This is a specific conversation about Rabbit food and hay — getting the diet right — ask about yours and get one honest answer for your exact situation.
inparticular.ai
Sneezing in a 6-year-old Lionhead is worth taking seriously, and yes — dusty hay is one of the most common triggers. Hay absolutely has to make up around 80% of a rabbit's diet; it's not a nice-to-have, it's what keeps their gut moving and their teeth worn down properly. But the quality and dust level of that hay matters enormously, especially for a rabbit showing respiratory symptoms. Before I point you toward anything specific, can you tell me what hay you're currently using, roughly how much he's eating each day, and whether the sneezing is occasional or fairly constant?
He's on a supermarket bag of Timothy hay, eats it pretty well but definitely sneezes most when he's digging around in it. It's not constant but it's every day. He's otherwise eating and moving normally.
inparticular.ai
That pattern — sneezing specifically when he digs in — is a classic sign of dust irritation rather than infection. Supermarket bagged hay is often lower quality, drier, and dustier than specialist hay. The good news is that if dust is the cause, switching hay can make a real difference quickly. A couple of things I want to check though: has he been to a vet recently, and do you know if he's had any history of dental problems or upper respiratory issues? Lionheads can be prone to both, and at six years old it's worth ruling out something like dental root pressure on the nasal passage before we put it all down to hay dust.
No vet visit recently — he's due one actually. No dental history that I know of. The sneezing did start around the time I switched to a new bag of hay a few weeks ago.
inparticular.ai
The timing is telling — starting with a new bag is a strong pointer toward the hay itself. I'd still book that vet check, just to be sure nothing else is going on, but switching to a low-dust, high-quality hay in the meantime is absolutely the right move. The product I'd recommend is Burgess Excel Timothy Hay. It's consistently well-regarded for being soft, fresh-smelling, and notably low in dust compared to supermarket alternatives. It's widely available on Amazon UK, comes in a good size bag, and rabbits tend to eat it readily. Give it two weeks and see if the sneezing reduces — if it does, you've found your answer. If it doesn't, that vet visit becomes even more important.
That makes sense. Should I do anything with how I store the hay too? And is there anything else I should change while I'm at it?
inparticular.ai
Storage makes a real difference. Keep the hay somewhere dry and well-ventilated — not in a sealed plastic bin, which traps moisture and encourages mould and fine dust. A breathable basket or a paper sack works much better. When you top up his hay rack, do it gently rather than shaking or dropping handfuls, which kicks up the fine particles. One other thing worth checking: if he's in an enclosed hutch or indoor enclosure, make sure there's decent airflow. Stagnant air concentrates any airborne irritants. Beyond that, keep pellets small — a tablespoon per kilogram of body weight is plenty at his age — and make sure he always has fresh water. The hay switch is the main lever here.
Really helpful, thank you. I'll order the Burgess Excel and book a vet check this week.
inparticular.ai
That's exactly the right call — sorted on both fronts. Watch for any change in the sneezing within the first week or two of the new hay. If it clears up, brilliant. If it persists or you notice any discharge from his nose or eyes, tell the vet that detail specifically — it'll help them narrow things down quickly. Lionheads are generally robust little rabbits but at six they deserve a proper annual check anyway. Hope he's sneeze-free very soon.
