Sudden Death, What happened?

[Charlene]

Hi,  I’m new and I’m trying to find out what might have happened to my bun Elvis.  He was only 4? 5? months old.  Yesterday he wasn’t eating well in the morning.  I gave him some simethicone and watched him for a few hours.  We were in to see the vet by 12 and he got fluids, banamine, and Regulan.  His temp was 103.8 and the vet thought he had a pretty doughy belly.  I took him home and he got worse and worse so I brought him back at 5.  He got more fluids and some baytril ’cause his temp was again 103.8, just a tad high.  The vet thought his belly flet a bit better.   I took him home again and 20 minutes later he was dead.

I’ve had buns get statis before and I’ve never had anything happen like this, so fast and so brutal.  He was young and healthy before.  I am so confused.  The vet thought that he must have had a secondary infection to have dies so quickly?  Is this possible?  I have two other buns and I’m worried for them.  Could Elvis have been sick?  Could he have eaten something?  Has anyone else lost a bun so quickly?  I miss him terribly.

 

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[osprey]

Ach, I am so sorry for your loss.  Too many bunnies dying lately, especially young ones.  I hope your heart heals fast and you find the strength to adopt another bunny.  Binky free, Elvis, you left us way too young.

As to what might have killed him so quickly, there is a terrible condition that bunnies get where their cecum and intestines become infected with a nasty bacterium that produces a toxin that can kill very quickly.  This is called enteritis I think?  Poisoning is another possibility, but given that he had a fever, this is less likely.  Only a necropsy would tell for sure, and there probably isn’t much reason for that.

Take care of yourself.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

I’m sorry this is your first post; Welcome to binkybunny. I hope you grieve quickly. Binky Free little Elvis.

I’m sorry I don’t know anything that could have killed him so quickly. I guess if he was going to go its better this way then going on for days. *hugs*

[Scarlet_Rose]

Hi Charlene, welcome. I am very sorry for your loss. Without knowing an extensive detail of his life and a necropsy it is very hard to say exactly what happened, and even then it can be a mystery. I agree that it very well could have been enteritis which does happen in rabbits that were weaned too young from their mother. Where did you get Elvis?

[Charlene]

We found Elvis, his 5 little brothers and sisters, his 2 older sibling (and boy and girl) and his dad by the side of the road by a park.  This was mid December and Elvis was pretty darn small then (the pic is from around then).  I wanted to think he was 4 or 5 weeks?  I don’t really know.  His sister’s ear flopped over 2 weeks after we found them if that is any clue.   When I took him to the vet in mid-Jan they seemed to think he was more like 4 months, but I can’t quite believe that.  His dad is a big 6 1/2 pounds.  What age are they supposed to be weaned?

[bunnytowne]

oh my goodness I am so sorry this happened he was adorable. he is playing in flowered meadows painfree binkying on. you rescued the whole family wow. may they do better and stay fit. what a big job you took on.

[Charlene]

Thanks so much for your support everyone.  Only bunny people can know what this is like.  We adpoted out 6 of the bunnies we found and ended up keeping Big (the daddy), Elvis and Lilly.  I am glad we kept three now.  At least Lilly and Bighave each other.  Here’s two more pics, one of Elvis and Lilly, one of all three.

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[MimzMum]

Awww… what a cute family! It looks like a bunny sandwich. ^^
I am so sorry to hear that your bunny passed so early on! But he is with friends and roaming beautiful green fields and basking in sunshine. Bless him!

I just don’t understand how people can ‘drop off’ something so adorable…but a whole family of adorables?? Chaps my hide!

Good for you for taking them on and finding homes!

[Scarlet_Rose]

Charlene, what an adorable little family and so kind of you to have taken the whole family in. Babies are supposed to be weaned at 8 weeks of age. Without mothers milk until then, the babies can suffer from chronic GI problems. So very sad, Elvis was such a cutie. Binkie on little fella. Big & Lilly at least have each other in this time of grief.

[Charlene]

I didn’t know they were supposed to be older when weaned.  Maybe that is the problem and I can only hope the rest of the babies will be okay.  Elvis was always the smallest, but he had such a big personality.  Thanks again for all you kind words.  I only did what I had to do, as I know you all would too.

[Deleted User]

Oh you sweet girl for taking in those bunnies … Big Hugs to you sweetie.

Always so sad to lose a loving pet … and so young. 

Warm bunny fuzzies to lil Elvis.

Dawn xx

[MooBunnay]

Welcome to Binky Bunny Charlene – I’m so sorry to hear about your loss it is so hard to lose little bunnies so young. It is so great of you to have saved that family of bunnies – thanks to you little Elvis knew happiness and a family before he passed on. Bunnies have such sensitive tummies that it seems like sometimes the smallest thing wrong with their digestive system can be fatal – it sounds like you are very knowledgeable person, and did as much as you could – I will say a prayer for little Elvis tonight.

[Deleted User]

I am so sorry for your loss. It really is hard when you have done everything you can and have no idea what you were really up against. He may have been the runt of the litter, he really was smaller than the rest and may have had some issues since birth.

That is amazing you took them all and cared for them. Elvis lived his brief life cared for and loved. That is something to hold on to.

[Lisa_43]

I am also so sorry you lost your little bunny, so very young but good in the knowledge that in Elvis’s short life, he had a wonderful careing person giving him lots of love and wonderful care. ((((((((((((((((((((((ELVIS))))))))))))))))))))

[Beka27]

i’m sorry Charlene.  he was beautiful, asbolutely gorgeous.  he did look so small and maybe there was something wrong from the beginning that you could have never known.  you did the best you could taking them in and providing them a caring home… as well as finding nice homes for the brothers and sisters.

((((((((((((Elvis))))))))))))

i’m very sorry you had to come here under such sad circumstances, but welcome none-the-less.  we are good people here who love our buns so much and we always welcome more bunny lovers.  you sound like there is much you can offer this group, so i do hope you will stick around.  i’d love to hear more about your rabbits.

[babybunsmum]

i am so sorry for your loss.  elvis had a very short life but while with you, it was a very good life.  and he was loved.  (((hugs)))

[LittlePuffyTail]

Your bunny was very adorable. I’m very sorry.

I had a similar situation happen with my bunny Vanilla Bean. He was only 10 months old. He got sick one morning and was acting like Stormy when Stormy gets GI Statis and despite statis treatments he died a few hours after I woke up and found him not eating. It was the weekend and no vets would take bunnies. That was one of the saddest times of my life. My deep condolensces to you.

[kimberleyanddarren]

aww ur buns are so cute and im so sorry for your loss, i must be dreadfull to loose a bunny so young, i know its easy to say but just keep your mind focused on your other buns and the pain will ease with time. Good luck and keep us posted (((vibes)))

[Gravehearted]

Charlene, I am so very sad to hear about your loss. It sure sounds like you did everything you could for Elvis and got him into the vet right away. I don’t think you’ll ever truly know what happened with him, but it sure sounds like he had a very loving home. Sending you lots of healing wishes during such a sad time.

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