What could this be?

fuzzy9 · Apr 26, 2013

White NZ doe......her second litter. They are 7 weeks old, and weaned since 5 weeks old. Today I noticed one has this noise it's making when it eats, like a stuffy squeak noise when it chews, and it seems to only be when it eats pellets.

Now, her first litter did this too, it started with one, and then went to multiple doing it. I quarantined them just to be safe, and then sent them to FC early.

There's never been any sneezing or discharge, which is why it seems odd, and also the fact that both her litters have done this now. None of my other rabbits have ever had anything remotely like this.

Any thoughts?

Miss M · Apr 26, 2013

Maybe something just a little different about their teeth?

Some odd respiratory anomaly that can be detected only when they reach a certain age, and only when they are eating?

:shrug:

Secuono · Apr 26, 2013

Not sure, but these types of things make me want to buy a stethoscope..

fuzzy9 · Apr 26, 2013

Thanks Miss M.

What's weird is this is about the same age the last litter started doing this too.

__________ Thu Apr 25, 2013 10:58 pm __________

Agreed CnB! I can't remember either, what the lungs looked like on the others. I'm guessing if it was anything out of the ordinary, or unhealthy, I'd remember.

Miss M · Apr 26, 2013

fuzzy9":6qdu7h7t said:
What's weird is this is about the same age the last litter started doing this too.

That really makes me think it's something mechanical, rather than infectious. Just some odd genetic quirk that produces some physical difference, that results in this odd little noise when they eat. That's all I can think of.

squidpop · Apr 26, 2013

I don't know but that's how my minilop that got snuffles started out- he made cute squeeky noises when he ate- or when he jumped, but he didn't sneeze or show any signs of infection until about two weeks later.

But on a more positive note, when I was doing research I did read that a lot of peoples rabbits- make squeaky, honky noises when they eat or exert themselves and are not sick - just the way they are.