my rabbit died from seizures

Question
QUESTION: I'm kind of at a loss here. My rabbit past just this morning. He had intermittent seizures for about an hour then that was the end. I had a female that died suddenly about a week ago and he wouldn't eat anything for almost two days, then he started chowing down on everything we gave him. He ate his normal pellets along with some romaine, carrots, some other greens, apple slices and seemed perfectly fine. He was very active in and out of his cage until this morning. The only thing I can think of that has been different is that I've spent the past week restoring a 115 year old pine wall and tearing out another that he was just in the other room from. My parrot landed on his cage a few times (which I found kind of odd) but didn't harass the bunny. he always had plenty of water. I'm not really sure how old he was but we've had him about 8 or 9 months; he was full grown when we got him. Could it have possibly been the noise from the hammering or the dust from the other wall? I just don't get it. He was fine when I was feeding him hay and then an hour or so later he starts having a seizure in his cage. I held him and rubbed him until he was gone. I get really attached to my animals, even more so than most people. I can explain some details of the seizure if needed but there was no blood from the mouth or nose. He did urinate a couple of times during the episode. I haven't had a whole lot of luck searching the internet, just a lot of lists of breeds and "all" the diseases and problems they could have. This is tough and I really appreciate any help or insight as to what might have happened. Thank you,
Steven

ANSWER: Hi Steven,

Please accept my condolences on the loss of your rabbits.  That is always something tough to work thru.  And I understand about becoming attached.  I do lots of wildlife and get very attached to the really special ones that fight so hard to live....knowing all the time that they are with me for only a short time.  Our thoughts are with you.

I think you provided a very important clue in your post.  I suspect the loss of your female a week ago and the loss of this little fellow are most likely related.  When we have multiple animals sick at the same time with the same unexplained symptoms....I look first for common denominators.  In most cases, it's the food.  I suspect that something they ate contained mycotoxins.  Mycotoxins are a by-product of mold and are toxic in extremely small amounts...as small as parts per billion.  It is sometimes a "spot toxin" since it will grow in one particular area of hay or pellets (any natural product can grow mold).  We have had mycotoxins here a few years ago....and we isolated it's presense in a highly regarded brand of hay.  The first sign of a problem....they stopped eating.  We started seeing signs of GI problems all across our warren.  The only rabbit that wasn't presenting something related to GI was the only rabbit (who was fighting EC at the time) that had his own special blend of food.  The others reacted similarly to what you would expect from a toxin....the smaller ones were much more sick than the others.  When mold is introduced to the GI, it gives off toxic components that disturb the natural bacterial flora in the gut.  The beneficial bacteria starts to die off.  That bacteria not only digests the food, it also keeps toxic bacteria such as Clostridium and/or E Coli in check.  This shift in bacterial flora will also change the pH in the gut and can lead to gastric ulcers.  Many times with mycotoxins, the rabbits will bloat sometimes to the point of looking fat but sometimes it is so slight that you can't see it.  This will result in severe cramps and pain in the abdomen.  The response from the rabbit usually appears to be a seizure.  Most times if a gastric ulcer in involved, the tremendous pressure on the intestinal walls during the contractions will perforate the ulcer.  Usually what you see there is the rabbit will arch it's back, usually start pawing frantically with it's front paws and most of the time will emit a horrible scream.  Death is quick.  Sorry to be so graphic but it's necessary for explanation here.

Mycotoxins and mold will be found in old food that has been improperly stored (like in large warehouses that you find at many farm supplies where they may be exposed to extreme temperatures), low quality food like is found at many discount stores, any product that contains corn (ask horse people about founder....horse version of this issue) or hay that was baled wet or got wet after being baled.  But, again, mold can be found on any natural food that has been exposed to any moisture at all.

I have seen this often and experience it here myself.  I lost a beatiful dwarf Hotot.  I watched him bloat and he died in my hands and even with my abilities here..there was nothing I could do to save him.  It's a problem that is much more common than people think.  Even rabbit savvy vets misdiagnose mycotoxin poinsoning as being GI stasis.  Treatment is difficult even if you find it early.

Again, my condolences.

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QUESTION: Right at the end; the last few minutes, his nose wasn't moving like it normally does. The last thing he did was arched his head back and opened his mouth really wide several times but didn't make any noise. All I could do was hold him and pray. He had lost weight, I had noticed while I was holding him. I don't know if I will ever be able to get another bunny, but if I do, I will definitely monitor his food a lot closer. Thank you again,
Steven

Answer
Hi Steven,

I know the pain you are feeling.  May I make a suggestion?  I sense your passion for rabbits.  Think about doing what I did....I refuse to let my little girl's memory go.  She might not be here in body, but she certainly is in spirit.  And I started my rescue to keep her memory alive and to honor her.  I prefer to take the "special needs"....just as she was.  I lost her to an illness that nobody knew what it was.  I do now.  And I have a personal vendetta against E Cuniculi for taking my rabbit.  And I have developed some promising treatments for a condition that is very difficult to treat.  Consider volunteering if there is a rabbit rescue in your area...maybe offer to foster some buns in need.  They really know and appreciate being helped.  Channel that frustration and pain into some useful....and help a bunny in need.  Best wishes.