Sudden death of 6 month old rabbit.

[PenguinsRabbits]

DD is 13 and 6 months ago got two baby rabbits, boy mini lop from someone who said got by mistake and girl mini lion lop from breeder, both 8 weeks old or so. They were both neutered by vets here, and had all required vaccines.

They live indoors with DD who loves them a lot and takes care of them. Fed predominately hay with odd carrot and very occassionally would eat bit of crisp etc DD had dropped but no odd food ate in last week.

Thursday night DD came to say she had found the girl dead suddenly in the night. DD was heartbroken and we are worried for other one. Vet has checked the boy said he is healthy and doesn't know why other one died, said its rare. Didn't take body in. Rabbits got on and groomed each other, have old cat but she was terrified of fluffy girl rabbit and room was always shut. No scratch marks on body, no evidence of an attack. Both rabbits appeared happy until few days earlier when girl seemed fine but boy started stomping. He now appears very happy and I think stomping was for DDs attention.

Only thing that happened then was DD was singing loudly but they are used to that, I told her to stop singing as it was late and she should be sleeping but again used to that, DS had a night terror for first time in 2 years but is a different floor and other end of house, he is ASD. I am very allergic to rabbits so don't see them that much. The cat stays with me. Only odd thing was rabbit looked dirty underneath, I looked up and it mentioned fly strike and we do get flies a bit (have thatched roof) though said its the green and blue ones. Our flies our black but DS said there has been one green one.

All feel really bad rabbit owners and want to make sure other one has as good a life as possible. Its our first rabbits. DD initially asked for another one but said no as want to be sure we can look after this one perfectly first. Any ideas / suggestions. We are deep cleaning everything and rabbit currently is seperate place incase there's something catching. We have an outdoor run for it, DD has always been nervous about that but boy rabbit loves it. He seems happy on his own and with DD. He did try and charge at cat but keeping them seperate or very supervised as cat gets anxious, she just seems to ignore him though whereas one that died was half fluff and truly terrifying.! Thanks.

Sorry I’m not clear what you’re asking

Just would like to understand why it died so can make sure other one is OK. It maybe if vet doesn't know no-one can know but DD is crying as she's worried our cat or her other rabbit will die too very soon though vet says he is fine. Our cat is very old so can't make any promises there but rabbit is young.

Do we need to do anything re flies? Obviously always trying to get rid of them but realistically will be odd one who gets through.

Have they been fully vaccinated for mxyi and VHD? I think there are 2 types of VHD which need vaccinating against and it would be consistent with a sudden unexplained death.

As well as trying to rid yourself of flies (how bad is your fly problem?) which are disgusting anyway, it would be best to check your rabbit daily and keep him clean - regular grooming and a wash around the bottom if necessary. If your rabbit was dirty and there is a fly problem then it probably died of flystrike.

Thanks very much. Has had all vaccines recommended by vet but will double check included those.

We only get flies when open back door or window but trouble is may come from thatch so hard to eliminate in summer. With window they just fly in and out, with back door stay longer. I tell everyone not to leave back door open but didn't appreciate how dangerous flies could be for rabbits just thought they were annoying. Its generally just odd one or two.

Was your rabbits vaccinated against myxomatosis and R(V)HD2? Is it possible that the rabbit got fly strike? Also if there are any sudden changes in the rabbits diet, for example changing the rabbits food suddenly can upset their stomach and may even cause death, if the food is not changed gradually over a period of time. Sometimes these things can happen though and nobody knows why. I am sorry for your loss!

They have had both the combination Myxi/VHD vaccine AND the new VHD2 vaccine right? Some vets don't sell the second newer vaccine and often the first symptom of VHD is, sadly, a dead bunny. VHD is also transferred by contact, not just insects, for instance by dirt after you've been, or the cat's been, for a walk outside where wild bunnies might also have been.

If this was very recent, as in within the last day, a good vet will do a post mortem on the bun to make sure it wasn't VHD and get closure of what it might have been, such as a genetic heart condition or a gut blockage, two other likely causes which can happen very quickly. There are other contagious things such as coccidiosis that can be a concern.

Definitely keep a close eye on the remaining bun, get him fully vet checked. In time, ideally with a good rescue's help, he can be rebonded with a new wifebun.

Binky free bunbun!

Thanks very much. DH took him to vets with DD for vaccines - DD said it was a 2 in 1 then month later a booster for one of the two in one to make it last a lifetime. Will see if DH knows exactly what. Vet is just village vet but he has fully checked boy rabbit and says he is fine. No sign of anything on him and bouncing around, seems happy. He's been trying to get close to cat bounding up to her at great speed but cat is old, half blind and nervous so we are keeping them very supervised. She is just ignoring him.

No changes in food, always hay and both rabbits have same. Flystrike not impossible but no sign of flesh eaten or maggots but is getting all cleaned a lot and will buy some anti fly things.

Interesting about second vaccine. DH did bury the rabbit but would feel happier knowing what it died of so can protect other one and cat. Though can just do all things anyway. Thanks that's very helpful. DD said the vet is not rabbit specialist but don't know if you get rabbit specialists. DD had seen rabbit an hour before and petted it, said she was washing its underneath each day but maybe not enough.

If you wash the rabbit make sure it is properly dry after. Flies love damp fur which is bad news for rabbits. You can definitely get rabbit specialist vets and always an idea to find a recommended one for rabbits. Join the rabbit united forum they are a wealth of knowledge

DH took him to vets with DD for vaccines - DD said it was a 2 in 1 then month later a booster for one of the two in one to make it last a lifetime.

So sorry you lost your rabbit @PenguinsRabbits.

I don't think there are any rabbit vaccines that last a lifetime.

You need at least 2 visits to the vet each year for vaccinations - one for Myxi/RHD1 and another one 2-3 weeks later for RHD2.

Some vets recommend RHD2 to be given twice a year if you live in a rural area with a high population of wild rabbits.

www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/rabbits/health/vaccinations

Thanks very much. The vaccines were Filovax vhd and the combi one Myxi/RHD, DH said DD got mixed up and its not a lifetime one.

We have put treatment to protect against fly strike on the other rabbit. Not sure if it was that but would prefer to maximise chance of no problems. He seems very happy at least, seems to prefer DD all to himself. The cat seems OK with him from a distance and he seems to be calming down on his trying to charge up to her. He still looks well so think he should be OK now.