Bunny dead and eyes missing?

[Tamwill]

I found one of my 18month old Lionhead bunnies dead on Tuesday morning I assumed it was the cold that had got her because she’d obviously died in her sleep and it’s been hitting -10 here at night. Her sister seemed to be grieving but my two others (7 year old lops) seemed fine.
I’ve got up this morning and found the other Lionhead dead but her eyes were missing no blood, just empty sockets where her eyes should have been…. Anyone any ideas where her eyes went? Google brought up RHVD or rodents but their vaccinations are upto date and (as far as I am aware) the cages are rodent proofed

Not sure if it’s relevant or not but, My set up is 2 x 6ft two floor cages inside a 12ft x 8ft dog run (metal bars with mesh installed to keep rodents out) between 2 sheds they have access to via cat flaps. Both sheds have hideout type huts in them and they have access to the whole floor of the sheds too.

The lops are totally fine - running round doing binkies as if nothing has happened

 

[Omi]

Firstly I am so sorry that this has happened What dreadful and distressing events for you.

I think you have to assume that the cause of death was the same for both rabbits, which makes a viral disease more likely in my view.

Have a read through this thread. It sets out the latest information regarding a new strain of RHVD, which might or might not be helped with the existing vaccine in the UK.

New Variant RVHD- Known as 'RVHD2' U/D 16th December 2024

RU Admin have requested that I post this thread which will hopefully inform anyone reading it about the new variant RVHD (Rabbit Viral Haemorrhagic Disease)- known as 'RVHD2'. RVHD2 is now endemic within the UK and it poses a threat to all Rabbits. The Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund (RWAF)...

forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk

In my view it would seem likely that this could be the cause and so if I were you I would proceed on that basis. This would mean that your other bunnies are at risk too, which would mean making sure that you try to do everything to prevent any transfer between the two pairs. It would also mean not walking between one set of accommodation and the other and obviously not re-using anything that belonged to the deceased rabbits for your other pair.

I'm not sure what other measures you could take. Hopefully others might offer opinions.

Once again, I am truly sorry for the loss of your two bunnies in such tragic circumstances. Sleep tight precious bunnies

 

[Tamwill]

Thank you Omi.
I’ve always had two of everything so they ran separately when the lion heads were babies but once they could run together the divide was lifted so they could run together. I left two of everything in place so they could have their own space if they wanted it but they were mostly a foursome so the surviving pair have already been exposed
Would virus explain the eyes though?

 

[Omi]

I agree the missing eyes are puzzling. I think you can discount the possibility of a predator taking just the eyes though, without damaging the surrounding tissue. Another animal is not going to be so careful. Plus I doubt any predator would remove just the eyes and I'm presuming that there was no damage to the first bunny to die? A predator would have left some evidence of entering and leaving the enclosure, in addition to harming the bodies of the bunnies.

The only way to establish a definite cause would of course be a PM, but I could understand if you would prefer not to do that. Maybe have a chat to your vet though. They will have experience of local cases of RVHD and might have an opinion about the missing eyes.

Sending lots of keep well vibes to your two remaining bunnies.

 

[InspectorMorse]

I am very sorry for your losses

Are you 100% certain that the eyeballs are definitely gone from the second deceased Rabbit?

Is it possible for your Rabbit’s accommodation to be opened by anyone but you? Ie is it secured with padlocks ? Could anyone have broken into your garden and harmed your Rabbits.Sadly this has happened, deliberate harm caused to domestic pets

I do think that to err on the side of caution and in the absence of proof otherwise you need to assume RVHD might be the cause of death. Please read this important information

How to deal with an outbreak of RHD — Frances Harcourt-Brown

www.harcourt-brown.co.uk

 

[Tamwill]

Eyes deffo gone - I inspected closely cos I was so shocked. All locked and covered by cctv so no one could have got in without my knowledge.
After speaking with my vet, he thinks it’s probable that the deaths are weather related as they were only young and small. my lops are very big and chunk themselves out for winter but the Lionheads didn’t seem to put on any extra padding
He’s says that post mortem are inconclusive in most cases with rabbits. He suggests the eyes missing is possibly a rodent - apparently they would eat eyes first as they are highly digestible

 

[Shimmer]

Sorry for your losses.

Mice can get through incredibly small gaps - basically anything your finger can get in is plenty big enough - although I've never known a rabbit's eyes (or any other similar small furry) to go straight away on a fresh body (ie overnight) in their usual accommodation, and not any other part. I suspect it will remain a mystery.

 

[InspectorMorse]

Eyes deffo gone - I inspected closely cos I was so shocked. All locked and covered by cctv so no one could have got in without my knowledge.
After speaking with my vet, he thinks it’s probable that the deaths are weather related as they were only young and small. my lops are very big and chunk themselves out for winter but the Lionheads didn’t seem to put on any extra padding
He’s says that post mortem are inconclusive in most cases with rabbits. He suggests the eyes missing is possibly a rodent - apparently they would eat eyes first as they are highly digestible

I really would not rule out RVHD. No vaccine gives 100% protection and then there is this

Highly virulent strain of RVHD2 and vaccine update

As you are probably aware, there is a new variant of Rabbit Viral Haemorrhagic Disease 2 (RVHD2), which is going to the UK very soon and may well already be here. It is known as “highly virulent” RVHD2. No vaccines currently available in the UK have been shown to offer full protection against...

rabbitwelfare.co.uk

Personally I would err on the side of caution, read and heed the information given in the link I provided in my previous post.

I really hope that your remaining Rabbits will be OK

 

[Tamwill]

I really would not rule out RVHD. No vaccine gives 100% protection and then there is this

Highly virulent strain of RVHD2 and vaccine update

As you are probably aware, there is a new variant of Rabbit Viral Haemorrhagic Disease 2 (RVHD2), which is going to the UK very soon and may well already be here. It is known as “highly virulent” RVHD2. No vaccines currently available in the UK have been shown to offer full protection against...

rabbitwelfare.co.uk

Personally I would err on the side of caution, read and heed the information given in the link I provided in my previous post.

I really hope that your remaining Rabbits will be OK

Thank you, your advice is much appreciated.
I’ve just checked on the lops and they were snuggled up in a box of straw in the shed they’re now happily munching breakfast