Unexpected death

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 5sd replies, 2 voices, and was last updated 4 years, 10 months ago by DanaNM.

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- 05/03/2021 at 9:45 AM
  ivey_air
  Participant
  3 posts
  Last night I went to the basement to check on out bunnies and one of out 3 year old indoor mini rex was dead. She was still warm. There was a small puddle of blood on the floor. So I went to examine her to see if there was an injury and when I picked her up blood gushed out of her butt. She is intact so I am thinking something with her reproductive tract but I did some reading and am worried about my other bunny if its contagious. The other bunny same as is not in the same cage, but they are only separated with a dog kennel panel. So they can touch each other and the one that is still alive pulls the others blankets into her cage. Anyone have experience with this. She was fine on Saturday when i fed them and my husband was down on Sunday morning and he said she looked fine. Any one else ever experience this? If so do you know the cause? Do I need to worry about my other bunny. They have no contact with any other outside animals.
- 05/03/2021 at 9:48 AM
  DanaNM
  Moderator
  9064 posts
  I’m so sorry for your loss. 🙁 My mind raced to RHDV (Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus). Are you in an outbreak area? If it was RHDV then it is extremely contagious.
  
  Here is some information: https://binkybunny.com/forums/topic/please-read-rabbit-hemorrhagic-disease-rhdv2-outbreak-in-north-america/
  
  . . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.
- 05/03/2021 at 9:55 AM
  ivey_air
  Participant
  3 posts
  We are in North Dakota and dont see anything even close to us on the map. After some research that is what I went straight to as well and than I started to worry about our other bunny. She seemed fine other than she hadn’t eaten much from Sunday morning to when we went down again. I bleached the other side of the cage but like I said the other bunny stole the blanket through the hole, so if that is what it is she will be gone within a few days too right? My daughter was devastated last night!
- 05/03/2021 at 10:44 AM
  DanaNM
  Moderator
  9064 posts
  It has been found in Montana, but that is still a big jump. But then again the virus is moving very rapidly right now due to spring time (it basically jumped over Wyoming). Since you are inside, it is less likely. There are a lot of things that can cause sudden rabbit death though, unfortunately. But until you know for sure I would treat it as though it was RHD. So you will want to quarantine your other rabbit for at least 14 days, which I think in this context means make sure not to visit any other friends with rabbits until you have some answers.
  
  I would contact your vet and tell them what happened. They may want to send the carcass in for testing, and can at least give you some disposal guidelines. You are right that since she was unspayed, it could have been a reproductive cancer or something similar, but usually I wouldn’t expect a sudden death with no warning signs in that case.
  
  If it was RHD, there isn’t much you can do other than hope your rabbit has some resistance and provide supportive care if you start seeing symptoms (such as fluids, etc.). There are some cases where rabbits survive it.
  
  . . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.
- 05/03/2021 at 11:57 AM
  ivey_air
  Participant
  3 posts
  My other rabbit would have already been exposed though right? We only had the two and they lived side by side but not together. But could touch noses and pull things through to the other side. We dont have any other friends with rabbits so that’s not an issue. I will call the vet and see what she says. We already buried it cause my daughter was so distraught. Its in a bag and I guess I could dig it back up if I needed to.
- 05/03/2021 at 1:41 PM
  DanaNM
  Moderator
  9064 posts
  Yes, your other rabbit would have already been exposed. Symptoms usually show up within 9 days, with a normal quarantine period of 14 days recommended.
  
  Please keep us updated on what your vet says.
  
  sorry again for your loss. 🙁
  
  . . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.
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