What could cause a rabbit to die suddenly?

Answer 1

A lot of things unfortunatly.

One of my rabbits died because it got really scared of a loud bang.

Also illness can kill ur rabbit suddenly.

Rabbits hide their illness for as long as possible. So it happens a lot that a rabbit dies of sickness without its owner noticing.

This is why you need to observe your bunny closely. You should know how to give first aid, and when to bring the bunny to a vet. This is just part of being a pet owner. See the related questions below for more information.

Answer 2

If the rabbit really was healthy in the days leading up to its death, then there's a good chance the rabbit died of GI stasis. GI stasis is when the digestive system shuts down, and it can lead to a quick and painful death if it isn't treated immediately. Although this illness can affect humans too, rabbits are very susceptible to it.

GI stasis can be caused by many things. One possibility is an actual blockage in the digestive system (like a fur ball made worse by dehydration; or a build-up of corn hulls - was the rabbit eating fresh corn?; or anything the rabbit ate that isn't food, like carpet fibres, or rubber).

But, unless you think a blockage is likely, then probably the rabbit went into GI stasis because he stopped eating because of pain. Rabbits in pain often choose to stop eating, and by not eating, the digestive system shuts down. The pain could have been caused by any number of things, like a dental spur (a growth on a tooth - rabbit teeth keep growing their entire lives, and they need to chew on things daily to keep them properly worn down, like hay), or gas resulting from something she ate (like a lot of sugary fruits/vegetables, or cruciferous vegetables), or an injury of some kind.

Sudden death can also be caused by poisoning. There are many plants that are toxic to rabbits; also many household products (chemicals, cleaning products, etc.) can lead to poisoning.

There's also the possibility that the rabbit wasn't healthy, but you missed the warning signs. Were you in the habit of watching your rabbit daily, for at least twenty minutes during a normally active time of day, to see if there was anything different in her appearance or behaviour? Did you give thorough physical exams at home every month? Had you ever brought the rabbit to a vet with experience and knowledge in treating bunnies? If your answer is "no" to any of these questions, then you can't really say that you know the rabbit was healthy.

If you're paying close attention to your rabbit, you should be able to notice that she's entering GI stasis, and then you can bring her to the vet. With the proper treatment, rabbits can make a full recovery from GI stasis. Next time you want to get a rabbit, learn about rabbit health and first aid beforehand, and pay close attention to your bunny. Children need the help and support of adults to be able to do all these things properly. See the related questions below for more info and helpful links.

Answer 3

A low supply of plants to eat can affect the population.