As much as we might like to have our pet buns around forever, these are very delicate animals and there are many ailments that can quickly become fatal. As a rabbit owner, it is important to understand the most common causes of sudden death in rabbits.
There are numerous conditions that could cause a seemingly healthy rabbit to unexpectedly pass away. While it may appear to be for no reason, stress, illness, and injury can all contribute to the sudden death of a rabbit.
As a responsible owner, we are sure that you do your best to make sure that your rabbit is healthy and happy. However, there might be things that you don’t pick up on as rabbits are very good at hiding when they aren’t well.
Why Do Rabbits Die Suddenly and How Can I Prevent It?
Most people will purchase their bunnies from a pet store and the great thing about this is that you will be given lots of advice before taking your bun home. However, since these animals have been bred in captivity and have likely spent a lot of, if not all of their lives indoors. They are used to a stable temperature.
When the rabbits are taken to their new home, owners might believe that keeping them in an outdoor hutch is the best option. However, exposing a rabbit to a sudden temperature change, especially in the winter months, could cause sudden death from shock.
Furthermore, keeping rabbits outdoors means that they are more susceptible to a disease known as flystrike. This is something that many owners are not aware of but it can kill a rabbit very quickly. The disease is caused by a fly laying eggs on the rabbit. The bacteria can cause issues but once the eggs hatch, they will feed on the rabbits flesh..
One of the easiest ways to tell if a rabbit has been affected by flystrike is to check its rear. When bunnies suffer from this condition, their rear end will become soiled and at this point, you should seek veterinary assistance. It is possible for a rabbit to recover from flystrike, with the right treatment, but it will have an impact on its lifespan.
Finally, if rabbits are allowed to play outdoors, there is the risk of them becoming poisoned. There are two main ways that this might occur; through pesticides used around the garden and if the rabbit should eat a toxic plant. While most rabbits who have been poisoned will show no symptoms, death can occur very quickly.
Neutering And Spaying
Male rabbits should be neutered when they reach sexual maturity especially if they are living in a pair. However, for females, the surgery for spaying can be deadly. While most vets will perform the surgery well, the severity of this procedure may be too much for the rabbit to handle. Unless you must spay your doe, it is wise to avoid this operation.
In relation to breeding, it is possible for a female to die after miscarrying a litter. For the most part, rabbits who miscarry will absorb the fetuses back into the body. However, there are times that this doesn’t happen and the babies will remain inside her, rotting and becoming toxic. This usually happens later on in pregnancy so if your doe is expecting, it is vital to regularly check her.
Fright And Shock
In the wild, rabbits are prey animals and this means that they are incredibly timid. When you first adopt a rabbit, you may notice how they shy away from you and appear scared. Given the right care and attention, bunnies will soon bond with their owners but what a lot of people don’t realize is that rabbits are not suitable pets for small children.
Children can be loud and this might be enough to send a rabbit into shock. If a child makes a loud noise, especially suddenly, the rabbit may go into shock but its death may not happen for a couple of days. Furthermore, children can unintentionally be very heavy handed. If they are allowed to handle a rabbit, there is a chance that they may be too rough and cause an injury.
The bones and skin of a rabbit are very delicate and easily broken. When bunnies are handled in a way that hurts them, they may try to escape by jumping away. If the child is standing and the rabbit falls in the wrong way, it could break its neck or spine. This is almost certainly a fatal injury.
The same goes for households where there are other pets. Since cats and dogs may both see a rabbit as fair game, it is not a good idea to have both types of animal in the same house.
Even if your dog is extremely friendly and doesn’t seem to want to harm the rabbit, there is still the issue of primal fear. A large dog will naturally frighten a rabbit by its size and this can be enough to cause shock or even a heart attack. If your dog simply wants to investigate, it is unlikely that the rabbit will want to form a friendship and this can lead to ongoing stress which is known to shorten a bunny’s lifespan.
Furthermore, other pets can make a lot of noise and as we have learned, this is not healthy for a rabbit.
Do Rabbits Scream When They Die?
Rabbits are typically very quiet animals. WHile they may make grunts and snuffling sounds, they certainly don’t go around barking or mewing like other types of pets. For this reason, if you hear your bunny scream, it can be very alarming.
But this sound could be what it takes to alert you to a problem that may otherwise be fatal. Rabbits typically scream when they are in pain and this may happen due to a sudden injury that catches them off guard. However, more commonly, a rabbit who is suffering serious illness such as rabbit viral hemorrhagic disease, may scream out in pain. Unfortunately, there is currently no cure for this disease but if your rabbit is dying from it, you can at least try to make it comfortable.
Additionally, a rabbit may scream when they are frightened. If you have children or other pets that could scare your rabbit, this may be well the cause of their vocalizations.
Do Rabbits Die With Their Eyes Open?
Rabbits have a third eyelid and this means that they do not need to blink very often. Moreover, you have probably noticed that your rabbit often sleeps with his eyes open. Of course, they can close their eyes but in the wild, keeping them open helps to more quickly detect a threat.
For this reason, it is not uncommon for rabbits to die with the eyes open. This can lead many owners to miss the fact that their rabbits have died, believing that he is simply resting. Of course, if the rabbit remains this way for a long time, it is safe to say that it has passed but to be sure, you can place two fingers on the chest and feel for a heartbeat. In a live rabbit, the heartbeat is typically very easy to detect this way.
