Rabbit breathing emergency transport sheet

Use this when breathing looks fast, forced, noisy, open-mouth, blue/grey, heat-related, or paired with collapse.

Breathing distress is a go-now rabbit emergency. Call the clinic while preparing a quiet carrier and avoid stressful handling, bathing, force-feeding, or oral medicine unless the vet directs it.

Fast answer for owners

Go now if: breathing is laboured, open-mouth, blue/grey at lips or gums, noisy, choking-like, heat-related, or paired with collapse
Call today if: breathing is mildly changed but your rabbit is bright and eating
Do not: give human medicine, force-feed, bathe, delay travel, or use products as emergency substitutes unless a veterinarian directs it for this episode.
Tell the vet: time started, appetite, droppings, urine, breathing, posture, pain, temperature, possible toxins, and current medicines.

Go now if

breathing is laboured, open-mouth, blue/grey at lips or gums, noisy, choking-like, heat-related, or paired with collapse
your rabbit is weak, cold, overheated, not eating, not passing droppings, or cannot stay upright
there was trauma, toxin exposure, smoke, aerosol, choking, heat, or sudden swelling

Call today if

breathing is mildly changed but your rabbit is bright and eating
there is new nasal discharge, sneezing, snuffles, or noisy breathing
you are unsure whether the breathing rate is normal

Transport setup

Use a small secure carrier with a towel for traction.
Keep the carrier level and avoid pressing on the chest or belly.
Keep the environment quiet, shaded, and temperature-stable.
Do not bathe an overheated rabbit; ask the clinic about safe cooling while travelling.
Call before travel and ask whether oxygen and a rabbit-capable vet are available now.

What to tell the clinic first

Say: “My rabbit is having breathing trouble.” Then report colour of lips/gums, open-mouth breathing, noise, heat exposure, possible choking, collapse, appetite, droppings, and when it started. If another person can drive, keep this page open and update it during the trip.

Trip notes

Time breathing changed:
Breathing description: fast / effort / noise / open-mouth / blue-grey / collapse
Heat, smoke, aerosol, toxin, trauma, choking, discharge:
Last ate and last droppings:

Emergency FAQ

Should I syringe-feed before leaving?

No. Do not put food or liquid in the mouth of a rabbit with breathing trouble unless a vet explicitly directs it.

Should I drive first or call first?

Call while preparing to travel if possible, so the clinic can confirm oxygen and rabbit capability.

Can stress make breathing worse?

Yes. Keep handling minimal and the carrier quiet and secure.

Source-backed safety note

This asset is built for phone preparation and clinic handoff, not diagnosis. Primary source: RWAF recognising emergencies.

Related pages and printables

Review status: source-cited, pending named veterinary review. Last reviewed: 2026-06-04.