Rabbit Has Bloody Nose – Causes And Treatment

If you notice a bloody nose in your rabbit, it is often an emergency.
Injuries, infections and tumors can be responsible.
In this article, we will tell you the possible causes of nosebleeds in your rabbit and also give you suitable treatment methods that can be implemented immediately and easily.

Bloody nose discharge in rabbit
Nosebleeds in your rabbit are certainly frightening for you.
Although you should immediately consult a veterinarian to determine the cause, knowing the possible triggers can be helpful in preventing them or at least reducing the risk and acting correctly.
We will now tell you the most common causes.

1: Injuries to the mucous membranes

The nasal mucosa is very sensitive in rabbits, just as it is in humans and other mammals. It dries out quickly and can tear and bleed because the blood vessels are close to the surface.

In addition to insufficient humidity, other irritants can be responsible for bleeding. These include:

persistent sneezing, for example due to dust
inhaled foreign bodies, such as hay
scratching
Fighting
If bleeding from the nose is very light, a single piece of straw may be responsible.
Also a (split) claw can cause nosebleeds if your pet scratches his nose with it.

If there is an allergy or the environment is very dusty, a blood vessel could also burst. Usually, however, only a little blood comes out, which quickly crusts the nostrils. Often, the discharge is also found only on one side.
Nevertheless, in these cases you must consult a veterinarian. If it is a foreign body, it must be removed. Otherwise infections are to be expected.

Also in case of an allergy therapy and additionally prevention are necessary. Because with continued contact to the respective trigger, the condition can worsen considerably within a short time.

2: Infections

Colds and colds are rarely serious illnesses for humans.
In rabbits this is different!

Here, such an infection can be severe. It speaks for a weakened immune system and can even lead to death.

Due to the inflammatory reactions that exist in infections, the mucous membrane also suffers. It swells, is supplied with more blood and secretes more fluid. In addition, odors or dust can irritate the already sensitive rabbit nose very strongly.

Bloody discharge is therefore not uncommon in diseases of the upper respiratory tract.

It is typical that pure blood does not come out. It appears lighter and more watery because it mixes with the secretion of the nasal mucosa. However, crusting of the nostrils may also occur.

Infections, however, do not have to directly affect the nasal mucosa or the respiratory tract in general. An inflammation in the area of the jaws or the teeth can also be responsible. For starting from the oral mucosa, viruses or bacteria can spread, for example, through the saliva when licking the nasal area or spread to the nose through abscesses or the destruction of tissue in the mouth.

If your rabbit is bleeding from the nose, you should also check the teeth and the upper jaw.
If there is bleeding, redness or swelling, this is a possible trigger.

Characteristic signs of spreading oral inflammation include difficulty eating and drinking, bad breath, and purulent discharge.

You might also be interested in:
Bad breath in rabbits: Normal or dangerous?
When can baby rabbits go outside?
Can rabbits get hiccups?

3: Falls or blows

A bleeding nose in your rabbit can be caused by falls and knocks, in addition to minor injuries, foreign objects or infections.

If the animal jumps from a risky height, falls down, or runs into a hard surface out of panic, it can cause a concussion, among other things. In addition, a fractured skull or broken nose is possible.

If increased intracranial pressure occurs, bleeding can also occur, as can a fracture of the bones in the skull area.

If the intracranial pressure increases as a result of an accident, this may be noticeable through drowsiness to apathy and uncoordinated movements, among other symptoms.

Unusual behavior and a bleeding nose always represent a life-threatening condition. Therefore, see a veterinarian or animal hospital immediately. Treatment may be extensive and may require surgical intervention. The sooner this is done, the better the chances of a complete recovery.

4: Parasites and insects.

A bloody nose in rabbits can also be attributed to parasites, such as hair lice, mites or fleas. Likewise, it may be due to an insect bite, for example, which causes itching and pain.

The accompanying discomfort may cause your rabbit to rub or scratch the affected area.

The wound is not always readily visible, as it may be under the fur.
However, swelling and redness are common, so you may see one or more stitches when you check. If it is fleas, there is also usually comparatively easy to detect flea droppings.

Treatment consists of alleviating the symptoms on the one hand and removing the parasites on the other.

For this, so-called repellents are necessary, which deter the mites or fleas.

In addition, the environment must be thoroughly cleaned. Otherwise, there is a risk that more animals will hatch from eggs that are in the cage, the free run or even in the fur.
If the scratch wounds have become infected, disinfection and the application of an antibiotic ointment is also necessary.

5: Tumors

Tumors and ulcers in the respiratory tract can also bleed.

The options for treatment in this case are much worse than in the case of a simple infection. Often, even the diagnosis involves a great deal of effort.

The symptoms can also be varied, which means that such causes can usually only be identified late and even then only with difficulty.

Prevent nosebleeds in rabbits

Preventing a bloody nose in rabbits is not always possible. However, you can take some measures to reduce the risk of it.

Regular checks
Teeth, eyes, ears and claws should be checked regularly.
It also makes sense to examine the skin and fur so that parasite infestations are noticed early and appropriate countermeasures can be taken.

Remove hazards from the cage
In the stable or cage, sharp, pointed or very hard surfaces can become a hazard. This is just as true for the enclosure or free range in the home.

Practice holding and carrying
To prevent dangerous falls, you should be able to hold and carry your rabbit safely. Therefore, practice over soft surfaces first.
Avoid great heights
In hutches or cages with several floors, the distance between the individual sticks should not be too great and the stairs should not be directly above each other.

Otherwise, your rabbits may fall.

This, in turn, can not only lead to a bloody nose, but can result in significant injuries.