Sneezing doe - contact with silica? Toxic..

[Tbgb1912]

After having my doe run around inside for a day while I was at home, she's begun to sneeze.
The only thing I can think of, is the silica. It didn't occur to me at the time, but after googling about the crystal cat litter we use for our kitten, did I realise that it's made from silica and therefore toxic to the rabbits if they eat it.
While I haven't seen her eat any, she has been in and out of the litter box all day doing her business. I mean, good that's she's using a loo, but terrible of me not to put two and two together.
Nothing has been changed to her daily routine other than that - that's the only thing I can think of that would cause her to sneeze. Her eyes and nose aren't running or wet either. She's still eating and drinking and hopping around as normal (at this stage :/ )

Does anyone have any suggestions? Has anyone seen what silica can do to a rabbit? Symptoms?

She's nursing five 3 week old kits..

I will be looking into rabbit friendly kitty litter from now on.

 

[Zass]

Is it possible that she's just got some dust in her nose from being quite low to the ground?

 

[Miss M]

I do find silica litter listed as "toxic" in a couple of places, but I can't find anywhere (like in studies) where it is ACTUALLY toxic. The danger with silica seems to be that it can cause internal blockage and kill the rabbit that way. I imagine dust from it could irritate the rabbit's nose and make it sneeze.

Lots of things can make a rabbit sneeze. Dust, a bit of hay up the nose, allergies, illness. Does she have any mucus coming out of her nose?

As for the litter, you can get horse stall pellets (compressed pine pellets) or woodstove pellets (without accelerant) and use that. It's inexpensive and absorbs well, and helps keep odors under control. I think it's the least expensive rabbit litter you could get. There are a couple of ways you can use it. We just put down a layer that's probably two pellets deep and then cover it with a generous layer of pine shavings (if you're going to Tractor Supply, it's the larger shavings). We change it out once a week. The litter can be composted.

 

[Susie570]

I also use the compressed pine pellets from TSC. In addition, I like to add some recycled paper pellets (like 'Fresh News'). It's expensive, but I only use a little to help with odor control.

I've found that I only need to sprinkle 1-2 (cat litter) scoops into the litter box, then add a sprinkle of the Fresh News pellets to mix in. The litter does NOT have to cover the bottom of the box as it expands really well when it starts to get wet.

 

[Miss M]

A litter box with floor wire over the litter could also have a little peat moss in it for odor control. We do that with the one we have that has floor wire.

 

[Tbgb1912]

Thanks for all the tips guys

She is still sneezing, four days down the track. I'm a bit worried. No mucus or anything around her nose or eyes though - so I guess that is a positive.
I changed the kittens litter box to the wood pellets that everyone suggested, and my doe has adjusted really well kitty doesn't want a bar of it though, she barely uses the litter box now - she's handed it down to my doe :lol: I was quite skeptical at how the pellets would soak up the pee, but I'm surprised it just breaks down to sawdust. Brilliant! So much cleaner and less smelly too <br /><br /> -- Sun May 24, 2015 8:42 pm -- <br /><br /> Thanks for all the tips guys

She is still sneezing, four days down the track. I'm a bit worried. No mucus or anything around her nose or eyes though - so I guess that is a positive.
I changed the kittens litter box to the wood pellets that everyone suggested, and my doe has adjusted really well kitty doesn't want a bar of it though, she barely uses the litter box now - she's handed it down to my doe :lol: I was quite skeptical at how the pellets would soak up the pee, but I'm surprised it just breaks down to sawdust. Brilliant! So much cleaner and less smelly too