Itty Bitty Bit of White Discharge

[Mordaith]

Hey gang,

Today I let Fox out to play, and noticed a bit of stuff on his nose after a rather loud sneeze.

I rubbed it off with my finger and found it to be a small amount of white sticky stuff.

 I’ve taken him to the vet recently, as of a week ago, worried about his nose and eye. The vet, who is experienced with Rabbits and most rabbit owners in the area go to them, listened and checked. They said that it was not unheard of in Holland Lops to have sneezing, and even a bit of wet discharge.

 His appetite, poops, and general attitude have all be excellent. He plays, and runs, he frolics the same amount. This was the first time I was able to see wet mucus. The vet told me unless it was persistent, matting, and on the paws, that it was likely just a sneezing loppy dusty issue. Not Snuffles.

 He still flops on to his side, and gets me to pet him. So – nothing to worry about?

[Jadeo09]

I would definitely ring another vet.
Discharge isn’t considered normal.
Hope I don’t worry you but my vet told me that its normal once and mine nearly died as a result.
I’d get another opinion to be on the safe side.
Rabbits are a prey species and their instinct is to hide their illness very well.

Has your bun got matted or discharge in the fur on his front legs?
Jade

[Mordaith]

No nothing of the sort. I haven’t seen any signs of any icky stuff on the nose today at all, nor was there any after that little bit I saw. I will contact the vet office today for a second opinion.

[Mordaith]

I just sat down with Fox and gave him a good look over – despite his protest. He has no discharge in or out of his nose. No matting or gross stuff on his paws. He is breathing normal and his belly sounds good. He is hopping around the living room eating from the grass piles and playing in his cardboard buildings. I am concerned, I live in a small community, there is only one vet that has experience with Rabbits. She has had experience with diagnosing and treating Pasteurella in past. Several of the assistants of the vet clinic also have rabbits.

[Bam]

I think you should keep a good eye on him, because if this is something, it will return and it’s likely to get worse. Seeing that it was white discharge, not clear, there is cause for some concern, but the way you describe it it doesn’t sound like an emergency. I hope it was just hay dust. That does happen, but “normal” mucus when a bunny sneezes is generally clear, not sticky and white.

[Jadeo09]

Thanks bam I never knew that I’ll know for the future!

[ergodic]

I will chime in. My one Holland lop George really had a bad runny nose last year. Occasionally on 2 occasions he had a little white discharge. After he sneezed it
it up I checked with my vet who is pretty knowledgeable. She told me that occasionally allergies will cause the the thin white discharge. She said it is okay to be concerned however she is more worried with thick white discharge. Definitely keep an eye on it. My lops tend to be sniffly and have some clear nose discharge when they are shedding.

[Mordaith]

Thanks for the responses folks. The vet isn’t extremely concerned. Just echoing the ‘Keep an eye on things’ We have an appointment in two weeks, but it can be bumped up if I am worried.

[Jadeo09]

Thanks ergodic maybe that’s why I think boo has a wet nose sometimes maybe its a little discharge from shedding. I thought she may have been too hot or missing the sippy bottle sometimes she even gets the top of her head wet with it!!

[ergodic]

Yes it seems like he is allergic to himself he sneezes a lot more as well.
It can also be caused by stress, when George goes to the vet his nose gets a little wet, but he is a very stressy bunny.

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