The inability of rabbits to throw up can result in the rabbit choking, an especially dangerous problem that can immediately result in the death of a rabbit.
In the first place, the most important thing that you should do is verify whether your rabbit choked in the 1st spot. Trying to assist a rabbit that is choking could be dangerous if it causes breakage to its spine or neck.
It’s important to know if your rabbit has choked, so you should use the Heimlich manoeuvre on the pet rabbit shown below.
Even if you actually rescue a choking bunny, ensure you take it to a veterinarian who knows rabbits, as they may have lung infections, sinus infections, or respiratory problems.
Having given a brief overview of this article, let me explain exactly how to deal with choking rabbits:
Choking Signs In Rabbits?
Before we can assist your bunny who is choking, it is important to understand what signs suggest they are choking.
It’s not a good idea to use the Heimlich maneuver for rabbits who do not have a choking problem since it can be pretty dangerous.
You may injure your rabbit’s back or neck if you perform this procedure. It’s only safe to do if you are confident that the rabbit chokes.
The following signs say choking in your rabbit:
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Breathing unnatural patterns (gasping, panting, etc.)
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The lips are blue (low oxygen level)
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Head lifting (as they try to breathe)
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Behavior that is out of the ordinary (panicked, furious, angry, etc.)
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Nose or mouth mucus.
Watch this video to see what rabbits look like when they choke:
Do You Know What You Should Do In Case Your Rabbit Choking?
Be harmed injured necessary choking during this procedure.
You can watch this tutorial posted on specialbunny.org to learn the correct way of doing it:
What Can You Do To Prevent A Rabbit Choke?
Rabbits choking from medical conditions are scarce. Commonly, it is their diet which makes the choking worse.
Risks of choking on seeds remaining on fruit tend to be the most prevalent.
Do not feed tiny seeds to your rabbit, such as apples, peaches, plums, cherries, papayas, grapes, and olives.
In the case of rabbits choking on medical issues, regular checkups by a veterinarian who is familiar with rabbits may prevent the problem from worsening.
Dental problems cause most cases of medically-related chokes in rabbits, so a veterinarian who knows rabbits needs to examine your rabbit’s dental health before treating it.
What Is The Best Time To Take A Rabbit To The Veterinarian?
Taking your rabbit immediately to the veterinarian in case of choking is essential.
If you can remove what is choking a rabbit, take the rabbit to the vet immediately.
In this way, you can be sure that the rabbit has no underlying health issues which could have caused the rabbit to choke at the beginning.
Conditions such as dental and Mega Esophagus issues may result in choking.
It is also possible that your rabbit might be aspirating. When aspirated, it can lead to lung pneumonia, sinus issues, or infections of the respiratory system.
Is It Possible For Rabbits To Choke To Death?
It is actually that rabbits are prone to dying from choking. Almost anything that causes choking can cause a rabbit to die. The procedure used to prevent rabbits from choking may kill them in the end.
Furthermore, if you do save the rabbit when it chokes, it may always die within a short period of developing a condition known as aspiration pneumonia.
It would help if you took the rabbit to the veterinarian immediately following the attack. There is also a possibility that your veterinarian will discover an issue that will prevent choking from occurring again.
Conclusion
Rabbits choking due to medical conditions are rare. In most cases, it is their diet which causes them difficulty swallowing.
When a rabbit chokes, immediately use the Heimlich maneuver to prevent further damage. Please remember you should only perform this action when you are sure the person is choking.
You should not feed rabbits small fruits with seeds, such as oranges, cherries, grapes, papaya, or olives.
Regular visits with a veterinarian who understands rabbits will prevent the rabbit from choking on a disease.
