Calling all rabbitists for major help!

HelpTheDogsII · December 2007

I help out at a rabbitry near me and they have come down with a very mysterious sickness. I need those who can help to help. this breakout started out when Joanne*(alias) brought in 3 wild rabbit babies that were abandoned. Joanne has been breeding show rabbits for 10 years and has over 50 bunnies. This sickness has killed every bunny that has been infected except one. She has lost 20 rabbits(maybe 22 if she looses the 2 that are sick right now) because of it. *Graphic, do not read ahead unless you can handle it* The rabbits start off with feeling off and areas on their tung that turns a grey because the flesh had died. Then they start loosing weight and get a mass on their throat that has vessels intertwining it and it is solid and is pretty much puss that has hardened. The mass will not move as it seems to be anchored on the jaw bone. They also get a kidney failure. 3-4 weeks after the rabbit gets sick it dies. The rabbits were put on a course of antibiotics some were not. The one that survived was on antibiotics and was on an amount lower then most higher then some. Some of the rabbits are immune to the sickness, and it does not happen to a specific age, but babies that are up to about 6 months do not get sick. Joanne is at a loss and doesn't know what to do. 2 more bunnies were diagnosed with it this morning and she was in tears. If you have any questions please post here AND PM, just to make sure i get one or the other.

Boz · December 2007

I have no clue what it could be but that's so sad ;____; So sorry to hear ;_; I'll get Midnight_Moon to look at this. She knows more about rabbits then me.

Maxxy · December 2007

I'm so sorry :[[ I just checked a bunch of rabbit websites, but can't find any illnesses that even relate to what is happening. I'll keep looking. Good luck with everything.

UnknownDreamland · December 2007

Message Jasper. She breeds rabbits and she has contact with other breeders.

Jasper · December 2007

I really don't know whats wrong with them. I searched on the internet for about 1 hour and found nothing. I would call my friends, but they are all out of town at a rabbit show. Do they had runny noses? and are the insides of their paws all dirty? Do they eat and drink okay? Are they active at all? They could be reacting to a food or water change, this sounds similar to when I changed my rabbit food. three of my Mini Rexes showed some of those signs so I kept them on the same feed. This sounds somewhat familiar to your symptoms: <a href="http://www.vhdcoalition.org/vhdvhd.html"; target="_blank" class="bb-url">http://www.vhdcoalition.org/vhdvhd.html</a>;

HelpTheDogsII · December 2007

Jasper wrote:

I really don't know whats wrong with them. I searched on the internet for about 1 hour and found nothing. I would call my friends, but they are all out of town at a rabbit show. Do they had runny noses? and are the insides of their paws all dirty? Do they eat and drink okay? Are they active at all? They could be reacting to a food or water change, this sounds similar to when I changed my rabbit food. three of my Mini Rexes showed some of those signs so I kept them on the same feed. This sounds somewhat familiar to your symptoms: <a href="http://www.vhdcoalition.org/vhdvhd.html"; target="_blank" class="bb-url">http://www.vhdcoalition.org/vhdvhd.html</a>;

Also these rabbits are kept outside, and their paws are abit dirty, but being in the dirt all day i would think that that is to be expected. They are drinking but they aren't able to eat because of their tongue. She has had them on the same diet for about 5 years and it start recently when she brought in the babies who died shortly after arriving. Some are getting sick and others are not, and its really frustrating for her. she has had her food tested and its above all requirements, and she gives hay. I also looked at that site and it isnt much like the problem with her rabbits.

Jasper · December 2007

I bet the baby rabbits she brought in had a disease and it spread to the rest of the rabbits, but I'm not sure what disease.

KiteKatsumi9 · December 2007

That sounds like something a dwarf rabbit of mine had. He died from it... I hope everything gets worked out, I'd hate to hear of her losing more. I can't imagine what it must be like to lose 10+ pets in one go...

Dispirited · December 2007

Alright, Right now I dont know much about it. I have sent out an alert, to watch for this kind of thing. I have also contacted many Rabbit breeders that I know to watch for those symptoms. The first thing that you must do it.. -Isolate all the rabbits with the Symptoms immediately -Disinfect everything with a solution thats Nine parts water and One part bleach I will keep looking through my rabbit books and Searching on the internet, but as of right now.. I am not 100% sure on what it could be.

Mossflower · December 2007

Ack, that's terrible

I'd go to a vet straight away, if anyone can help they can

HelpTheDogsII · December 2007

Jasper- yes she said that that is what must have happened since she hasn't had any other sicknesses in 10 years of doing this. ~*Midnight Moon*~- She is, but lets take a one of the newly sick ones. She just had a litter and is with her lover and a piggy. She is the only one sick. This will have been the 3rd that i know of, litter that will be left without a mom. It is harder to disinfect since its wood and all, but its appearing randomly. She will have 1 or 2 go from the 20+ pen then another from a pen on the other side of her yard. Mossflower- Yes she brings them all to the vet that get sick. they put the bunnies strait onto antibiotics and thats it. She is the only real rabbit expert withing 100km. And no vet knows what it is.

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Calling all rabbitists for major help!

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