bunny died in vet care?

Question
Dear Dana

This is Elisabet, asking about my bunny the other day. As i told you, the vet said she's getting better and can be take home, but when i got there my bunny already dead. how's that happen? the vet said when my bunny died she bath her, is that usual for vet bath the bunny that already dead? and she said before the bunny died the vet say she has short breath like asthma, but she diagnose it is like pneuomia.and the vet can't do anything else. Is that really can happen? because when my bunny hospitalized there her daughter also played with my bunny...actually is that allowed? I'm so confused Dana. I'm so happy when the vet said my bunny is better and can go home, but when i got there and she said my bunny died i can't think anything again.Please give me some explanation...thanks Dana.

Answer
Dear Elisabet,

I am so sorry about the loss of your bunny.

Do not ever go back to that vet.  No vet who knows *anything* about rabbits will bathe a healthy rabbit.  It can be fatal.  Why on earth did  the vet bathe the rabbit?  It is well known that bathing a rabbit can cause fatal stress and terror.  From the description you give, this is very likely what killed the bunny.

In my opinion, it is also unethical for your vet to have allowed her child to play with your bunny without your permission.  Was this supervised?  Is it possible that the child injured the rabbit?  This sounds like a complete nightmare, and you need to ask this vet some serious questions about what happened when your bunny was there.

What was she treated for?  Why on earth did any of this happen?

Please find a good rabbit vet here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

if you ever need to bring a bunny to the vet again.  And possibly bring your bunny's body there for a post mortem exam to see if any sign of negligence can be found.

I am very sorry.

Dana