Sneezes when resting

[Alfiesmom]

So I have this dilemma that I am trying to figure out. When i first got Alfie, he did contract a URI and was treated promptly with ChlorPalm for 14 days. It seemed to help, as the vet no longer heard congestion in the nose or in his breathing. Coming now to 3 months after his treatment, Alfie still sneezes on occasion, usually when he shoves his nose in his hay. I recently noticed, however, that when he is resting that he sneezes once or twice at a time (very dry sound), and this only seems to happen when he’s resting. His nose has always been a bit on the moist side, but never had runny discharge. I have taken him to the vet a few times to have him checked out. Teeth were ruled out, and there was still no obvious signs of a URI. I clean his cage on a regular basis and his litter is cleaned everyday. I still wonder if maybe he is allergic to something that I am not aware of, but it just seems odd that they happen while he’s resting, almost as if when the muscles are relaxed something is tickling his nasal passage. Any thoughts on what this could possibly mean would be appreciated. I am considering getting a second opinion even though my vet is rabbit savvy and on the HRS list of vets because the vet said it’s completely normal for rabbits to sneeze once or twice a day because, like humans, there are dust particles that we can’t always escape from even if the environment is cleaned on a regular basis. 

[Deleted User]

I think it sounds normal to me, since it’s not something like him chronically sneezing all day long. What kind of litter do you use? When I switched to pine pellets, I noticed that my buns both would occasionally sneeze. Ophelia still does sometimes, usually 3 or 4 in a row and then nothing more. I think it just sounds like he’s got something tickling his nose now and then.

[Wick & Fable]

Have you tried switching hay brands? Although he is not near hay when resting, the pollen and dust spores from hay roam far and wide, and can even lodge themselves in the nasal passages, to be revealed when the passages are relaxed (i.e. when resting). Wick also had a URI, so I understand the paranoia.

With hay, dust is obviously a factor, but the environment the hay was harvested in is also something to keep in mind as well. Wick was originally on Kaytee brand hay, and I’d sift it with a colander and various methods to reduce the hay, which helped a bit, but it wasn’t until I switched to Oxbow brand that the sneezing post-URI really stopped. The pollen/dust in the Oxbow farm environment agrees much more with Wick than with the Kaytee brand.

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.

[Alfiesmom]

Alfie has been on Oxbow hay the whole time. He gets timothy, orchard grass, and oat hay as a variety. As for litter, I did initially use Yesterdays News and he has pine pellets now, but the sneezing is not worse or less with either litter. You may be right about the environment, Wick, as Alfie stays in my bedroom with his enclosure and his bales of hay. I may have to do a bit more sifting out of the dust and relocate where I stock the hay in a different room to prevent the dust staying around. We have wall to wall carpeting and I try to vacuum as much as possible. I forgot to mention that right now he is currently dealing with fur mites and is being treated with Revolution and I’m thoroughly cleaning the cage regularly. Can mites cause sneezing? He does tend to lick in the area where the fur loss was discovered, so maybe that’s another factor? BunNoob, my concern is that he sneezes more than 4 times a day when he’s resting. I’m just worried that this much irritation could eventually lead to a URI reoccuring.

[Deleted User]

Ophelia sneezes only occasionally, so I don’t think anything of it. Of course, if your bun is doing this every day you’ll want to get to the source of it. It very well could be that storing the hay in the room is kind of an allergen overload for his little nose.

[Alfiesmom]

I didn’t initially think the hay being in the same room was an issue, but what with our bad winter (Canada), it’s possible now the combination of dry air and hay dust is just too much. I do have a humidifier in the room, but I’m sure it’s still on the drier side of humidity in the apartment overall with it being winter.

[Alfiesmom]

Hey everyone. Just updating since I posted this. Unfortunately Alfie’s uri has returned. I tried cleaning out the room thoroughly and shaking out all the dust in his hay, which does seem to help him a bit with keeping the sneezing down somewhat. Last night, he began having sneezing fits and then coughing and what looked like trying to chew or swallow something, so I knew something wasn’t right. Alfie also began making a whining nose like he was distressed afterwards so he was brought to the vet today. He is back on antibiotics and will be getting xrays done and a full dental examination booked in a couple days as well as c&s. I feel so hopeless. He already deals with a very sensitive gi tract and has dealt with stasis a couple times as well, so I can imagine that the stomach issues are keeping the stress levels high for him and allowing the bacteria to stay resistant. Anyone experience this and what worked for them? I already give Bene Bac as well as apple cider vinegar with the mother that I put in his water daily to help with his tummy.

[Wick & Fable]

Perhaps you can find a more agreeable antibiotic that will not offset his tract so much. For example, Flagyl wrecks Wick within an hour in terms of gassiness, but Baytril and bactrim are fine.

Maybe shots would be better? Flocillin shots have been great for both Wick’s URI and his tooth infection

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.

[Alfiesmom]

I thought shots would be better as well, given that when Alfie was on both ChlorPalm and Baytril, his poops were extremely mushy and he would eventually go into stasis despite taking all precautions to keep the gut moving and stay hydrated. He may be better off with no oral antibiotics whatsoever. I’ll mention Flocillin to the vet when he’s back and sees what he says. How often did Wick need the injections?

[Wick & Fable]

Injections started at once per day, and for his URI (he was currently on Baytril for 2mo), it instant stopped the sneezing like magic. When I told the vet, they backed it down to once every three days, which worked as well.

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.

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