Rabbits dying suddenly

[RabbitsOfTheHill]

So, not to long ago I had purchased two gorgeous little bucks. I got them home and a few weeks had past. They were all well fed and a variety to eat from, although I did notice that their spines were extremely easy to feel which was odd, but yet, there stomachs underneath felt very fat and round, they ate, drank, pooped, acted completely normal then suddenly the next day, I came out to find one of them dead. I was a bit upset as I grow quite the bond with my rabbits A few days later had past and I was outside giving my rabbits their nightly feed, I moved the other younger boy to the other cage so I could clean out his, although when I picked him up, he seemed normal, I placed him down into the other cage and then, bam! he fell over, couldnt move, he looked paralyzed, I didnt know what to do, then within seconds he started fitting then died... I placed him in a box in the shed to be buried the next day then when I came back out I went to feed my other rabbit thats Ive had for years and suddenly he took a bite out of his carrot and started fitting, then he got back up on his feet and acted completely normal, I kept a close eye on him all night and nothing happened, he seemed completely normal. A few weeks later I had to go away due to medical reasons, I had someone taking care of them and she rang up saying that one of my main does had just suddenly died then abouts a day later she rang up saying that my rabbit I had for 8 years was fitting again and had died... What I had noticed with these sudden deaths are:

* Their spine is extremely easy to feel but they feel very fat underneath
*They seem completely normal the day before
*Some may fit
* Go slightly quiet the day before

Thats all Ive notcied, thank you

 

[a7736100]

Try asking at
http://www.allexperts.com/ep/703-35789/ ... s-Ph-D.htm
You might also want to ask the person where you got the rabbits for any possible causes.

 

[MaggieJ]

Yes, do talk to the person from whom you got the two young bucks. It sounds as though this may be something that came into your rabbitry with them.

I've had a few sudden rabbit deaths over the years, but none with the symptoms you described, so I'm afraid I can't help pin-point the problem.

 

[Dood]

I see you are in Australia, rabbit haemorrhagic disease can cause sudden death with few symptoms and is highly contagious

Thankfully it is not very prevalent in North America

 

[RabbitsOfTheHill]

Thank you all for the reply I had also thought that the two I had bought had came with a disease. The guy I bought them from has lied to me before, we had an argument not to long ago due to a different reason. If it helps, he sold another rabbit to one of my friends and within weeks, that one had died. I cant really ask him as he just lies, plus we had an argument not to long ago so it wouldnt really work out...
Yes, I am located in Australia, I will look more into it thanks
Thank you all for trying to help

 

[Prisma]

Are you sure its fat, not bloat or fluid leak? Rabbits shouldn't have rounded smushy filled tummies, there are some rabbits that judges like to say get hay/pot bellies, that's what comes to mind when you say that, but that's not normal either and its a genetic/build fault. I second what Dood says, sadly no ideas.

 

[Zass]

If it is rabbit hemorrhagic disease, I'm afraid not too many of us in the US have had direct experience with it.

Their spine is extremely easy to feel but they feel very fat underneath

The spine being very easy to feel is often a sign of dehydration, if they are drinking and their bellies are full, it may be that they are diverting fluid to their intestines. Has there been any sign of diahrea at all?

 

[pcreel]

I'm having a big issue not sure how to post my own question
Not sure if my bunnies have bloat or mucoid enteritis

I have lost 10 in two weeks
1 adult Holland lop
1 young 15 week Flemish
5 mini Rex babies under 8 weeks old
And 3 mini lop under 8 weeks old

The only thing I did different was change their food
They also have swollen belly and spine can be felt
One day depressed next expired
So frustrating is it contagious or could it be the food?

 

[Zass]

I'm having a big issue not sure how to post my own question
Not sure if my bunnies have bloat or mucoid enteritis

I have lost 10 in two weeks
1 adult Holland lop
1 young 15 week Flemish
5 mini Rex babies under 8 weeks old
And 3 mini lop under 8 weeks old

The only thing I did different was change their food
They also have swollen belly and spine can be felt
One day depressed next expired
So frustrating is it contagious or could it be the food?

I'm leaning towards food in this case.
True bloat is unlikely to occur to multiple rabbits at once, since it seems to be more of a symptom of GI issues that have spiraled out of control than it is a disease in it's own right.

It's not uncommon to lose kits under 8 weeks after introducing new foods, but losing adults or anybun over 12 weeks is rather unusual, especially so many.
From my experience, any mold or fungal toxins can cause mucoid enteritis symptoms in kits, along with some very common bacteria, like e coli. Severely contaminated feed could kill adults, and it's has been known to happen on occasion. Gi issues caused by contaminated feed could lead to true bloat.

Out of curiosity, what were you feeding previously, what are you feeding now, and were there any other new foods introduced at the same time?

 

[RabbitsOfTheHill]

They are completely normal, eating, drinking and pooping fine, its the next day that gets them and within seconds, gone... its really got me confused, the only thing the guy was feeding them before I got them was hay, they have access to hay and many other foods now. Its got me very confused

 

[Marinea]

Many other foods? Like what?

Like Zass the wise said, describe what and how you feed and maybe we can help you better.