Help! My rabbits died!

[Joplus]

I had 4 flemish giant rabbits. They're a couple years old, fat and healthy. They live outside in Arizona. It has gotten cooler but there's a heat lamp out there. They live with 11 hens and 4 guinea pigs. I went out there last week and my new guinea pig, a Cuy was dead. My male flemish was on his side and struggling to breath. There were no signs of trauma. I put him in a cage, normally he runs free. I gave him salad but I knew he was gonna be dead soon and he died within the hour. Today I went outside and my female had the exact same symptoms. She was in perfect health before this. We picked her up and put her in a cage and she died in minutes. Whatever is killing them is doing it fast. What could it be? Are my other rabbits likely infected too?

 

[Happy Camper]

Oh that is just so sad! I am so sorry for your loss... Compared to my other farm animals, rabbits (in my opinion) are by far the most fragile. They will give you little to no signs or time before they pass away. I'd say is harder to catch something wrong with them and have time to react to it than goats (and goats have a reputation of being fragile). They will usually make no sound when in pain and will have an o.k. look until it is too late.

Well... that's just so sad.

I imagine you checked for external wounds or small bites. They may be having access to a poisonous animal or plant. Their water may have been urined by a rat or they may have acquired a bad respiratory infection. If they were a smaller breed or baby rabbits I would suggest an internal trauma caused by a bigger animal. I have seen a big rabbit accidentally injure a smaller one and cause them to die as a result of internal injuries.

Were they twitching? have you checked for ear mites? This can be deadly for some rabbits but this would have given you more signs and more time (they tend to stop eating and have a lethargic look...

I'd put the other two in separate cages (quarantine) if they are family pets and you can afford I'd get a necropsy if an additional one dies (hopefully not)

 

[MeepBeep]

I'm guessing they either had a viral or bacterial infection that is not maturing in your other animals now that it's been a week... My advice consult a local veterinarian ASAP...

 

[Joplus]

Thanks for your condolences. I'm so worried to catch them and take them in to the vet and stress them. They are large rabbits and very fast almost impossible to catch. And like the other two look perfect. I treat all my pets in the summer for mites, etc so no issues there. I know rabbits can carry diseases then not show until stressed. But we have no stress and they looked great. I might try to catch the other two but if it starts to become stressful I'm not going to persist.