Pet Information > ASK Experts > Exotic Pets > Rabbits > Questions about what killed my dwarf rabbit

Questions about what killed my dwarf rabbit

22 9:52:43

Question
QUESTION: Hi I was wondering if anyone may know what happened with my pet rabbit. I'm not sure how old he was I believe he was probably only a 6 months old. But just yesterday I was away from home for a few days so I took him up to the high desert. He was fine most of the day he ate his lettuce and drank water and he was fine but when I checked on him around the late afternoon he was in his cage shaking so I took him out wrapped him in a towel and was holding him to keep him warm. But things only got worse I would put him down to see what he would do but he would just lay there or he would drag his body and keep shaking I tried giving him water but he wouldn't drink it then about 30 minutes or so later something started comin out of his mouth I wasn't sure if it was throw up but it was just clear and slimy and it was constantly coming out and his body would just twitch. We were getting ready to take him to a local vet but only a few minutes passed and he was gone.

ANSWER: Hi!

How warm is it by you? What do you mean you took him "up the high desert"?

Thanks!
Karen

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: He was just a normal temperature but he was still shaking. I live in fontana which is more fresh but I was visiting family in apple valley where the weather was way more hotter so I thought maybe the change in the climate could have had something to do with it.

ANSWER: How hot was it where he was?

It sounds like he died of heat stroke.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I believe it was in like the low 80's

Answer
That is definitely warm enough for heat stroke. I don't know for certain, but the frothing at the mouth (rabbits can't vomit) and shaking are two very distinctive characteristics. Rabbits do very well in the cold, not so well in the warm/hot weather.

I'm very sorry you lost your rabbit!