seizures

Question
QUESTION: a friend of mine has had several rabbits & all of them have died & they all have had seizures. is this common with rabbits or is she doing something wrong with them. I would love 2 get my daughter one but I don't want it die in a few months. also do u need to get routine dr visits with rabbits like you do with a dog or cat?

ANSWER: Dear Mary,

If you can provide more information on the "seizures" it would be helpful.  But when a rabbit (or any animal, including a human) dies, there is often what's called an "agonal phase" in which the body contorts, the mouth opens, and sometimes the individual passing over utters a cry.  This is not truly a seizure.  It is the body's reaction to death.

It sounds as if your friend may not be taking proper care of her rabbits, if she has had so many and they all die this way.  This is not normal, and I hope she will stop getting rabbits until she educates herself about their proper care.  Please direct her to:

www.rabbit.org

for all the best information.  

If these are baby rabbits she's getting from a pet store, they may be too young to be weaned, and this can make them far more likely to die from respiratory and/or intestinal problems.  Please read:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/poop.html

for more information on this.

If you are thinking about getting a bunny, then do be aware that they are NOT good pets for children.  Please read this first:

http://www.rabbit.org/care/new-bunny-index.html

as well as this *very* important information:

http://www.rabbit.org/faq/sections/children.html

and then decide if a rabbit is right for you.  They are wonderful companions, intelligent and social and very interactive. But they are nothing like a dog or cat, and they require their caregivers to understand the special need of their species.

I hope this helps.  Please write back if you have any other questions.

Dana

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

QUESTION: well we found that her last bunny might have died because her vet told her to use frontline on it for fleas.  but when they have these "seizures" there fine one minute then the next there shaking uncontrollably.  they do it for like 20 seconds or so then they go in there little house and stay there for like 30 minutes to an hour then it seems fine.  but it is something that happens every few days.  the one they had they had put down because the vet said it broke its back from the 'seizure".  i don't know to me it just doesn't seem right.  i know other people who have had bunnies for years and have never had any problems with them.

i was also told though that if you buy them from pet stores there the "rejects" of the group.  is that true and can that maybe be some of the problem.

maybe I'll hold off on getting my daughter one shes only 4 maybe i should wait till shes older.

well i hope that you can help
Mary

Answer
Dear Mary,

It really sounds as if there's something very wrong with your friend's rabbit situation.  Could there be some way the rabbits are being exposed to toxins?  Pesticides?  The only way to determine a cause of death is via necropsy with histopathology of major organs.  I don't believe the "death by broken back from seizure" diagnosis, either.

I certainly would not get a rabbit from the people with the sick bunnies, and I would *absolutely* avoid pet stores and breeders.  It's true that they will often sell you the "culls."  Instead, check out the rescued bunnies at your local rabbit rescuer:

www.rabbit.org/chapters

They're already spayed/neutered and with a known health history.  

Your daughter is a bit young for a bunny.  In fact, rabbits are not good pets for children, and an adult should always be the primary caretaker.  Before you consider getting a bunny, please read all the materials here:

http://www.rabbit.org/care/new-bunny-index.html

and especially this one, about kids and rabbits:

http://www.rabbit.org/faq/sections/children.html

Hope that helps!

Dana