baby lionhead rabbits dying

I breed lionheads and 5 weeks ago my rabbit had a litter of 6.
on sunday 1 died on its side with its eyes open- i thought it was simply because it was a runt
yesterday another died- no I was confused, it died in the same position with its eyes open again.
Today Yet another was dead- exactly the same circumstances
about half an hour ago, 1 baby was sat still. It wouldnt move except for flopping to 1 side occassionally. I held it for 5 minutes- it was almost still. Then however, it strched out its limbs and they seemed to lock there- however it was still alive, twitching its mouth eyes wide open. I put it bach in a nest box with its mum to die in peace.
Does anyone know whats going on, and how I can save the remaining 2 and possibly mum?
All babies have seemed fine the same day.
HELP!

When babies get to that age, if they are a true runt (which is a perfectly normal baby, just a smaller one) they don't just die. A rabbit that is smaller due to a physical problem may die, however it sounds like an issue between all of them.

Have you taken them to the vets?

What is their diet? Mucoid Enteritis? VHD? How warm is it where they are?

I havn't taken them to the vet yet. The runt had started to put on more weight but died like the others so I don't think its that. Its quite cold but I don't think its that. I think they're still drinking milk as well as eating solid food- 'mr johnsons spreme rabbit' or something like that. Do the symtoms point to VHD or Mucoid Enteritis?

I ment 'supreme'

hattie0912 said:

I havn't taken them to the vet yet. The runt had started to put on more weight but died like the others so I don't think its that. Its quite cold but I don't think its that. I think they're still drinking milk as well as eating solid food- 'mr johnsons spreme rabbit' or something like that. Do the symtoms point to VHD or Mucoid Enteritis?

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I think you need to get to a Vet if you want to try to protect the remaining Rabbits. There are numerous things that could cause sudden deaths within a litter- Coccidiosis, VHD, EC etc..............

Until you establish what you are dealing with you wont know how to help the surviving Rabbits.

I completely agree with Jane. I couldn't have a litter of babies dying and not go to the vet.

That's what you need to do and that's pretty much all we can say.

Sky-O said:

I completely agree with Jane. I couldn't have a litter of babies dying and not go to the vet.

That's what you need to do and that's pretty much all we can say.

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Agreed. I would be on the phone to the vet, not on the pc looking at forums.

I would have to agree. My advice would be to have an autopsy performed on the recently passed kit, and to have both your doe and her remaining kits examined by your vet.

How does your doe appear? How do your other rabbits appear? Has this particular doe had a litter previously? Has the sire produced other litters? What do you know about both rabbits' breedings?

Why? It is plausible that the kits could be dying due to a genetic abnormality. Naturally, if a genetic abnormality is diagnosed, it would be advisable to retire both rabbits from breeding, and closely related rabbits also.

Vets and bring them inside as illness can cause their body temperature to drop leading to hypothermia-which can kill. Not sure on the preventative medicine you give as a breeder, but surely pancacur, vaccinations and regular vet checks are a sensible way forward. Feed wise I think the babies may benefit from having something more substantial-a specialised junior feed? Have they had any runny poo? Does their mom have veg they could have accessed? Are there any drugs or supplements given to mom which could be passing through the milk and causing a reaction? It may well be I genetic thing but I would explore all avenues to save these animals. Not sure if you share the same compassion, as I believe breeding takes a certain lack of emotional attachment. Sorry but after death number 2 my alarm bells would be ringing, vets would have done a pm and all remaining buns would have had a thorough vet check, not to mention cleaning and disinfecting everything and moving them inside. They are old enough to enable you to move the nest now. I sincerely hope you do your utmost to save these buns and think twice about the implications and sorrow breeding causes.

OMG how awful the poor babies and also the poor mum having her babies die like that!
Please do all you can to save the remaining 2 babies, it sounds to me like they were fitting!?
Did you notice any blood on them when they had passed? like around the mouth or nose?
Please do get the Mum and babies straight to the vets if you want to be able to save them, they need to have a thouragh check over now.

Both parents have had litters with each other fine previously. I don't think its fighting- I never see any eviidence eg fur riped out or blood anywhere. I don't have acccess to a vet but does anyone think it could be myxomatosis? :S They all look well today and I have moved them away from the other rabbits, so if it is myxomatosis or a similar infection hopefully the others won't catch it

hattie0912 said:

Both parents have had litters with each other fine previously. I don't think its fighting- I never see any eviidence eg fur riped out or blood anywhere. I don't have acccess to a vet but does anyone think it could be myxomatosis? :S They all look well today and I have moved them away from the other rabbits, so if it is myxomatosis or a similar infection hopefully the others won't catch it

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These bunnies need to see a vet. How comes you can't get to one may i ask? If you let us know where you are, maybe one could be recommended to you?

I'm sorry these poor babies are dying.

I'm no expert but I think what you describe, going stiff, twitching and passing away are general symptoms of the last moments of life rather than symptoms of an illness/infection.

With myxi I believe you would see symptoms of sore eyes, nose etc. Is mum vaccinated?

VHD is known as "the silent killer" - though I'm sure if you are familiar enough with rabbits to be confident at breeding you will know this and therefore the victim dies without previously showing symptoms. This is why we vaccinate against it.

Should the problem be coccidiosis then some antibiotics from the vets along with supportive care may save your remaining buns.

Have the buns had runny bums? Passed a jelly like substance from their rectums? This could point to Mucoid Enteritis.

But whatever it is your buns need the help of a vet. If you post the area you live in perhaps someone can recommend a rabbit savvy vet to you. Perhaps the reason you "don't have access to a vet" is financial in which case there are organisations that can help you and most vets will agree a payment program. I know it can be difficult but really it was your choice to bring these animals in to the world and your responsibility to get them the care they need.

I do hope your remaining bunnies can be saved.

hattie0912 said:

Both parents have had litters with each other fine previously. I don't think its fighting- I never see any eviidence eg fur riped out or blood anywhere. I don't have acccess to a vet but does anyone think it could be myxomatosis? :S They all look well today and I have moved them away from the other rabbits, so if it is myxomatosis or a similar infection hopefully the others won't catch it

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If this is true, then may I ask why you are breeding?

it is simply because of the area in which I'm situated- and if it is myxi or VHD theres not much the vet can do.
There poo is fine, they're eating well. Its very strange I will see them in the morning but when i return home about 4 1 has passed.
mum and 2 babies are looking fine, but as I said, the others looked fine howevwr the symptoms only show just minutes before death
Is bloated stomach a symptom? 1 of the babies seems to have a bloated tum but it could just be fat, as its been like this for several days. Another has gunky eyes but mum seems fine so far...

hattie0912 said:

Both parents have had litters with each other fine previously. I don't think its fighting- I never see any eviidence eg fur riped out or blood anywhere. I don't have acccess to a vet but does anyone think it could be myxomatosis? :S They all look well today and I have moved them away from the other rabbits, so if it is myxomatosis or a similar infection hopefully the others won't catch it

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Surely you can only own animals responsibly if you can get them appropriate medical care. So that sounds like you're an irresponsible owner, and even worse, an irresponsible breeder.

Why do you not have access to a vet?

We really can't tell you anymore than we already have. We have not seen the kits, have not examined them, can not do post mortems, can not do blood tests, can not do anything at all other than give you the right advice. And the right advice is to see a vet.

Please be responsible and seek veterinary attention for them.

hattie0912 said:

it is simply because of the area in which I'm situated- and if it is myxi or VHD theres not much the vet can do.
There poo is fine, they're eating well. Its very strange I will see them in the morning but when i return home about 4 1 has passed.
mum and 2 babies are looking fine, but as I said, the others looked fine howevwr the symptoms only show just minutes before death
Is bloated stomach a symptom? 1 of the babies seems to have a bloated tum but it could just be fat, as its been like this for several days. Another has gunky eyes but mum seems fine so far...

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It sounds like you're in a country that has myxi and VHD as a common problem, which is most likely to be the UK. Whereabouts are you located?

IMO gunky eyes and bloated tummies are serious symptoms even in adult rabbits let alone fragile little babes.

thanks for all your help but it seems that you can give no more

hattie0912 said:

thanks for all your help but it seems that you can give no more

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Unfortunately, we are very limited. We'd all love to tell you exactly what's wrong and how to fix it, but there's no way to know.

I hope you do seek vet treatment and I also hope all your bunnies are ok.