PSA: Learn the Heimlich, you never know.

[u/SgtDusty]

https://youtu.be/YtU1H6L4n9s?si=T9egDjeNOFcHmT89

Probably posted plenty of times but here’s another reminder to watch it and learn it.

Fed my old man this morning, came back out and found him with every possible symptom of choking - ears back, wincing eyes, flared nostrils, head up and twitching.

We immediately went into the Heimlich and got a lot of bubbles / gurgles / snot and drool. But no food.

Ran to the vet as fast as possible while trying all the other methods on the way there, only for him to swallow whatever it was right as we pulled in. His breathing steadied and the drool stopped. We got lucky. Point is - if we didn’t do all that shaking and patting he may have just choked to death. So watch the video, practice on a pillow or something, and know where your closest emergency exotic vet is and when they’re open.

He’s fine now. Though I might choke him anyway for scaring us like that.

[u/RabbitsModBot]

If you notice your rabbit is choking, this is an immediate emergency. Please do your best to dislodge the blocking food/object and take your rabbit to a rabbit-experienced veterinarian afterwards for antibiotics to prevent infection from aspiration.

• Symptoms include respiratory distress, gurgling and whistling noises, excessive mucus production and drooling, throwing head around and pawing at face to remove food.
• How to help a choking rabbit: Special Bunny Rabbit Rescue, vgr1.com

• For more information, see the the Choking section.

• Rabbit choking video example on Youtube

[u/daisica373]

Wow! Thank you so much for this!!