Sudden Death of Loved Rabbit

Question
This morning I went out as usual to check on my rabbit, Thumper. But as I lifted up the cage lid, I saw her lying there. She was lying sprawled across her cage not breathing. I immediately feared the worst and checked to see if she was breathing. When I touched her skin it was stone cold and I knew that she was dead. I do not know how this happened as the day before she was fine. Thumper hadn't been eating much and she seemed to sit in one place for ages. I did have another rabbit that died of similar circumstances, as I also found him sprawled across the hutch. We rushed him to the vets but they could not do anything. He could of have Floppy Bunny Syndrome because when I found him he was barley alive and his body was paralyzed. Thumper probably died during the night as when I found her she was really cold. She was such an awesome rabbit and I would really like to know why she died as was the light of my life.

Answer
Hi Lottie,

I am sorry to hear about Thumper dying unexpectedly.

The only way to know for sure what she died from is to have a vet do a necropsy.

I will tell you however that she was giving off signals that something was not right.  Anytime rabbits eat less (or nothing) and sit tight and hunched and don't move, there is a serious gut problem going on that requires you to do something.

Generally this starts off as rabbits having trapped gas inside their gi tract that causes them pain.  So they stop eating, and sit still, trying to take the weight off their stomach.  If nothing is done, it can progress to gi stasis and death occurs.  The first thing you need to do is give them baby gas drops, 2-3 plastic droppers' full, and while holding them  in your lap or on your lap on a pillow, tummy massage.  You are attempting to break up the gas both manually and also to allow and let the gas drops get down into their gi tract and start breaking up the gas.  Massage needs to occur for about 1/2 hour, and you need to watch their behavior, and if nothing changes, give another 2-3 plastic dropper doses of gas drops, and continue massage.  If it appears she is not perking up I'd give the treatment and massage a third time.  If still after three times it is not getting better, I'd let them sit a bit (maybe another 1/2 hour) and see if they are any better.  If not, I'd get to a vet or emergency vet.  

The other thing is that you have them outside in a hutch.  Hot weather will kill a rabbit.  Generally the problem is that it gets hot and bunny hasn't changed how much they are drinking and their body fluids get too low, and water is pulled from the gi tract to other places in the body, and it causes the gut to dry out and stop working (gi stasis).  

I recommend if you get another bunny, to adopt one from a rescue group or shelter (they will already be spayed or neutered) and keep him/her indoors and enjoy the pleasures of an indoor house rabbit.

Again, I am sorry to hear about your gal.  I am sure she knows you loved her.

Lee