Unknown Cause of Sudden Death *Content Warning*

[Goodrain]

Hello,

I raise meat rabbits.

I had three rabbits die suddenly over night. 2 does (10 weeks), 1 buck (15 weeks), different litters, different ages, different cages. I have them in rabbit tractors out on the pasture. The buck's cage mate is alive and well. The Does cage mates, mother and three sisters are alive and well.

I opened up the three rabbits, they each had signs of slight heat distress around their mouths but nothing very sever. I keep fresh water available always, and provide ice bottles for cuddling and cooling.

All three had very mottled lungs, liver and hearts. They all had enlarged intestines, and all three had a build up of exposed poop between the spine and liver/stomach organs towards the head before the kidneys (kidneys looked totally fine). Heart was very melted and squishy.

This looks like a variety of diseases and illnesses. I am not entirely sure what is happening. When opening them up there was a very rank smell. From the outside their mouths, ears, eyes and noses looked fine. Except 1 buck who had some blood in the mouth.

Any ideas of what could be happening?
Thanks.

 

[Preitler]

Have you looked up if RHD has already arrived in your area? It does kill fast and cause internal bleeding.
Be sure to keep strict quarentine proceedures until you know the cause or can rule that out, and I would contact the local vet and or authorities about it.

https://www.rabbitsonline.net/threads/rhd-in-north-america.91906/
RHDV2 confirmed in NM, AZ; spread to native rabbits

https://www.rabbitsonline.net/threads/rhd-in-north-america-pnw.96295/

 

[Blue eyes]

Here's a thread with updated info

https://www.rabbitsonline.net/threads/rhvd2-in-the-us-what-you-need-to-know.99131/
Oregon is one of the known states affected.