Why is my rabbits dying

[Ashley Mooneyham]

So I had 13 total rabbits now I'm down to only 7 I'm not sure what's going on with my rabbits but so far the ones that had passed away I've cut open and their organs was twisted and bloated I've took feed away and I have gave baby gas drops now I'm giving vitamins I don't understand why they are all dying the same way could anyone tell me if the same thing is happening it's not only me in Alabama my friends rabbits are doing the same and some other live stock

 

[RabbitsOfTheCreek]

I hope you didn't take everything they eat away

 

[Ashley Mooneyham]

I hope you didn't take everything they eat away

No just the feed they still get greens and hay

 

[Ashley Mooneyham]

No just the feed they still get greens and hay

I have raised rabbits every since I was little and never had this to happen to any of my rabbits this is new for me

 

[Robochelle]

Have you looked for parasites?

 

[Rabbit Tree Farm]

Any updates for us Ashley?

 

[ladysown]

bloated
so something in the feed most likely is upsetting their digestive systems.

 

[Rabbit Tree Farm]

Do you and your friend use the same feed/feed source?

 

[Scooter1A]

So I had 13 total rabbits now I'm down to only 7 I'm not sure what's going on with my rabbits but so far the ones that had passed away I've cut open and their organs was twisted and bloated I've took feed away and I have gave baby gas drops now I'm giving vitamins I don't understand why they are all dying the same way could anyone tell me if the same thing is happening it's not only me in Alabama my friends rabbits are doing the same and some other live stock

are these grown rabbits? all get sick at the same time pretty much? good job on inspecting them, that can't be fun.

 

[reh]

ERE / epizootic rabbit enteropathy / Clostridium perfringens?

 

[GandalfTheGrey]

So I had 13 total rabbits now I'm down to only 7 I'm not sure what's going on with my rabbits but so far the ones that had passed away I've cut open and their organs was twisted and bloated I've took feed away and I have gave baby gas drops now I'm giving vitamins I don't understand why they are all dying the same way could anyone tell me if the same thing is happening it's not only me in Alabama my friends rabbits are doing the same and some other live stock

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-...ken-swine-and-rabbit-feed#recall-announcement

Could this be it?

 

[CedarRidge]

We are very careful about spoiled pellets. I would think high humidity could do a number on food not kept in sealed containers, especially when it take's a couple of weeks or more to empty a bag.

 

[GandalfTheGrey]

So I had 13 total rabbits now I'm down to only 7 I'm not sure what's going on with my rabbits but so far the ones that had passed away I've cut open and their organs was twisted and bloated I've took feed away and I have gave baby gas drops now I'm giving vitamins I don't understand why they are all dying the same way could anyone tell me if the same thing is happening it's not only me in Alabama my friends rabbits are doing the same and some other live stock

Ashley, a customer and friend of mine recently had the same thing. She had about 125 rabbits on her farm. 5-6 dieing a day. We took one to UC Davis Lab and it was confirmed to be RHDv2. This is highly contagious with a 98% fatality. It can be spread by wild animals, your hands, feed dishes, and remain in the environment for a significant amount of time. Even dust and airborne. It's a haemoragic disease but only two of hers showed blood at nose and mouth. The symptoms vary internally but Hallmark is a darkened liver. Next you will see dark spots on the lungs, blood spots.
I truly hope this isn't happening to your rabbits. If so, you have to cull the complete herd. Incinerate remains to avoid contaminating wild populations at the landfill or your own water supply from burying near a well.
Do not repopulate your rabbitry for 40 days and only after sanitizing with a good and safe product. Just spray everything.

 

[Alaska Satin]

Ashley, a customer and friend of mine recently had the same thing. She had about 125 rabbits on her farm. 5-6 dieing a day. We took one to UC Davis Lab and it was confirmed to be RHDv2. This is highly contagious with a 98% fatality. It can be spread by wild animals, your hands, feed dishes, and remain in the environment for a significant amount of time. Even dust and airborne. It's a haemoragic disease but only two of hers showed blood at nose and mouth. The symptoms vary internally but Hallmark is a darkened liver. Next you will see dark spots on the lungs, blood spots.
I truly hope this isn't happening to your rabbits. If so, you have to cull the complete herd. Incinerate remains to avoid contaminating wild populations at the landfill or your own water supply from burying near a well.
Do not repopulate your rabbitry for 40 days and only after sanitizing with a good and safe product. Just spray everything.

Not everyone agrees with culling an entire herd in response to the presence of infectious disease. I am not aware of any disease that is 100% lethal in all populations, and RHDv2 is not. There are always individuals that are resistant and/or recover, and in the wild (and in the barn), those are the ones that eventually produce resistant populations. In a small herd, you may lose every animal, but on the other hand, you may not.

Certainly, be careful about allowing major opportunities for the pathogen to spread into the wild and/or other barns, keep up on good hygiene practices, and properly and promptly dispose of animals that die suspiciously. But culling every single animal in the herd means killing off any chance of disease resistance (which in effect renders you forever reliant on vaccines and pharmaceuticals).

Currently RHDv2 is a mandatory reportable disease: when RHDv2 is diagnosed, vets are required to report to state or local public health officials. In other words, if you contact a vet and they decide you've got RHDv2 on your property, state or regional health officials will most likely cull your entire herd for you.

Here's what the ARBA offers currently on the subject:
https://arba.net/rhdv2/

 

[Scooter1A]

That is a total bummer. Sorry for your losses. I have some reading to do.

 

[GandalfTheGrey]

Not everyone agrees with culling an entire herd in response to the presence of infectious disease. I am not aware of any disease that is 100% lethal in all populations, and RHDv2 is not. There are always individuals that are resistant and/or recover, and in the wild (and in the barn), those are the ones that eventually produce resistant populations. In a small herd, you may lose every animal, but on the other hand, you may not.

Certainly, be careful about allowing major opportunities for the pathogen to spread into the wild and/or other barns, keep up on good hygiene practices, and properly and promptly dispose of animals that die suspiciously. But culling every single animal in the herd means killing off any chance of disease resistance (which in effect renders you forever reliant on vaccines and pharmaceuticals).

Currently RHDv2 is a mandatory reportable disease: when RHDv2 is diagnosed, vets are required to report to state or local public health officials. In other words, if you contact a vet and they decide you've got RHDv2 on your property, state or regional health officials will most likely cull your entire herd for you.

Here's what the ARBA offers currently on the subject:
https://arba.net/rhdv2/

I agree that culling the entire herd is not in the best interests when trying to produce resistant rabbits. She and I both did research and "officials" advised culling. She actually has two left. Though she did cull according to advice those that were culled had lost interest in fresh food. I started by treating with rabbit safe antivirals. Losses slowed and then only the ones that were not treated. She owned the rabbits though so standard practices were followed. And I had stopped going to help to protect my own herd.
She raises using standard framing practices. I feed organic and do not vaccinate. I find herbal solutions much preferable if not more time consuming. I should have qualified my statement.
Thank you for pointing out what nature does on its own. It is what believe myself.

 

[Florida Jeff]

I agree that culling the entire herd is not in the best interests when trying to produce resistant rabbits. She and I both did research and "officials" advised culling. She actually has two left. Though she did cull according to advice those that were culled had lost interest in fresh food. I started by treating with rabbit safe antivirals. Losses slowed and then only the ones that were not treated. She owned the rabbits though so standard practices were followed. And I had stopped going to help to protect my own herd.
She raises using standard framing practices. I feed organic and do not vaccinate. I find herbal solutions much preferable if not more time consuming. I should have qualified my statement.
Thank you for pointing out what nature does on its own. It is what believe myself.

What antivirals do you use and where do you acquire them? Thanks this would be good to know in case of need in the future.

 

[leighscky]

I have used the following on my horses for EPM.

• NutriBiotic GSE Grapefruit Seed Extract Liquid Concentrate.

 

[Rabbits by Accident]

What antivirals do you use and where do you acquire them? Thanks this would be good to know in case of need in the future.

Ivermectin is an antiviral
Regardless of what they try to tell you - it is EXTREMELY effective & EXTREMELY safe (10x dose doesn't hurt them - I know bc I did it by accident LOL)
Can be used on ALL mammals, a nobel-prize-winning drug for HUMANS also works on rabbits & chickens for mites. Kills internal parasites & reduces fleas on all, including dogs as well. Kills parasites in humans as well. (if you have animals, you have parasites, whether you want to admit it or not - many are microscopic nematodes, not visible worms)
Stops 'viruses' in all - humans as well
Very safe, buy 'injectable' 1% & give by dropping it on the back of their neck DON'T BOTHER TO INJECT! just drip it on their neck

1 drop per 2 lbs body weight (or more won't hurt)
Larger animals use measurements on bottle
You can get it at feed stores

 

[kusanar314]

Ivermectin is an antiviral

This is false.
Ivermectin is for parasites, not viruses or other diseases.
The Nobel Prize you mentioned was for curing roundworm infestations which are a parasite, not a disease.