Is there a connection?

Ok, so about a month ago Daisy got really sick (as most of you know). She lost about 2 pounds and was so weak she couldn't even walk. I took her to my vet and the vet said there was nothing wrong with her except that she wasn't getting any food.
OK, thats over and Daisy is getting better.

Now, about 2 weeks later Aspen'n'company's Willie gets sick and has the same problem. They both lost severe weight, they both were so weak that they couldn't walk. Do you think there is a connection?

Aspen'n'Company live next to eachother, and we both are in contact with not only our own rabbits but eachothers almost daily. Do you think there is a connection between the two sicknesses, or is it just a coinsedence?

I am just worried that if it is something besides coinsedence the other rabbits might be in danger.

I would love to hear your opinions on this matter!

xxx

How strange. So the vet never found out what it was?. Have u got a new plant in the garden ? are you using the same food?. Have they bin wormed?.Very odd, it needs proper looking into i think to find the cause. Perhaps some test done on your friends rabbits. Very glad your rabbit pulled through it though. val

They are inside buns, and the food has been the same for the both of them. Aspen'n'Company's rabbit Willie is going to the vet tomarrow so maybe we will find something! Thanks for your reply!

xxx

If it is relevant at all my lovely Bear also passed away just a few days before Daisy's illness. He was also very skinny when he passed away, the weight loss in him and willie was remarkably quick and I only noticed willie because he was acting like bear was. I am worried now because all of my rabbits come in contact with eachother everyday.

Something else to consider is that both Blaise (Daisy''s companion) and Ashlee and Aspen (Bear and Willie's companions) are a little on the fat side and are greedy eaters. Could it just be the "stronger" buns were beating the weaker ones out for the food they were receivign?

thanks all!

well the majority of people here have bonded pairs/groups, and I've never heard of any of them being bullied and starved like this before - I wonder if it's e-cuniculi as that has those symptoms, among others, and is passed by spores in urine, and some rabbits are unaffected by it - Did Daisy get panacur for e-c - I can't remember?

How many feet aparts are the rabbits from CharliesAngel vs. Aspen'n'company? And what is in the common area that both sets of rabbits visited? I assume it's outdoor. Are the rabbit who got sick all male or female?

I would recommend Aspen'n'Company to go to a different vet, some exotic pet specialist and ask for a urine and blood test. See if a different vet can tell you what the problem is. That way, if the infection spread, you know what you're dealing with. i.e., if it happens to another rabbit, you don't even need to rush to the vet, just use the same medicine.

Thanks for your replies.

I would recommend Aspen'n'Company to go to a different vet, some exotic pet specialist and ask for a urine and blood test.

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I think Aspen'n'Company did go to a differant vet today with Willie, and I haven't heard the results yet.

How many feet aparts are the rabbits from CharliesAngel vs. Aspen'n'company

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We live right next door to eachother, and there is maybe 10 feet between our houses. We share outdoor runs, and those are located in the middle of our houses, but those haven't been used since summer.

And what is in the common area that both sets of rabbits visited

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The last time any of my rabbits, and any of Aspen'n'Company's rabbits were in contact (able to see eachother from seperate runs) it was summer time. But I come into contact with my rabbits AND Aspen'n'company's rabbits everyday, and vice versa.

Are the rabbit who got sick all male or female?

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-1 female (Daisy) got extremely sick( I thought we were going to lose her that night), lost 2 pounds. That was about 1 month ago.

-1 male (Bear) passed away about 2 days after Daisy got sick. We didn't really have any idea on what happened except that he was skinny. At the time we thought it was because of his malclusion(still might be, we dont know).

-1 male (Willie) who is currently sick. He went through the same things Daisy and I am still waiting to hear the vet results from Aspen'n'Company.

Now that you have this information, anyone have any ideas? Once Aspen'n'company gets back from the vets with Willie, we will evaluate whats wrong and see if its necessary to take all of the rabbits in to get checked out.

Thanks for the help

xxx

Willie visited the vet today. She said that there is nothing physically wrong with him. She suspects that the girls prevented him from getting at enough food. Willie is improving rapidly and I agree with the vet. He has been eating a lot the past few days and is doing fantastically.

Thanks for your help!

Is it not odd that that happened to Daisy, possibly Bear, and Willie in the same month though??

I'm still worried....how about you?

xxx

I agree with Elve, I'm very suspicious about the 'partner not letting them get enough food' diagnosis. As far as I know you both feed hay? Although bunnies can occationally be protective of the food bowl it's very hard for them to be protective of a pile of hay! A rabbit should be able to maintain a health weight on a diet of just hay so even if they were prevented access to the dry food that shouldn't have caused them to starve.

I think you also have your bunnies inside? I'd be surprised if bullying was the case you hadn't noticed behaviour that indicated this.

I might believe a one off but two bunnies in such a short space of time with something that rarely happens....

What tests have they done?

Poop sample? Back teeth check? If they just gave the rabbits a once over then certainly it's possible they missed something.

All I can suggest is you weigh your rabbits twice a week and record the weight. Also make sure you both wash your hands before handling each others rabbits. That's a good precaution even if everything a coincidence

Tam

Yes we do feed all of them hay. And they are all inside, you remembered right

I do agree that it is hard for bunnies to be that possesive over hay, but my vet is almost sure.

Willie had his teeth checked, and an all over exam but no other tests (that I know of at the moment)

Thanks for your reply. Maybe I should start looking into another vet...

xxx

I agree w/ Tam, bullying can't be the cause, and there are too many cases here to be coincidence.

I would insist on urine and blood tests and view the results. Tell the vet if he won't do it, you'll find some other vet who will. I have seen far more than 1 occasion that a vet made a total wrong diagnosis.

As to the cause, this is a tough one:

I first thought if the rabbit are in close contact, then one might lick the urine of an infected rabbit. But you said there is no direct contact.

My other guess would be some sort of insects, perhaps something to make them lost their appetites. Say for instance, something got into their ears. This is somewhat of a possible common cause, because the operative word is common cause to all these rabbits. So there has to be a conduit. IT's either bacteria or insects, take your pick. Can a bacteria make contact w/ a person, then ends up in a rabbit? I'm out of my element on that one.

At this pt., I highly recommend urine & blood tests