Buck died mysteriously this morning...

[SarahMelisse]

I have no idea what happened, but when I walked into the Rabbitry today my black buck, Sid, was on his side, limp, and screaming. I immediately pulled him out of his cage and took him out of the Rabbitry. He wasnt responding to anything so I went to grab my pellet gun to put him down, but by the time I got back (30 seconds maybe) he was already dead.

I pulled his cage and pan out of the Rabbitry to thoroughly disinfect before putting back just incase it was contagious. He had a clean nose and eyes and I could not feel any blockages. He did however, go off of water and feed since yesterday afternoon. I had just cleaned the dropping pans yesterday so I could tell that he did not urinate in 24-hours. All of his droppings looked normal though.

What the?! Any ideas?

 

[mystang89]

Don't know if rabbits get these but maybe kidney stones or a urinary tract?

 

[jessie15273]

Bump - I have had a very similar death a couple months ago

 

[SarahMelisse]

He was three years old. I should also probably say that I had only had him for 4 months. He seemed perfectly healthy otherwise, but he did come from a breeder that I found out later had had whole litters die. Of what, I'm not sure... it sounded like wry neck.<br /><br />__________ Tue Jan 22, 2013 10:04 am __________<br /><br />

Bump - I have had a very similar death a couple months ago

Was it multiple rabbits or just one? I am just afraid of my other rabbits catching something contagious!

 

[Miss M]

Oh my goodness... can you do a necropsy?

 

[SarahMelisse]

Ok, I had to hurry in order to get to the garbage can before the garbage truck came around (if I buried any thing the bobcats, mt. Lions, and stray dogs would dig it right back up). I just opened the chest up and I didn't see anything weird, but then again this was only my second time seeing the inside of a rabbit and my first necropsy (I have butchered once so far). The organs looked a healthy red purple and I didn't see any big blockages but there was some feces still in there. Nothing out of the ordinary from my guess.

So that didnt lend me any clues.<br /><br />__________ Tue Jan 22, 2013 11:00 am __________<br /><br />I wonder if he broke his back? He was very limp when I picked him up before he died.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Poor Sid.

If you use water bottles, make sure his valve wasn't clogged. Lack of water will make them go off feed.

I doubt that was the problem though- going a day without water when the weather is mild shouldn't have had such a dramatic impact.

I would suspect a heart attack. He could have been feeling poorly yesterday so didn't eat or drink.

I'm sorry you lost him. ((Hugs))

 

[SarahMelisse]

His water bottle was fine and he was acting perfectly normal yesterday. I feed in the morning and he usually finishes half his food by evening... just as he did yesterday. I just gave everyone a quick look last night before bringing in a nestbox of kits and he still seemed fine and greeted me.

I don't know. This is so weird. Hopefully I can find a replacement buck at the Stockton show or replace him with one of his 2-week olds.

 

[CloeysRabbitRanch]

I had a sable point Lionhead buck die in a similar manner. I was brushing his fur and he randomly jumped up and started screaming. I didn't touch him for fear that I would scare him more. Then he fell over dead. I didn't do a necropsy, but I should have.

 

[SarahMelisse]

I am pretty sure my buck died from a broken back. I don't know how... But my rabbits are housed outdoors so anything could have spooked him

 

[Oceanrose]

Seizure? I had a doe do that once after delivering, looked out she was flipping all over the place and by the time I got out there she was dead. Sorry to hear about him . That is one reason I am a proponent of always having a couple extra bucks around. It takes up cage space but at the same time, you're covered for emergencies.