Started making unusual noise with breathing!

[Jodie]

Recently I bought some new hay and I am wondering if it could be a bit more dusty than the previous hay, could it be that dust is affecting his breathing? It sounds kind of like how I sound when I have a cold or a bit of a runny nose, though I haven’t seen him having any experience of a runny nose at all. He has also just started getting eye drops for water overflow (doing really well!) however I noticed this noise a couple of days before the drops were introduced so doubt it’s that.

I’m confused and worried by the sound and am new to rabbits so really don’t know what to think of this. Could it be a respiratory issue? Is he maybe even grinding his teeth and I’m mistaking the sound? Any guidance from those more experienced would be appreciated very much! Thank you!

[Wick & Fable]

It sounds like a respiratory issue, especially if you’re seeing eye symptoms. Like with humans, when we have a stuffy nose, it can cause our eyes to get watery or produce more of those “eye boogers”.

Nasal irritation can be increased by dusty hay. Teeth grinding, if it’s loud enough to be heard, is a sign of discomfort/pain that should be assessed by a rabbit veterinarian.

I would try to shake out the hay a bit before feeding it to reduce dust and see what occurs. If you find discharge becomes apparent, or maybe there’s signs of frequent sneezing, or the eye issues worsen, I would recommend a visit to the vet to see what may be happening in the nasal canals and eye water ducts!

Best wishes to the both of you!

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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