rabbits death

Question
QUESTION: I just lost my holland lop 3 weeks ago.  He was only 6 months old.  I was feeding pellets and hay which he wouldn't eat a whole lot but some.  I put natural pumpkin in his food everyday like the breeder instructed. He was out the night before and we put him in his cage around 11:30pm and 6 hours later he was not himself. Not eating drinking or happy to see me.  We took him to the vet and he had a temp of 106 degrees.  He gave us antibiotics to give to him and pet tinic a vitamin supplement.  The only thing he could find wrong was he had a fever.  Brought him home and 1/2 later he died and he had some blood that was coming out of his back end.  He laid on his side and just quit breathing.  I beat myself up everyday trying to figure out what I did.  The night before we gave him a piece of dried apple from the pet store but it wasn't the first time either he always would get a treat for going into his cage at night.  Is there anyway you can help me figure out what happend.

ANSWER: Dear Michelle,

I am very sorry about the terrible loss of your friend.

If you had not mentioned the blood coming out his vent, I would have suggested this might be a per-acute onset of a systemic infection, which the fever would indicate.  But the blood is worrisome.  

If you are in the UK or Europe, then there is a possibility that your bunny died from a deadly virus that causes Viral Hemorrhagic Disease (VHD).  If this is where you are, and your bunny was not vaccinated, then this is a very real possibility.  Please go here to find a good rabbit vet:

www.rabbit.org/vets

to ask about this disease.  If it has been three weeks, then it is obviously too late for a post mortem exam, but if this was VHD, then anything the bunny touched could be infective, and should be destroyed or thoroughly disinfected.

Unfortunately, without a post mortem exam, it is impossible to know for certain why he died.  If he was attacked and bitten by a predator, internal injuries could have caused the bleeding.  But now it is not possible to find out.

I am very sorry.

Dana

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

QUESTION: I fortunately don't live in the UK or in Europe. That sounds very scary for the bunnies and that would be horrible for owners to have to deal with at any time. I live in the USA.  Do bunnies that are kept indoors need vaccinated often or at all?

Answer
Dear Michelle,

If you're in the U.S., there are no vaccines approved or available for rabbits.  VHD has been reported sporacially here, but it is not (yet) widespread or endemic.  I really hope your bunny was not a victim of that, but if you suspect it's possible, please contain his body well and get it to your rabbit vet, telling him/her your suspicions.  If this *is* VHD, then every rabbit in your area is at risk, and the outbreak should be made known to your veterinarian.

www.rabbit.org/vets

If the bunny was subject to excessive heat, this could cause hemorrhage.  And as I mentioned, a pulmonary embolism could do this.  I am sorry about your loss. But I also hope it was due to one of those more benign things than to VHD.

Take care,
Dana