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Sudden Death in Rabbits

L

Lozzibear

Warren Scout
I have had three rabbits dying suddenly, with no signs of illness or any problems what so ever... literally going from normal, happy to dead within hours. One was a 3 year old rescue bun in March 2015, the next was a 10 month old in August 2015 and the most recently, 19 months in June 2016. The last two were rehomed but originally bought in Pets At Home. I am not sure where the first one came from but I would hazard a guess he was from a similar start.

What can cause such sudden death in rabbits? While this has been happening, I have another rabbit who was bonded with them who is absolutely fine...
 
I'm so sorry for your losses :cry:
Sadly without a post mortem you can't definitely state the cause. Where you rabbits vaccinated?
There is also a new variant of the vhd virus spreading through the uk for which the vaccine is only just becoming available.
You will find futher information on this on the Rabbit Wefare webpage.
 
Lozzibear said:
I have had three rabbits dying suddenly, with no signs of illness or any problems what so ever... literally going from normal, happy to dead within hours. One was a 3 year old rescue bun in March 2015, the next was a 10 month old in August 2015 and the most recently, 19 months in June 2016. The last two were rehomed but originally bought in Pets At Home. I am not sure where the first one came from but I would hazard a guess he was from a similar start.

What can cause such sudden death in rabbits? While this has been happening, I have another rabbit who was bonded with them who is absolutely fine...
Click to expand...

I am so very sorry. Whilst I realise this is a very distressing time for you I do strongly advise you to obtain full post mortems on your deceased Rabbits. There is now another strain of RHD/VHD called RHD2 and at the moment there is not countrywide availability of a vaccine that offers protection. The vaccine currently in use, Nobivac Myxo-RHD only offers protection against VHD1 and Myxomatosis.

These links may provide you with more information, if you can manage to take a look. The first link does contain a couple of images that you may find distressing, but the text is valuable information for all Rabbit Owners

https://www.harcourt-brown.co.uk/articles/infectious-disease/rabbit-haemorrhagic-disease

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ks8w12op_p4

http://www.rabbitawareness.co.uk/2016/05/30/rvhd2-the-latest-update/



Again, I am truly sorry for your tragic losses :cry:
 
Thank you for the replies. They were all vaccinated, not against RHD2 though. I had considered that but I wondered how likely it was, at least for all three, to die over the space of 15 months and for all to show no symptoms (I know they don't have to show symptoms) and also for my remaining rabbit to have survived the whole time. She is actually due vaccinations soon so I am going to speak to my vet first about the RHD2 vaccination coming over here.

It is hard not knowing as you hear of such things as RHD2 but then also hear of rabbits dying suddenly for no apparent cause as they can be quite fragile animals.
 
Lozzibear said:
Thank you for the replies. They were all vaccinated, not against RHD2 though. I had considered that but I wondered how likely it was, at least for all three, to die over the space of 15 months and for all to show no symptoms (I know they don't have to show symptoms) and also for my remaining rabbit to have survived the whole time. She is actually due vaccinations soon so I am going to speak to my vet first about the RHD2 vaccination coming over here.

It is hard not knowing as you hear of such things as RHD2 but then also hear of rabbits dying suddenly for no apparent cause as they can be quite fragile animals.
Click to expand...
I am terribly sorry for all of your losses. I just wanted to let you know that according to RWAF the RHD2 vaccine will be available approximately from mid June, however I don't know if that applies to all vets, just thought I would give you a rough estimate. x
 
Thank you. I saw last night, when googling RHD2, that it was coming to this country after having to be ordered in specifically. My vet is very rabbit savvy, keeps up to date on all things rabbits so I am hoping she is getting some or can get some. I am going to call when they open. I wish I knew if my most recent one died from RHD2, but I was told it was too late for a PM. If it was RHD2 how would I make the place safe both for Luna, my remaining rabbit, and any additions I get to bond with Luna?
 
Lozzibear said:
Thank you. I saw last night, when googling RHD2, that it was coming to this country after having to be ordered in specifically. My vet is very rabbit savvy, keeps up to date on all things rabbits so I am hoping she is getting some or can get some. I am going to call when they open. I wish I knew if my most recent one died from RHD2, but I was told it was too late for a PM. If it was RHD2 how would I make the place safe both for Luna, my remaining rabbit, and any additions I get to bond with Luna?
Click to expand...
Yeah, fingers crossed! Make sure you thoroughly scrub everywhere that the bunnies have been with a strong cleaning solution (such as bleach), including shoes and boil clothes. It may also be worth taking your remaining bunny to the vets for a check-up if you haven't already.
 
Called the vet and they said they won't be getting the RHD2 vaccine in... but the receptionist didn't really seem to know much about what I was asking so I might just go in and speak to the vet directly... not sure what to do about her vaccinations in the meantime... whether to go in and get the other ones done or wait.
 
Lozzibear said:
Called the vet and they said they won't be getting the RHD2 vaccine in... but the receptionist didn't really seem to know much about what I was asking so I might just go in and speak to the vet directly... not sure what to do about her vaccinations in the meantime... whether to go in and get the other ones done or wait.
Click to expand...
I usually ask to speak to a vet or nurse about things like that because they know more about it. Are the vaccinations that they need (besides RHD2) top ups or the first ones?
 
Sorry to hear about your losses. I had two rabbits die within two days, again both vaccinated, so I know how horrible it is when you don't know why. I was also left with one rabbit out of the bonded trio who survived.

We think we may have a reason for ours - we had a yew bush in the part of the garden which the rabbits don't normally have access to, but my partner had lopped the top off it a few days prior to the deaths, so we can only assume they somehow got hold of some of the leaves, as yew leaves are small and look a bit like grass when you're standing. It's only when you get closer that you can see they're yew leaves.

I know it's a long shot, but could yours have had access to something they shouldn't have?

So sorry again for your losses.
 
WillowAndBiscuit said:
I usually ask to speak to a vet or nurse about things like that because they know more about it. Are the vaccinations that they need (besides RHD2) top ups or the first ones?
Click to expand...

She needs her top up vaccinations. I will speak to the vet first.

MichelleBee said:
Sorry to hear about your losses. I had two rabbits die within two days, again both vaccinated, so I know how horrible it is when you don't know why. I was also left with one rabbit out of the bonded trio who survived.

We think we may have a reason for ours - we had a yew bush in the part of the garden which the rabbits don't normally have access to, but my partner had lopped the top off it a few days prior to the deaths, so we can only assume they somehow got hold of some of the leaves, as yew leaves are small and look a bit like grass when you're standing. It's only when you get closer that you can see they're yew leaves.

I know it's a long shot, but could yours have had access to something they shouldn't have?

So sorry again for your losses.
Click to expand...

That must have been awful, so sorry. I don't think so... I have just starting foraging again, now that everything is growing nicely, but I am very careful and make sure to pick things I know. It was all things he had last year as well so nothing new. I will need to check the garden in case something new is growing that I haven't noticed as they do get access to the garden.
 
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