I need help from experts that know a lot about rabbits

[Jonathan Ceron Ramirez]

A few months ago, I got a rabbit that was only about 2 months old. Had him for 10 days, then he suddenly died. Upon his death, my rabbit was completely normal and healthy that day and everyday, but he suddenly started to tip over, losing his own balance when he would stand, as well as he would stay still in 1 spot, not eating, drinking etc. Then his whole body started to go crazy, as if he had no control over his own body, and like as though he were possessed. It looked like something was attacking his nervous system. So i took him to the vet urgently when i saw this behaviour, and they didn't exactly know what it was, they were so confused. They said that he was dying, they said that it was extremely super rare for a young rabbit like that to suddenly start dying. They told us that the only thing they knew that could have been happening, was a parasite of bacteria attacking his brain. My rabbit started doing the same thing then died quickly. I recently got a new rabbit, and the same exact thing happened. He was completely fine and cheerful, then his whole body started to sort of spaz out or something, and i could hear his neck cracking, his feet where moving like crazy, and his eyes seemed to be popping out like he had no absolute control over his body. I could see that he was in great pain, as he kept opening his mouth (screaming), so all i could do was comfort him. I couldn't even take him to the vets because he died so fast and sudden.

Could someone please try to tell me what may have happened to them, like is it my house or where he drinks, because my house is completely clean, and on top of that i consistently cleaned my rabbits cage.

Thank you, Jonathan

 

[Mariam+Theo]

What are you feeding these rabbits, and where are you getting them from?
BTW- Welcome to the forum!

 

[JBun]

Were your rabbits vaccinated against the viral disease RHD1 and RHD2(two separate vaccinations, and given enough time after vaccinations to develop immunity against the disease)?
http://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/rabbit-health/rabbit-vhd/
https://www.harcourt-brown.co.uk/articles/infectious-disease/rabbit-haemorrhagic-disease

If your rabbits weren't vaccinated then RHD would be highly probable and would be my suspicion. All of the symptoms you described with your rabbits are signs of the viral disease.

• Severe neurological signs - ataxia(' tip over, losing his own balance' ), posterior paralysis, peddling ('his feet where moving like crazy,'), opisthotonus, convulsions ('his whole body started to go crazy, as if he had no control over his own body, sort of spaz out or something, and i could hear his neck cracking '). (J64.10.w5)

• Terminally
  • In the terminal stage, there are commonly clonic convulsions, lateral torsion of the body, paresis, sometimes epistaxis which may be foamy. Terminal hypothermia. (B614.9.w9, J484.24.w1)
  • "Frenetic" behavious and squealing/cries may occur terminally ('as he kept opening his mouth (screaming)'). (J64.10.w5, J83.31.w4)
  • Opisthotonus may occur. before death. (J83.31.w4)
  • Affected rabbits will become comatose a few hours before death and will usually die quietly. (B209.16.w16)
  • Unresponsive, recumbent and hypothermic; convulsions or paddling just before death.

http://wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/S/00dis/viral/Rabbit_haemorraghic_disease.htm

If this is what caused your rabbits deaths, you need to be aware that the virus can remain in the environment for a while, so you shouldn't get another rabbit for several months. It also means you would need to disinfect everything possible in your home with the proper disinfectant to try and destroy as much of the virus as possible. If you have plans to get another rabbit in the future, I believe it's recommended for no rabbits to come in or out where an outbreak has occurred for at least 4 months, to prevent spread of the disease.

If your vet didn't even suspect RHD could be a possible cause, I would suspect that vet might not be terribly experienced with rabbits as this is a known viral disease in your country. If you decide to get another rabbit, I would suggest finding a different knowledgeable rabbit vet first. You may want to tell them that you suspect RHD was the cause of your rabbits deaths, ask how to make it safe to bring another rabbit into your home, and how long you should wait until it will be safe to do so. The rabbit should also have had both RHD vaccinations, and have had enough time to develop the necessary protection against the disease.
https://www.harcourt-brown.co.uk/ve...s-that-have-been-recommended-by-rabbit-owners
https://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/rabbit-care-advice/rabbit-friendly-vets/rabbit-friendly-vet-list/

If it's not RHD, another possibility is if there are any toxins/poisons around your place, maybe that you don't realize.

I'm very sorry for your loss and hope you are able to get this figured out.

 

[Jonathan Ceron Ramirez]

The 1st 1 I got from a pets at home. The 2nd rabbit I got from a breeder. Both rabbits were completely healthy. I fed them both fresh hay and water as well as nuggets

 

[Jonathan Ceron Ramirez]

Were your rabbits vaccinated against the viral disease RHD1 and RHD2(two separate vaccinations, and given enough time after vaccinations to develop immunity against the disease)?
http://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/rabbit-health/rabbit-vhd/
https://www.harcourt-brown.co.uk/articles/infectious-disease/rabbit-haemorrhagic-disease

If your rabbits weren't vaccinated then RHD would be highly probable and would be my suspicion. All of the symptoms you described with your rabbits are signs of the viral disease.

• Severe neurological signs - ataxia(' tip over, losing his own balance' ), posterior paralysis, peddling ('his feet where moving like crazy,'), opisthotonus, convulsions ('his whole body started to go crazy, as if he had no control over his own body, sort of spaz out or something, and i could hear his neck cracking '). (J64.10.w5)

• Terminally
  • In the terminal stage, there are commonly clonic convulsions, lateral torsion of the body, paresis, sometimes epistaxis which may be foamy. Terminal hypothermia. (B614.9.w9, J484.24.w1)
  • "Frenetic" behavious and squealing/cries may occur terminally ('as he kept opening his mouth (screaming)'). (J64.10.w5, J83.31.w4)
  • Opisthotonus may occur. before death. (J83.31.w4)
  • Affected rabbits will become comatose a few hours before death and will usually die quietly. (B209.16.w16)
  • Unresponsive, recumbent and hypothermic; convulsions or paddling just before death.

http://wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/S/00dis/viral/Rabbit_haemorraghic_disease.htm

If this is what caused your rabbits deaths, you need to be aware that the virus can remain in the environment for a while, so you shouldn't get another rabbit for several months. It also means you would need to disinfect everything possible in your home with the proper disinfectant to try and destroy as much of the virus as possible. If you have plans to get another rabbit in the future, I believe it's recommended for no rabbits to come in or out where an outbreak has occurred for at least 4 months, to prevent spread of the disease.

If your vet didn't even suspect RHD could be a possible cause, I would suspect that vet might not be terribly experienced with rabbits as this is a known viral disease in your country. If you decide to get another rabbit, I would suggest finding a different knowledgeable rabbit vet first. You may want to tell them that you suspect RHD was the cause of your rabbits deaths, ask how to make it safe to bring another rabbit into your home, and how long you should wait until it will be safe to do so. The rabbit should also have had both RHD vaccinations, and have had enough time to develop the necessary protection against the disease.
https://www.harcourt-brown.co.uk/ve...s-that-have-been-recommended-by-rabbit-owners
https://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/rabbit-care-advice/rabbit-friendly-vets/rabbit-friendly-vet-list/

If it's not RHD, another possibility is if there are any toxins/poisons around your place, maybe that you don't realize.

I'm very sorry for your loss and hope you are able to get this figured out.

to be honest mate I cannot remember what vaccinations were given to my 1st rabbit, I got him from a local Pets At Home, and they only gave him 1 vaccine, ill go and research or try call them to see what vaccine was given, but they didn't give my rabbit 2 vaccines.

 

[Jonathan Ceron Ramirez]

Were your rabbits vaccinated against the viral disease RHD1 and RHD2(two separate vaccinations, and given enough time after vaccinations to develop immunity against the disease)?
http://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/rabbit-health/rabbit-vhd/
https://www.harcourt-brown.co.uk/articles/infectious-disease/rabbit-haemorrhagic-disease

If your rabbits weren't vaccinated then RHD would be highly probable and would be my suspicion. All of the symptoms you described with your rabbits are signs of the viral disease.

• Severe neurological signs - ataxia(' tip over, losing his own balance' ), posterior paralysis, peddling ('his feet where moving like crazy,'), opisthotonus, convulsions ('his whole body started to go crazy, as if he had no control over his own body, sort of spaz out or something, and i could hear his neck cracking '). (J64.10.w5)

• Terminally
  • In the terminal stage, there are commonly clonic convulsions, lateral torsion of the body, paresis, sometimes epistaxis which may be foamy. Terminal hypothermia. (B614.9.w9, J484.24.w1)
  • "Frenetic" behavious and squealing/cries may occur terminally ('as he kept opening his mouth (screaming)'). (J64.10.w5, J83.31.w4)
  • Opisthotonus may occur. before death. (J83.31.w4)
  • Affected rabbits will become comatose a few hours before death and will usually die quietly. (B209.16.w16)
  • Unresponsive, recumbent and hypothermic; convulsions or paddling just before death.

http://wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/S/00dis/viral/Rabbit_haemorraghic_disease.htm

If this is what caused your rabbits deaths, you need to be aware that the virus can remain in the environment for a while, so you shouldn't get another rabbit for several months. It also means you would need to disinfect everything possible in your home with the proper disinfectant to try and destroy as much of the virus as possible. If you have plans to get another rabbit in the future, I believe it's recommended for no rabbits to come in or out where an outbreak has occurred for at least 4 months, to prevent spread of the disease.

If your vet didn't even suspect RHD could be a possible cause, I would suspect that vet might not be terribly experienced with rabbits as this is a known viral disease in your country. If you decide to get another rabbit, I would suggest finding a different knowledgeable rabbit vet first. You may want to tell them that you suspect RHD was the cause of your rabbits deaths, ask how to make it safe to bring another rabbit into your home, and how long you should wait until it will be safe to do so. The rabbit should also have had both RHD vaccinations, and have had enough time to develop the necessary protection against the disease.
https://www.harcourt-brown.co.uk/ve...s-that-have-been-recommended-by-rabbit-owners
https://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/rabbit-care-advice/rabbit-friendly-vets/rabbit-friendly-vet-list/

If it's not RHD, another possibility is if there are any toxins/poisons around your place, maybe that you don't realize.

I'm very sorry for your loss and hope you are able to get this figured out.

Right, i have just found out that they don't cover vaccinations for RHD2 in the Uk yet, in the pets at home in the UK, but im not sure why, so i am assuming that they only gave a vaccine for 1 of the diseases. Like i said, ill try find out and pin point what vaccines my rabbit was given.

 

[Popsicles]

Some practices do vaccinate against RHD2, I have mine vaccinated, you just need to call around to see who supplies it. Most vets4pets should. If they got one vaccine it would have been RHD1 combined with myxomatosis. Did you say they were vaccinated at pets at home before you bought them? They generally can’t be vaccinated until 10 weeks old?

 

[Jonathan Ceron Ramirez]

Some practices do vaccinate against RHD2, I have mine vaccinated, you just need to call around to see who supplies it. Most vets4pets should. If they got one vaccine it would have been RHD1 combined with myxomatosis. Did you say they were vaccinated at pets at home before you bought them? They generally can’t be vaccinated until 10 weeks old?

No the 1st one was vaccinated at 10 weeks of age,so after I got him, the 2nd I didn't get a chance to as he died so quickly, and he wasn't 10 weeks yet.

 

[JBun]

I would suspect then that it's very possible they either died from RHD2, or possibly RHD1 if your first rabbit hadn't built up an immunity yet.