Hi all,

I've had my little gay rabbit for about 4 years now (since he was tiny, I rescued him from a neglectful home) and he's the best pet I could ever wish for.

I noticed recently that he's sneezing a lot, not properly sneezing as such but more snorting like he's got something tickling his nose. The fur around it seems to be a tiny bit damp too. I'm really worried because he's always had a blocked tear duct in one eye and I'm afraid its linked?

Quick background: He lives in the double garage attached to the house, has lived there for 4 years, has shredded paper in his hutch which he uses as a toilet, has access to the garden, his best friend is our Yorkshire Terrier, he's eating and drinking normally, playing and humping his favourite hamster ball as normal...

Anyone know what it could be?

Any help would be very much appreciated, I'm feeling like a neurotic first time parent with a new baby

It may be some sort of allergy, particularly if there is dust in his hay, and you should really take him to the vet to rule out anything else.
The following forum has a sub forum about various aspects of rabbit health so might be able to give further advice.
http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk

sounds like dust, but take him to a vet

i lost my first rabbit at 16 weeks old last year due to sneezing which progressed into the snuffles

i buy dust free hay for my guinea pigs as my tommy is allergic and nothings too good for my boys if you just do a search for dust free hay theres a place in derbyshire that delivers it

http://www.dustfreehay.co.uk/

Gay rabbit?

Whatever his orientation, I hope you take him to the vet & he makes a full recovery.

I've booked him an appointment at Pets at home, but I'm dreading putting him through it again, he gets so distressed

I noticed today that its only the right side of his nose that's snotty (his poorly eye with the blocked tear duct is on that side) Should I be worried?

I don't know about rabbits but in humans I would suspect a connection between the two.

I'd take him to the vet in case his naso-lacrimal duct is blocked. It may just need to be flushed out for him.

Hope that helps

Blocked tear ducts are a classic symptom of dental problems. Their teeth grow constantly which is why they need a constant supply of fresh hay daily.

Sometimes their molars grow up into their upper jaws & obscure the tear ducts which results in the constant streaming.

Lower teeth problems cause drooling as they prevent the bunny from closing their mouth properly.

It's always a risk for rabbits, I've lost several due to dental abscesses.

The tooth can be removed, but it's more tricky when the upper molars are involved.

Thank you for the replies, I feel ever so slightly more at ease now. Now I just have to go through the traumatising experience that is Bun and a car journey!
Plus, last time we went he had to have his eye flushed that made it bulge outwards; I sobbed noisily infront of the whole waiting room and drowned Bun in tears - honestly, its pathetic, I'm not even an animal lover!

And in response to the 'gay?' post; yes, he's gay! He adores anything pink, and humps blokes but not women. We allowed him to meet his neighbour, a little girly rabbit and he wan't even interested! He's a beauty