Sudden death, what might have happened?

We had the most awful experience this weekend. Long story short our baby Honey was in the vet a few weeks ago as she had suddenly developed a cataract in her left eye.
We have EC issues in the household at the moment. Our dutch girl tested EXTREMELY high for it when taken in as an emergency (not eating, minor head tilt) a good month or more ago but made a full recovery - one other rabbit was also sampled and tested positive for exposure. All rabbtis have been on 28 days panacur including Honey who was nearing the end of her 28 day course in a few days.
On examination the vet discovered Honey had one-sided facial paralysis (I suspect this preceeded the recent EC outbreak as she's held one side of her face oddly for a while and always had one lop ear that she has never let you touch - many other vets have examined and never found a problem - she's been like that since we adopted her at 4 months old) and that her lop ear had tested positive for 2 bacteria that shouldn't be there so she's been on antibiotics for about 2 weeks + metacam. In herself she seemed generally well and bouncy but has spent a few weeks massively overproducing cecotrophes, some of which I ultimately had to remove as there were simply so many and she didn't eat them all and they would stick to her fur (Honey was long haired).

She had been doing really well until Friday she started to go off her food. She was slightly picky a day or two before but nothing really unusual.
Saturday I came down to do her medication and picked her up, she was very still. I put the metacam in her mouth and quickly realised something was wrong when she just held it there.
I put her on the ground and she flopped to one side. I immediately called vet and taxi (I can't drive + had surgery myself a few days before) to rush her in. Everything was a disaster from there.
I waited about an hour for the taxi (I was told 7 minutes) and kept being told it was outside. I ended up walking up and down the road and pulled my stitches slightly in doing so, all the while knowing something was seriously wrong with Honey. She'd made one or two small squeaks and I'd wiped the metacam from her mouth for fear of her choking.
I opened the carrier and she suddenly tried desperarely to get out. A few minutes later I saw her put her head back and I assumed she was gasping for air. She did it a couple of times and stretched her front legs out with her head back, mouth wide open. Then her heart stopped. I did cpr for about half an hour, chest compressions and blowing into her nose but I couldn't bring her back.
Eventually a friend was able to collect me and the vet certified what I already knew.
I am so far beyond devastated I can't even begin to explain. Honey was the 'baby', the youngest except for Harley (about 6yrs) and as far as I knew healthy. Watching that happen, being unable to bring her back and all of the what-if's are beyond explanation. I am in total shock. I am furious with the taxi for never turning up, furious with myself for not being able to do more, terrified that I did something wrong to cause this.

Right now I'm trying to figure out what happened and whether I should worry for the rest. The vet offered post mortem but I don't think I can bear having her messed with.
My instinct is that it was EC. However it's worth noting that her vaccinations had run out. In fact all of them have. Over covid they had suspended giving vaccinations (I've now found out they're doing them again but wasn't aware they'd resumed until yesterday). With a long story short I lost my Mum to cancer 5 months ago and just had surgery myself so I'm now kicking myself for not thinking to phone back and see if they'd resumed the vaccines.
I'm currently trying to get them all booked in but have been quoted £1,120 to vaccinate all 8 so I'm checking to see if I can find anywhere else to vaccinate as it's more than double their last round of vaccines.
I didn't see any signs of blood etc that might have indicated RHD but I am scared. They are all indoors and she shared her room with 3 others who are all healthy.
I am beyond devastated and feeling so so guilty. Everything possible has been going wrong for us this year. I cannot process that my sweet Honey is gone or the guilt that somehow I might be at fault.

Oh no how awful for you

I’m so sorry you’ve been through so much recently.

It sounds like you’ve done your absolute best to save Honey. Please try not to blame yourself <hugs>

Sending lots of love your way xx

I am very sorry for your loss, of both your Mum and Honey. It really is impossible to say what the cause of Honey’s passing was. A PM would be the only way to obtain some clues.

With regards to vaccinations, did they all have the Triple vaccine last year ?

Rabbits do go downhill quickly, but you were doing everything you could and she was already receiving veterinary care and treatment. Please don't beat yourself up over it. We all wish we had done more in these circumstances, but in reality, there's probably nothing else that could have been done. You were there for there with her at the end, and I hope that brings some comfort eventually.

I would get the others vaccinated - but your quote is astronomical. I paid just under £60 about a month ago for a rabbit booster vaccination, and that was noticeably higher than a year ago. It's definitely worth ringing round to see if you can get a better deal elsewhere, especially for 8 rabbits. Some areas have mobile vets now, as well - so they would expect to come to you. Personally, I wouldn't have an issue with getting routine vaccinations done at another vet if it was a much better price and in bulk. I would let my current vet know, though. Apart from anything else, they need to know keep their records up to date, and vaccinations make a difference.

No they had regular nobivac followed by filavac.. I can't quite remember why now as I'm sure the plus was around at the time. I think it was a stock issue at our surgery? They had the old ones in but not the triple? Can't remember now.

Our amazing exotics vet has managed to get three in for filavac tomorrow (they have to start again because of the gap) and then back in a few weeks for the triple. The others will go in the week after. It's slightly cheaper with her than the regular clinic price (despite being an exotics specialist).
There is a mobile vet just up the road but they quoted £85 per rabbit! And I assume that's twice with filavac and then nobivac plus.

I do feel awful having been so caught up with everything else, though everytime I checked the website routine vaccinations were down as being suspended I admit I let it slip my mind over the last few months with everything else going on. I'm not sure how long they've been doing them again but I feel awful for not being more on the ball with it.

Obviously it's impossible to know as you say Jane but my vet doesn't think it's as likely to be RHD in this case. Either way now I know they're doing vaccines again I'm getting them all in. They're still on a course of panacur so there's not much more I can do prevention wise.

A large part of me wants to know what happened but I can't stand the thought of her having a PM, as silly as that sounds. Goodness I can't get the image of her lying there out of my head. I genuinely don't know how to process this. I've watched my animals die before but it's always been with a vet there to verify nothing can be done etc. Not on my own, having no idea what's happening. I will never get those images out of my head. I just hope she didn't know too much of what was happening.
I tried so hard to bring her back. All the what ifs just keep going through my head.

I am terribly saddened to read of the passing of your beautiful bunny Honey. Losing any pet is difficult but more so in upsetting circumstances. Personally I have been through a similar experience last summer so I can relate with how you are feeling.
Sending you huge hugs as I know that this is a difficult time - but we are all here on the forum to help or talk to if you feel it might help.
Craig xx

I'm so sorry. how heart breaking. Sweet dreams little ones