A runny nose in a rabbit — especially with sneezing, white or yellow discharge, or wet fur on the forelegs where the rabbit wipes its nose — is almost always a sign of respiratory infection requiring veterinary evaluation. Rabbits are obligate nasal breathers, making any respiratory compromise serious.
Last reviewed: June 2026
Why Is My Rabbit's Nose Running?
Nasal discharge in rabbits most commonly indicates a respiratory infection, with the bacterium Pasteurella multocida being the most frequently identified pathogen. This condition, colloquially called "snuffles," can present as mild (clear or white discharge) or severe (thick yellow-green pus, facial abscesses, or spread to the middle ear causing head tilt).
As documented by Oglesbee & Lord, 2010, JEPM, respiratory disease accounts for a substantial proportion of clinical presentations in pet rabbits, with Pasteurella multocida detectable in nasal cultures of a high percentage of clinically affected animals. Other bacterial pathogens include Bordetella bronchiseptica, Staphylococcus, and Pseudomonas.
Beyond infection, other causes include:
Dental disease: The roots of the upper cheek teeth are very close to the nasal passages. Root abscesses can create a nasolacrimal duct obstruction or sinus involvement causing nasal discharge.
Foreign body: A piece of hay or debris lodged in the nasal passage causes unilateral (one-sided) discharge and sneezing.
Allergies or environmental irritants: Dusty hay, cedar or pine bedding, strong cleaning products, or cigarette smoke can irritate the nasal passages. This typically causes clear watery discharge without pus.
Cardiac or respiratory disease: Congestive heart failure or primary lung disease can cause nasal discharge alongside breathing changes.
What You Should Know About Snuffles (Pasteurellosis)
Pasteurella snuffles is the most important respiratory disease of pet rabbits. Key points:
- It is highly contagious between rabbits through direct contact and droplets. Separate an affected rabbit from others immediately.
- It is a chronic, relapsing disease. Many rabbits carry Pasteurella asymptomatically and develop active infection during stress, immunosuppression, or at unpredictable intervals.
- Treatment suppresses but often does not cure. Long courses of antibiotics (enrofloxacin, azithromycin, or penicillin-G by injection in severe cases) reduce bacterial load and resolve acute symptoms, but eradication is rarely achieved. Relapse is common.
- Spread to other organs: Pasteurella can spread from the nasal passages to the middle and inner ear (causing head tilt), the eyes (dacryocystitis), the lungs (pneumonia), and the skin (subcutaneous abscesses).
Home Care vs. Vet Care
Unlike some minor ailments, nasal discharge in rabbits should not be managed at home beyond keeping the rabbit's nose and face clean and the environment free of irritants. Warm, humid air (a brief period in a steamy bathroom) may provide temporary comfort but does not treat infection.
Do not attempt to use leftover human or other-species antibiotics. Most human antibiotics that are safe for dogs and cats are toxic to rabbits — particularly penicillin-type drugs given orally, which cause fatal GI dysbiosis in rabbits. All antibiotic treatment must be prescribed by a rabbit-knowledgeable vet after examination.
When to See a Vet
Call your vet today if:
- Nasal discharge has been present for more than 24 hours
- Discharge is thick, white, yellow, or green-tinged
- Your rabbit is sneezing frequently
- Fur on the inside of the front paws is wet and matted (from wiping the nose)
- Your rabbit seems less active, is eating less, or appears lethargic
- Other rabbits in the household are developing similar signs
Go to the ER immediately if:
- Your rabbit is making clicking, wheezing, or labored breathing sounds
- Breathing rate is rapid and the sides are heaving
- Your rabbit is breathing with its mouth open (extremely abnormal — true emergency)
- Blue or pale gums
- Head tilt developing alongside nasal discharge
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can rabbit snuffles go away on its own? Mild cases caused by environmental irritants may self-resolve when the irritant is removed. True bacterial snuffles rarely resolves without antibiotic treatment, and untreated cases typically progress to involve deeper structures. Do not wait more than 48 hours before seeking care.
Is rabbit snuffles contagious to humans? Pasteurella multocida can rarely cause infection in humans, typically through bite wounds or scratches in immunocompromised individuals, rather than through respiratory transmission. Normal healthy people have very low risk. However, the infection is highly contagious between rabbits.
What does treating rabbit snuffles cost? An initial exotic vet exam runs $80–180. Nasal culture and sensitivity testing adds $80–150. A course of appropriate antibiotics (such as enrofloxacin) costs $40–90/month. Some cases require injectable penicillin given at home or by the vet, adding to ongoing costs. Complex cases with abscesses can cost $500–2,000 for surgical management.
Can I prevent snuffles in my rabbit? Reduce Pasteurella transmission by not housing rabbits with different health histories together, quarantining new rabbits for 4–6 weeks, using dust-free bedding and hay, reducing stress, and maintaining good nutrition and immune health. There is currently no commercial vaccine for Pasteurella in rabbits.
Does my rabbit need to see an exotic vet or can any vet treat snuffles? Ideally, a rabbit-knowledgeable exotic vet. The choice of antibiotics safe for rabbits is specific and different from cats and dogs. A veterinarian unfamiliar with rabbit antibiotic safety may inadvertently prescribe something harmful.
Still Not Sure if Your Rabbit Needs a Vet?
When you're not sure if this is wait-and-see or call-tonight, Voyage AI Vet triages in under 2 minutes. Describe what you're seeing in chat, share photos of your rabbit's nose, the discharge character, or the fur on the front paws, or hop on a live video call if you want a second pair of eyes. Every answer comes with citations to the actual veterinary literature it's pulling from — so you see exactly where the guidance comes from, not just a chatbot's word.