Help! Need a new vet and sudden death!

Question
My netherland dwark bunny, Thumper, passed away last Saturday, 9/23/06. The thing is, he had only just turned 2.

The previous May I took him in to the vet. He was losing fur and I was told that he had fur mites. I didn't have a lot of money, but our vet accepted the Care Card, it ending up costing us the full $500 on the care card with everything (visits, skin scraping, bath, medicine).

A week before he passed, I took Thumper back to the vet because his poop was sticking to his bottom. I was told that he needed to be dewormed. Once again I didn't really have much to spend, but I got accepted for another care card. I spent over $300.

The next Saturday, the day he passed, I was supposed to take him back for his second deworming. I was got up that morning and noticed he was flat, limp like. I picked him up because I was also supposed to give him his medicine, but couln't because he was literally gasping for air. I took him to the vet immediately but he passed away.

I am really confused and hurt right now. He was only my second pet. My first was a hamster and he lived longer although bunnies are supposed to live longer.

I found this vet specifically for Thumper because he takes care of all animals and it is hard to find that. I have another netherland dwarf, 1 yr. old male, who is extremely healthy and a 6 mo. old Pomeranian. I would like a vet that I could go to for everyone.

Now I am scared to take the other two to this vet. I see this website offers http://www.rabbit.org/vets/ as a listing, but I live in Southern California in the Inland Empire. I specifically live around Murrieta/Temecual. Do you have any advice for any good vets in this area? Also, if they accept the Care Credit card that would be helpful because I am a college stident and I use it for help.

Lastly, I was told at the vet that Thumper would be fine. I just took him there a week before he passed away and was supposed to take hime back that day. He lived in a really big pen. Had fresh water, hay, and pellets. I know there is no way of you knowing for sure, but do you have any idea what happened?

Thank you for any advice you could give me.

Answer
I don't know any vets in that area, but if you email the Houst Rabbit Society you can ask for a referral in that area.

Did they dip him, or just bathe him?  Some rabbits have issues with the medication used for the dip.  Also, what did they use to deworm him with and what kind of worms did they say he had?  Some rabbits also have issues with the deworming meds.

He could also have had some hidden health condition that is totally unrelated that caused him to pass away suddenly.  Without having a necropsy done (an animal autopsy) it would really be impossible to know why he passed on.

It doesn't sound like your Netherland caught anything, so hopefully whatever this bunny had was not contagious.

Do check with HRS, they can tell you who would be a good vet in your area.

Kim