Teal Posted July 2, 2020 Report Share Posted July 2, 2020 Last year a three quarter grown rabbit I was watching bolted ran 20 foot and then keeled over dead. There was a bit if blood around the nose, and it was very strange as otherwise not a mark. In the last 24 hrs I've now found two quarter grown rabbits in good condition dead, I'm not sure how many others have died and I just haven't found them! Clear eyes and again blood around the nose. Photo below. I didn't see these ones snuff it but my guess is, it is the same thing. Clean eyes, I remember reading some time back about a viral haemorrhage disease but don't recall much detail. I appreciate everything dies at some stage but the odds of finding one let alone multiple dropping dead suggests a genuine health issue to me. I'm happy to cut it up if anyone knows what to look for? Anyone else seen similar? Rabbit population here isn't high but was building up.. Photos of most recent below Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longbower Posted July 2, 2020 Report Share Posted July 2, 2020 That will be RHD2 , (Rabbit haemorrhaging disease )in type 2. This kills them in as little as 4 hours . They look almost perfect , except for the trickle of blood sometimes found around the nostrils. Here ,around my area , it swept through about three years ago but slowly , they are recovering. For , the first year and a half , I could only see rabbits , in' Pets at home', they were virtually wiped out. I often wondered if, a similar thing could happen to humans ? Now , there's a thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted July 2, 2020 Report Share Posted July 2, 2020 strange ..........and it looks in good condition.............. i remember walking my dogs with my mate off season a few years ago ....and a big strong healthy cock pheasant burst out of the hedgerow and took flight...my mate lifted his thumbstick and pointed it like a shotgun and swung thro' and shouted BANG...............and the bird dropped out of the sky...........we both stood there with our mouths open ...checked the bird which was perfect apart from a few drops of blood from its beak..........it had medium sized spurs so it wasnt an old bird very strange tho.......... maybe some sort as deffect as you elude to ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted July 2, 2020 Report Share Posted July 2, 2020 RHD original, they died mainly almost exclusively down the holes, just suddenly within 48hrs disappeared. I have a small population in my own orchard wood area and every now and then they vanish completely. Then build up again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teal Posted July 2, 2020 Author Report Share Posted July 2, 2020 Thanks lads! Knew some on here would have the answer! Clearly been rumbling for a while, they get myxy every few years, but this year was the first that rabbits were becoming a little more numerous starting to see them down hedges that had always been barren. I think in part that was down to more aggressive fox control, that said there is no shortage of foxes here despite this. Being all pasture I quite like seeing a few rabbits about, but guess they'll be hammered in coming months. Ah well at least I know why, thanks again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
washerboy Posted July 2, 2020 Report Share Posted July 2, 2020 Found loads about 5 or 6 years ago exactly the same as if they had been placed on the path and roadside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hodge911 Posted July 2, 2020 Report Share Posted July 2, 2020 https://www.pdsa.org.uk/taking-care-of-your-pet/pet-health-hub/conditions/rabbit-haemorrhagic-disease-rhd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7daysinaweek Posted July 2, 2020 Report Share Posted July 2, 2020 From the picture the "pink frothy sputum" from the nose and mouth is acute pulmonary oedema. It appears to be a symptom of VHD. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stumfelter Posted July 2, 2020 Report Share Posted July 2, 2020 2 hours ago, ditchman said: strange ..........and it looks in good condition.............. i remember walking my dogs with my mate off season a few years ago ....and a big strong healthy cock pheasant burst out of the hedgerow and took flight...my mate lifted his thumbstick and pointed it like a shotgun and swung thro' and shouted BANG...............and the bird dropped out of the sky...........we both stood there with our mouths open ...checked the bird which was perfect apart from a few drops of blood from its beak..........it had medium sized spurs so it wasnt an old bird very strange tho.......... maybe some sort as deffect as you elude to ? My guess is he bought a fully moderated .410 gun cane and didn't tell you, he shouted bang to hide the muffled report.... 😀😀 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
39TDS Posted July 2, 2020 Report Share Posted July 2, 2020 I found a couple of rabbits that looked particularly healthy apart from the bit about them being dead. Diagnosed as the same on this thread. Never dented the population though, there are loads of them here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hodge911 Posted July 3, 2020 Report Share Posted July 3, 2020 9 hours ago, 39TDS said: Never dented the population though, there are loads of them here. Can you send some up here please !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WalkedUp Posted July 5, 2020 Report Share Posted July 5, 2020 Looks and sounds like RHD2, common in Cheshire. We back onto farmland and both my boys’ pet rabbits died from it a couple of weeks ago. Shame as they were very tame little things. Personally I could have ringed their necks the amount of extra work they gave me each day, but the boys were very attached to them - so much so they have a hatred of foxes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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