Change in resting places – Tooth Grinding

[Mordaith]

First, I took him to the vet just Friday. I was worried about some wetness of his nose and some poop problems. The vet looked at him, said we needed to keep an eye on the nose, but other than that he seemed to be digesting just fine.

 

We recently opened up the main hallway for him to have the run of, gives him a nice place to bound up and down. But on the heels of this, he has changed some of his resting places. Not sure if that is just a thing rabbits do, if it is due to expanding territory, or what.

I keep an eye out for signs of discomfort. He grinds his teeth, but only when I am petting him. My biggest worry is I don’t know how loud is “loud grinding” the stuff associated with pain. 

 While he is eating, drinking, pooping and peeing all right – I am worried about his nose. It is a long weekend here, the temperature is going to get very very very hot in the next few days. I noticed today, while inspecting his nose, that some of the fur was a little crusty around one nostril. Is this cause for immediate panic?

 

This is his common posture. When I pet him he grinds his teeth. He responds well to treats still, leaping up and climbing in to my lap to get them.

 

[Bam]

He looks very relaxed to me.
Generally when a bunny tooth-grinds in pain, it’s not in a petting-situation. It’s more of a chatter than the gentle, vibrating, pleasure-derived grinding, which indeed sometimes is loud enough to be heard by other people in the room, but it’s still not the same. I think chatter best describes pain-grinding.

A bunny tooth-grinding in pain generally sits or lies hunched up and has an uncomfortable air about him/her. I know this sounds vague =/ I’ve heard real teeth-chatter once after Bam’s neuter, and it was nothing like his normal teeth-grinding when being pet.

I don’t think a little crustieness is cause for immediate panic, but keep an eye. You can perhaps wipe his little nose with something moist, very gently, to remove crusts and to see if new crusts form.

As for cooling, here are some great tips:
https://binkybunny.com/BUNNYINFO/tabid/53/CategoryID/23/PID/940/Default.aspx

Many buns like frozen water-bottles when it’s hot, but they need to have enough space to move away from the bottle if they want to. Since he’s having this wet-nose-issue I should think frozen bottles would be better than the draft created by a fan.

And as for changing resting-places, I’d say that’s perfectly normal for a bun. Esp my Bam does that a lot. And if you expand their space, they will find new nice alternative spots to hang out in.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

laying in a different spot is always my cue something is wrong with Rupert-however like you said you just opened a new area to him and he does look relaxed. My second test (if Rupert is in a different area) is offering a treat. He won’t take it if he’s not eating well. Your rabbit is eating-so that’s good. My last test is picking Rupert up and messing with him (looking at him, holding him etc)-if I put him down and he doesn’t run angrily away, he’s not feeling well. Maybe bother your bunny (whatever annoys him-trimming nails, brushing etc) and if he stays laying down he may be not feeling well. But I’m guessing by how he looks and that he’s eating, that he’s fine.

[Mordaith]

I appreciate the information. I am happy to report that Fox has had a good lazy day with me. He played this morning, and will likely play more when it cools off. But he is eating well – and is alert and active.

[Bam]

Glad to hear it!

I think the picking-up-trick is excellent advice. A bunny should hop away when you put him down. Or at least sit himself down and do a thorough wash to get rid of the horrible smell of human on his fur.

[Author]

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