then the rabbits be sedated.
Anyway, an x-ray would rule out if there is anything (infection or a growth) affecting her ability to breathe easily when in that posture.

[Author]

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