Our bunny died!

Question
We just bought a cute albino bunny about 2 weeks ago. We went out to feed our bunny tonight, and my daughter picked her up.  She seemed fine, but obviously she was not.  My daughter took the bunny inside, but ran back outside only a few minutes later!  By the time I got inside my husband said the bunny was dead!  She was alive when my daughter brought her in, but she wouldn't stand up. I looked her over, and she had madded clumps of something all over her bottom.  I don't know if it was all poo, or if it was a combination of diarrea and debris. Either way, it was from a bowl movement. I'm shocked as to why this would happen?! That's why I got on the Internet to find some possible answers. Please help, if you have any information.
Thank you,
Glenda

Answer
Dear Glenda,

I am very sorry about your tragic loss.  One of the prime reasons we at the House Rabbit Society insist that rabbits live indoors with the family is precisely for this type of situation:  Rabbits are very cryptic about their illnesses, as they are a prey species.  They hide their symptoms and are very subtle about showing illness.  If the bunny lives outside and is not in your constant sight (as a dog or cat would be), it is most likely that you will not notice the subtle signs of illness until it is too late.  You should read this:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/sickbun.html

for complete information about this extremely important aspect of living with a rabbit.

YOu don't say how old the bunny was, but if you bought her from a pet store it's likely that she was too young to be weaned.  Pet stores--illegally!--often sell bunnies before the required 8-week age when they are truly weaned.  Younger bunnies desperately need their mother's milk between the ages of 2-8 weeks so they acquire the vital immunity to pathogens, including the ones that cause intestinal illnesses, that they will need for the rest of their lives.

It sounds as if your bunny died of either diarrhea (seen only in very young rabbits, usually), or cecal dysbiosis, or both.  To read about this, please go here:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/poop.html

There are many different reasons this could happen, but the end result is the same, if the bunny does not immediately receive veterinary help at the very first sign of runny stool, which is a sypmtom of a problem and not always a primary disease in and of itself.

Again, I am very sorry for your loss.  I know it is probably too painful for you to consider another bunny right now.  But if you do decide to bring another little pal into your home, I hope you will consider adopting a needy bunny from your local rabbit rescuer, which you can find here:

www.rabbit.org/

and clicking on "chapters" to find your local group.  All the foster bunnies are healthy and already spayed/neutered so you never have to worry about that grief.  And by adopting, you're not promoting the bad business of those awful breeders and pet stores who will victimize you (not to mention the bunny!) by selling you a rabbit too young to be weaned. Their hope is that if the rabbit dies, you will go back and buy another.  It's a win-win situation for them, and they don't care about their customers' heartache.

I am so sorry.  I wish I could have been there to help sooner.  We all have gone through this type of thing and learned the hard way, and I'm glad I could at least help you  now so that you never have to suffer this sadness again.

I hope this helps. Please write back if you have any other questions.

Healing thoughts to you,

Dana