Greetings all.
I just purchased a Netherland Dwarf rabbit baby last tuesday.
He's been eating well, drinking, being active, everything he's
supposed to be doing.Tonight at 9:30pm he died in my arms after having
several grand mal seizures. I have no idea why.
I fed him a little bit of pellets, same ones the store gave hm, some
L&M Farms timothy hay, he had wood chews for rabbits.
I hope it wasn't something I did. Can anyone help me figure out why
this happened? He was fine less than 30 mins before my husband
commented about him laying on side in the cage.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
He would have been 2 months old December 25th.

R.I.P. Henry

Marty

arlette & cocoa

Hi Marty,
I'm so VERY sorry about your bunny. I know how heart broken you must feel.

I would have to say that while no one can say for sure why he died, there
are some things that could have contributed.
First, I don't think it was anything you did. His diet sounded good for the
average rabbit; my main concern is that he was way too young to be in a pet
store in the first place. From what you said, he was probably five weeks old
when you got him...WAAAAYYYYY to young to be taken from his mom. Pet stores
often do this (I'm assuming that is where you got him) because baby bunnies
are so cute and irresistible. A bunny needs to be nursing for eight weeks to
get the proper gut flora from their mom's milk. Bunnies removed from their
moms too early quite often develop health problems at some point. I would
say this is the largest contributing factor.

Most pet stores know little about the rabbits they sell. It is better to go
to a reputable breeder, or a shelter where there are lots of rabbits that
need homes.

Have you been to www.rabbit.org ?

I hope you have a happier experience next time. Bunnies are such lovely
companion animals. I had a Netherland and they are the cutest little bugs.

Again, I'm so very sorry.
--
God Bless,
Arlette, Cocoa & Brownie in heaven (See us here
http://photos.yahoo.com/cocoa3c
Need a vet? Click here
<http://www.rabbitvet.net>

He was the runt, that may factor in. And his teeth didn't fit together
well, though he was eating.


Oh gosh, I hope it wasn't me! I fed him what they fed him. They told
me if I was to change the diet, to do so slowly, not all at once.

After I got home, and started reading 1 of the 2 books I bought on
bunies, I realized that he was probably too young to be away from
mommy, plus being the runt, things didn't bode well, but like I've
said, he was fine until about 30 mins before he passed.
I usually have good luck with runts...being one myself

Yes, it was a mom n pop shop. My mom bought my 3 year old (he's now
18) a bunnie there 15 years ago.
The lady seemed knowledgeable, the cages were clean. Everything seemed good to go.

I'm there now
I didn't expect all this trouble.
I've had 2 rabbits in my care before Henry. Years and years ago, but
it's like falling off a bike isn't it? You never forget how.
I should have bought the books first then bought bunnies.
I usually do it that way, do research for months at a time then make my purchase.

I will be taking Henry's body back to the pet store Monday, as they
probably won't be open tomorrow.

TYVM

Marty

professor

I'm very sorry for your loss.

I'm sure arlette covered everything.


--

8-) Professor :-P Merlin & ;-) The Jump

slykitten

oh my! First, I'm incredibly sorry that you had to go through that!
Second, and I'm terribly sorry for how this may sound, I would
recommend that you gently wrap your little Henry in plastic and keep
his body cool... preferrably in a plastic bag (my vet had recommended a
plastic trash bag because the plastic is thick and less likely to have
holes in it) and to keep the body cool by putting him into the
refrigerator. my significant other and I had made a makeshift
refrigerator by using a 70 gallon rubber maid tote and putting a 20
gallon rubber maid tote into it and in the 70 gallon, filling it with
ice. then we put a thermometer in with our Angelbunny Trixie to monitor
the temperature to ensure that it maintained approximately between 37
and 42 degrees (F) the temp that a refrigerator generally is kept. This
way we could have a necropsy done so we could find out how she died.
She died in a very similar way that your Henry did.... She screamed a
couple of times and then had a big seizure and then it was over.... I
held her too and even now, it haunts me how she left. She was estimated
somewhere between about 12 and about 14 years old.... She also had
cancer. I understand, as so very many here do what a shock it is to
lose a bunny in the manner in which you describe. Please understand
that what I suggested that you do is only if you want a necropsy done
to find out how Henry died. I wish I knew what to offer you
otherwise.... I haven't a clue as to where to begin as to ideas why he
left you. I'm just so sorry for your loss.... Hang in there.

slykitten

oh dear.... perhaps I should have waited a little while before
responding.... I didn't realize he was so little! again, I'm so
incredibly sorry! :*(

On 10 Dec 2005 21:00:05 -0800, "slykitten" <slykitten@qwest.net>


TY it was a horrible experience.

I have the double thick food storage bags to put him in.
And I'll more than likely put him outside where no one can get to him, til I Monday.

Ohmigosh, that's horrible. Henry was seizing every 1-2 minutes. At the
end, he'd seize and open his mouth as if gasping or trying to scream.
I'm going to have nightmares.

I can't afford a necro unfortunately

Thank you for the kind words and advice.

Bunny HugZ
Marty

TY
She sure covered a lot! Marty

On 10 Dec 2005 21:08:17 -0800, "slykitten" <slykitten@qwest.net>


You're fine hon.
Yes, he was very young, and had I done my research before hand I would
have known he was too young. For that, there is no excuse.
Size wise, he was tiny, very tiny, didn't really expect him to be much
more than 2 lbs grown.

TY for the sympathy, I do appreciate it.

Bunny HugZ
Marty

roland zitzke

"slykitten" <slykitten@qwest.net> schrieb im Newsbeitrag > Second, and I'm
terribly sorry for how this may sound, I would


I fully agree.
You should ask your vet where a professional necropsy can be done, may be he
can do that too.

Personally I am aware of only two reasons for a 6 week old rabbit to die
within hours.
* RHD
* Injuries which lead to inner bleeding.
where the latter are probably mor common among dwarfs.

/Roland