Why did jack die days after Mimi?

[sophie]

I just don’t understand what has happened! Mimi and jack were a bonded pair since birth. Both had been vacinated in April and they live indoors. A few days ago Mimi stopped eating and moving around, just lying in her own urine so we took her to the vets immediately. The vets suspected possible GI stasis, so began treatment for that, I took her home and began syringe feeding. I really though she’d get better but she deteriated quickly that evening so we took her back to the vets and she died within 1/2 hour. Jack seemed ok until yesterday evening, he wasn’t moving around much and was a little off his food, however he was still eating hay and a bit of kale, I gave him some water from a syringe to make sure he was getting fluids. I just put I’d down to him being depressed. This morning when I woke up jack had passed away. It’s just been so sudden and I don’t understand what went wrong

[Bam]

I’m very sorry this happened to you. I don’t have any good explanation. Infectious disease does come to mind, where I live they recommend vaccinations agains myxo-RHD once per year and against RVHD2 every 6 months. The way your rabbits passed is not textbook RVHD2, but it could still be possible. You could have an autopsy done, but it’s often very expensive.

If RVHD2 was responsible for their deaths, there would have been nothing at all you could have done.

[sophie]

Thanks for the reply, we took jack to the vet to get cremated with his sister, the vet said the rabbits showed no sign of any infectious diseases but without a post-mortem it’s impossible to tell what happened. RVHD2 is supposed to have fever as a symptom, but Mimi’s temperature was lower than average.

[Bam]

It’s very tragic whatever the cause, of course. It’s just the second intsnce of unexpected death occuring so soon after the first that makes me think of the RVHDs. We have had massive outbreaks here this autumn. I just read a necropsy report regarding 3 buns that died just days apart, without any typical RVHD symptoms except the very rapid course of the disease. Necropsy confirmed RVHD2. 

Here’s some very good info about RHD and RVHD2 from Frances Harcourt-Brown: http://www.harcourt-brown.co.uk/articles/infectious-disease/rabbit-haemorrhagic-disease

[A Happy Herd of Hares]

(Bunny free babies}
I wonder if Jack spiraled down when Mimi passed away?

[DanaNM]

Very tragic, I’m so sorry

You also mentioned that one of their parents had also passed away at a different home? I wonder if maybe there was a congenital condition? I also agree that something infectious such as RVHD2 could have been to blame.

It could have been depression, but I don’t imagine that would have lead to such a rapid decline as he was eating hay and veggies OK.

Again, I’m so so sorry for your loss

(((Binky free little ones)))

. . . 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.  

[LittlePuffyTail]

I’m so very sorry for your loss. And I’m sorry I can’t give you any answer.

(((((Binky Free Bunnies))))))

[Patchtherabbit]

I’m so sorry to hear this. I had the same thing a few years ago. My rabbit Rebel was really Ill and passed away from cancer, less than a week later her bonded mate Benjy passed away. He had been really down and not eating as much since she went and had not showed signs of an illness. We tried to feed him and give him as much company as possible but in the end it wasn’t enough. It is said that rabbits can die from depression and loss. There was probably nothing you could have done. The way I looked at it when I lost my two is that they wanted to be together and Benjy wasn’t happy unless he was with her. You gave them both and amazing life. ❤️

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