Open-mouth or laboured breathing in rabbits
What this sign can mean and when to act, from House Rabbit Society and RWAF guidance. This is general information, not a diagnosis.
This can be a rabbit emergency.
This may be a veterinary emergency. Call your exotic vet now, or go to the nearest emergency exotic vet hospital.
What it can mean
Because open-mouth or laboured breathing is a vet emergency in rabbits, the vet's exam matters most, but it can be associated with a severe respiratory infection (snuffles / Pasteurella), a thymoma (a chest tumour), heart disease, or heat stroke. Rabbits breathe through their noses by instinct, so open-mouth breathing means something is seriously wrong. Please call your exotic vet or emergency clinic immediately.
Source: House Rabbit Society
Other signs to know
Keep your bunny's care in one place
BunnyChart is a free rabbit-care companion. Track weight, check food safety, log symptoms, and keep a vet-ready health record for every bunny in your home, all with the gentle why behind it.
BunnyChart provides educational information from verified rabbit-care sources. It does not replace professional veterinary care. Always confirm health-related information with your exotic vet.