Sudden death of baby lionhead rabbits.

Question
QUESTION: My two nine week old lionhead rabbits died last week. I had owned them for three weeks.

The first was not right on Sunday, but we put it down to the heat (it was 70 degrees F here in the UK). On Monday afternoon he became very lethargic, couldn't even sit up,  so we took him to the vet. The vet said he didn't know what was wrong with him, but that the kindest thing to do was to put him to sleep.

We kept a close eye on the other rabbit, and on Weds evening he seemed fine - eating, drinking and running around the lounge.

When I got home at 7 pm on Thursday, he had become lethargic - not as bad as the other one - he seemed more depressed than ill. I immediately called the vet who said to feed him water through a syringe, and keep him warm. He took the water, and later fell asleep on my lap. At around 10 pm he woke with a start - he had started having a fit. About ten minutes later he died (I had called the vet again but they said there was notning they could do).

Any ideas what could have caused this - the vet says he doesn't know - he said it could have been VHD but there have been no other outbreaks in the area.

ANSWER: Hi Patrick

I am so sorry for the loss of your rabbits.  There is really no way to tell what happened to your rabbits without necropsy.  Honestly it sounds like your vet doesn't really know a whole lot about rabbits.   I really doubt it was VHD but it may have been.  The problem is that I don't know the laws in the UK.  If it had been in the US and a vet had suspected VHD he/she would have immediately had to contact the United States Department of Agriculture.  I imagine that if your vet didn't contact someone if he truly suspected VHD that he is a complete moron.  Any rabbit that came to his hospital after your first rabbit was there could have easily been infected.  The disease is so horrible that all rabbits who have been in contact with other rabbits that have it should be euthanized or it can become a serious epidemic.

I honestly think that your rabbits were taken away from their mother to early.  Rabbits aren't supposed to be weaned from their mother until they are 8 weeks old.  If your's were 9 weeks old and you had them for 3 weeks then sadly they were taken away from their mom at only 5-6 weeks.  Rabbits do not fully develop their normal stomach flora and PH regulatory systems until they are between 6 and 7 weeks old.  They rely heavily on their mothers milk to make it through this transition period.  

Another thing to consider is a toxic poisoning of some sort.  Perhaps they got into something they shouldn't have.  Whatever the case you may never know.  If you ever have the heart to get another bunny please make sure you get it from a reputable breeder or an adoption agency.  They will not sell you a rabbit that is to young.  Pet stores are horrible.  They don't care about anything but the money.  Some breeders are the same way.  You would also want to line up a vet that has half a clue about rabbit ailments.  He should have at least offered to do tests before putting him down.

I am so sorry that you had to experience this and again I am so sorry for the loss of your babies.  Please don't let it discourage you from loving another bunny again.

This site was created for comfort for people who have lost pets.  I hope you find some solace and peace.

http://www.hgrabbitry.com/rainbowbridge.htm

Pam

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

QUESTION: Hi Pam

Thanks for this - some very useful advice.

I had come to the same conclusion about the vet - when the second one was ill I got the impression that they weren't too interested - the sad thing is that had they done tests on the first one, then we may well have been able to save the second one - like you say we'll never know.

I'll make sure that when we get another pair of rabbits that they are older - I'm going to leave it a while in case the last two did die of some sort of disease - we also intend to keep them in the house for at least a month to be on the safe side.

Finally, as an aside, VHD is no longer a notifiable disease in the UK because it is so widespread!

Thanks again

Patrick

Answer
Hi Patrick

Wow I had no idea that VHD was so widespread in the UK.  I do know that here in the US the ARBA doesn't even allow shows to be held anywhere within 150 miles of an outbreak.  It is just so sad.  Hopefully someday they will find a cure.  The sad thing is that these doctors and scientists don't realize or don't care that any VHD can mutate.  They still don't know the original carriers of Ebola or Marburg virus that affects and kills people.  I just find it so strange that a disease that kills animals at such a rapid rate and has really no scientific evidence where it comes from or proof that it can't mutate is not studied more intently.  I did extensive studies on hemorrhagic diseases while I was in college.  I found them completely fascinating and horribly scary.  I just figure who is to say that the deadly VHD's that human's get aren't some combination or mutation of a rabbit or other animal version.  Perhaps a tiny unknown insect from the rain forest bit a rabbit and then some how had a lethal combination of different virus's accumulated in its blood, then bit a human and caused a complete outbreak of one of these horrible diseases.  I guess its my own conspiracy theory but it is so scary and people just don't take it seriously.

Anyway sorry to rant. I am just completely angered by the lack of concern for animals well-being.  We are after all animals as well.

It is a good plan to let your cages sit for a while to be disinfected.  I would clean them with a bleach solution and let them dry in the sun for at least a few weeks.  Then I would make sure to store them in a dry area.

Again I am really sorry about your little ones.  I hope you are able to find a more caring veterinarian.  Thank you so much for the information on VHD.  I plan to do some more investigating now that I know just how serious it is.

Thanks so much

Pam