singapore rabbits

runny nose in rabbits, ranked by cause

updated 19 May 2026

in Singapore, a rabbit with a wet nose is one of the most common reasons owners contact an exotic vet. our year-round heat (28 to 32°C) and humidity (70 to 90%) create conditions where respiratory bacteria thrive and spread faster than in temperate countries. HDB flat realities make it worse: limited cross-ventilation, AC-heavy rooms, cooking fumes, and incense are all concentrated in smaller living spaces. knowing the ranked causes, from most to least common, helps you move at the right speed. some causes need same-day care; others need nothing more than a bedding switch.

cause 1: pasteurella multocida (snuffles)

pasteurella multocida is the bacterium behind “snuffles,” and it tops the list by a wide margin. most domestic rabbits in Singapore carry it subclinically, meaning the bacterium is present but dormant. stress, a poor diet, dental problems, or any drop in immune function can trigger active infection within days.

the signs are hard to miss:

  • white or yellowish discharge from one or both nostrils
  • sneezing in long bouts, sometimes dozens of times in succession
  • matted, crusty fur on the inner forelegs where the rabbit wipes its nose
  • watery eyes on the affected side
  • wet chin or dewlap if discharge is heavy

pasteurella does not stay politely in the nose. left untreated, it spreads to the eyes, the inner ear, the lungs, and the jaw. early treatment gives the best outcome, but the key word is “management,” not “cure.” pasteurella cannot be fully eliminated from a rabbit’s system. the goal is suppression, not eradication.

as of 2026, a consultation at a SG exotic vet for suspected snuffles typically runs SGD 50 to 120. culture and sensitivity testing adds another SGD 80 to 200. the test matters here because pasteurella strains in Singapore vary in antibiotic resistance. guessing at treatment wastes money and risks building resistance further. ask for a culture before starting a course.

antibiotic courses for pasteurella run long, often four to six weeks. partial courses are a common cause of relapse. complete the full course even when your rabbit looks recovered.

if discharge is thick, coloured, or your rabbit is breathing with any effort, see a SG exotic vet the same day.

cause 2: dental root disease

this cause surprises most owners, but rabbit anatomy makes it predictable. the roots of the upper cheek teeth sit in close proximity to the nasal passages and sinuses. when those roots abscess, overgrow, or shift due to malocclusion, they press on nearby tissue and trigger discharge that looks like a respiratory infection.

a few clues that dental disease is the cause rather than a straightforward bacterial infection:

  • discharge is one-sided only
  • appetite has dropped, especially for harder hay or pellets
  • drooling or a persistently wet chin unrelated to drinking
  • facial swelling or asymmetry below one eye
  • antibiotic courses improve symptoms briefly, but discharge always returns

molar problems are frequently missed in Singapore because an awake oral exam cannot properly visualise the cheek teeth. your rabbit needs sedation, a scope, and dental X-rays for a complete workup. as of 2026, a full rabbit dental examination with radiographs and sedation runs roughly SGD 250 to 500 at SG exotic clinics.

if your rabbit’s runny nose is one-sided and antibiotic treatment has not produced lasting improvement, push your vet specifically to rule out dental root disease. treating only for pasteurella when the actual problem is a tooth root abscess will not work, no matter how long the course runs.

cause 3: environmental irritants in SG homes

Singapore homes introduce several airborne irritants that rabbit airways were not built to handle. discharge from environmental causes is typically clear and watery rather than thick or coloured, and it often tracks a change in the environment.

air conditioning. most HDB rooms run AC for large parts of the day. recycled air concentrates dust particles, and dry blasts of cold air directly from vents can irritate the nasal lining chronically. if the enclosure is near or below an AC vent, your rabbit is getting a continuous stream of cool, particle-laden air that its respiratory system has to filter.

bedding materials. cedar and pine shavings are still sold in some SG pet shops and on e-commerce platforms. they contain aromatic oils that damage rabbit respiratory tracts with prolonged exposure. dusty hay also contributes significantly. compressed pellet hay and low-grade loose hay shed far more dust than clean Timothy or orchard grass cuts from brands like Oxbow or Burgess. switching bedding to paper-based or hemp materials is a quick fix you can trial at home.

household fumes. wok cooking smoke, incense, scented candles, aerosol sprays, floor cleaning products, and fabric softener sheets are all common in SG homes and all irritating to small-animal respiratory systems. if the rabbit lives in or near the kitchen, that proximity is a risk factor.

if you can connect the discharge to a recent change, new bedding, a moved enclosure, a new household product, this cause is worth investigating first. remove the suspected trigger and give it 48 to 72 hours. if discharge clears, you likely found the cause. if it does not clear, or if discharge is anything other than clear and watery, see a SG exotic vet to rule out infection.

cause 4: other infections and rarer causes

beyond pasteurella, a handful of other causes appear occasionally in SG rabbit cases.

other opportunistic bacteria. staphylococcus aureus and related organisms can move into nasal tissue already damaged by pasteurella or chronic irritation. discharge from these infections tends to be thick and purulent. a culture is the only way to identify the specific pathogen and choose the right antibiotic.

encephalitozoon cuniculi. this microsporidian parasite is primarily neurological, causing head tilt and balance issues. but a heavily infected rabbit often has compromised immune function, which makes secondary respiratory infections more likely. E. cuniculi serology is available at SG exotic clinics and worth testing if your rabbit has both nasal discharge and neurological signs.

foreign bodies. a strand of hay or a small seed lodged in the nasal passage causes sudden, one-sided discharge with intense sneezing. the rabbit may paw at its face repeatedly. this is uncommon but worth knowing because once diagnosed by a vet, removal under sedation is a straightforward fix.

fungal rhinitis. rare in rabbits generally, but Singapore’s humidity makes fungal growth theoretically possible in immunocompromised animals. diagnosis requires specialist culture and is usually considered only after bacterial causes are fully ruled out.

for any of these, the starting point is the same: a proper exotic vet consultation, with culture testing where indicated.

when to go to the vet immediately

nasal discharge alone is a reason to book an appointment soon. these presentations, however, require same-day or emergency care:

  • mouth breathing or audible, labored breathing. rabbits are obligate nasal breathers. any mouth breathing is a crisis, not a symptom to monitor.
  • blue, white, or very pale gums
  • complete loss of appetite for more than 12 hours, alongside nasal discharge
  • discharge combined with head tilt, loss of balance, or circling
  • resting respiratory rate consistently above 60 breaths per minute in a calm, still rabbit

Singapore’s after-hours exotic vet access is limited. a small number of 24-hour clinics see rabbits, but weekend capacity fills quickly. if you suspect a respiratory emergency, call ahead before traveling. do not wait for a next available weekday slot when breathing is involved.

what owners often get wrong

treating without a culture. buying antibiotics online or from a non-exotic vet without sensitivity testing is extremely common in Singapore. the rabbit improves, then relapses months later. without knowing which strain is present and which antibiotic kills it, treatment is a guess.

assuming one-sided discharge is less serious. one-sided discharge is a red flag for dental root disease or a foreign body, both needing imaging to diagnose. it is not “probably fine because only one side is affected.”

stopping antibiotics early. courses for pasteurella run four to six weeks for a reason. owners stop when the rabbit looks better. incomplete courses build resistance and set up the next relapse at a harder-to-treat stage.

waiting because the rabbit is still eating. rabbits are prey animals built to hide illness. a rabbit still eating and moving can be deteriorating internally. nasal discharge combined with any other sign, reduced activity, weight loss, softer stools, warrants a vet visit, not home monitoring.

community-sourced information here is not veterinary advice. for any health concern see a licensed SG exotic vet.

community-sourced information, not veterinary advice. for medical issues, see a licensed SG exotic vet — start with our vet directory.

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