Unlike dogs, for example, a prey animal such as a rabbit usually does not clearly show that it is sick and in pain. This makes sense, because in nature a rabbit that behaves differently is more noticeable and is more likely to fall prey. And if your rabbit does clearly show that it is not feeling well and is in pain somewhere, you are often too late. On the other hand, there is also behavior that may seem alarming to the novice rabbit owner, but is not at all. Normally a rabbit makes almost no sound, but if something is wrong with it, you can sometimes hear something: It grinds its teeth loudly. It hiccups (if it does this very often in a row). It squeaks (sometimes only when a person or another rabbit approaches it). It screams. It sneezes if it does this very often in a row). Its breathing is clearly noticeable, even though it is not asleep. You hear loud intestinal sounds (if this does not stop after a short time and/or the rabbit does not poop). You hear no sounds at all when you put your ear to its belly. And the rabbit can also breathe very quickly, for example due to overheating or stress.
Overheating
Rabbits have difficulty with temperatures higher than 26 degrees Celsius. Rabbits cannot sweat like humans. In addition, they cannot breathe properly through their mouths; unlike dogs, rabbits cannot pant to dissipate their heat. Rabbits can quickly become overheated as a result. Overweight rabbits, very young rabbits and old rabbits in particular are at great risk. The normal body temperature of a rabbit is between 38 and 39.5 degrees Celsius. We speak of overheating when the body temperature of a rabbit is 40 degrees or higher. Symptoms of overheating are: (rapid) breathing with the mouth open: this is an alarm signal in rabbits, too quiet behavior, lying stretched out with their eyes half closed, ears feel warmer than normal, drooling and in very serious cases the rabbit can have epileptic seizures or go into a coma.
