If the death happened at a veterinary clinic, you must bring the body back and put it in the rabbits' home (their crate or pen) with the survivor. If a necropsy has been done, the veterinarian can stitch the body closed again and send it home with you.
Seldom does a pair of rabbits die together. One of the rabbits will be left behind, lonely and missing the other (a price we all pay for our relationship with shorter-lived beings than ourselves). We each cope with grief in our own way, but there are a few things you can do to help your rabbit cope with his.
When one cat in a bonded pair dies, monitor your other cat closely. He must eat, drink and use his litter box as usual. If your grieving cat stops eating for more than 24 hours, seek help from his veterinarian. Watch his sleeping patterns as well.
Let your remaining rabbit say goodbye
Rabbits are social animals and, as such, they can grieve intensely for a bonded companion. If at all possible, try to give your surviving rabbit time alone with their deceased companion so that they can begin to say goodbye.
In the wild, rabbits live in big groups and they enjoy being with friends who will play with them, groom them, understand them and look out for them. So if these sociable animals are kept on their own, they may become bored, depressed, and very lonely.
If two bonded cats were to be separated from each other, they would likely end up suffering from depression, leading to other behavior issues. A study has shown that cats who are bonded together are more socially adjusted and live longer, happier lives. How can you tell if two cats are bonded?
Get a certified copy of the death certificate for everyone who has died who is named on any of the bonds. Have each person who is entitled to a distributed bond also fill out and sign the appropriate forms: If they want cash for their bond: FS Form 1522. If it is an EE or I bond and they want to keep it: FS Form 4000.
Rabbits can live alone, but you'll need to provide your pet with the attention (company, petting, grooming, exercise, playing, and enrichment) that a bonded rabbit partner would provide. It's always advisable to keep rabbits in pairs.
For a rabbit who is too ill and can no longer have a good quality of life, it's much better to let them go. A rabbit who is ill or disabled doesn't necessarily need to be put to sleep. Their symptoms can be managed with medication and care as long as the rabbit still has the will to live.
Rabbits can also experience stress and anxiety. If there's something wrong in their environment, stress can occur together with depression. This can cause them to avoid exercise and eat less than they should. This can cause rabbits to develop health problems, and even die.
Make sure to spend some time with the rabbits in one or more neutral space every day. When you're not actively working with them, they should be apart if they fight when together. If they do not fight, then they can be left alone if you're not working with them, but not when you're not home at all.
Be aware that rigor mortis, the stiffening of the joints, typically begins within 10 minutes to three hours after death and can last as long as 72 hours.
Rabbits are a social species and have evolved to live in groups. In the wild, rabbits do not live alone. Rabbits kept as companions are not biologically different from their wild counterparts and so their innate need to be kept in the company of other rabbits is just as strong.
Therefore, when another pet dies, surviving pets will typically experience a sense of anxiety or stress. As a reaction to this sudden change in household dynamics, they may even frantically seek out the deceased pet. In many cases, the clinical symptoms of grief in pets will resemble separation anxiety.
Here are some examples of what not to say when a pet dies: "Don't cry." Crying is part of the grieving process for many people. "It's just a [dog/cat/etc.]." A comment like this that downplays the loss is mean and thoughtless. You don't know what the pet meant to that person.
When a dog loses a companion, two- or four-legged, he grieves and reacts to the changes in his life. Dogs alter their behavior when they mourn, much like people do: They may become depressed and listless. They may have a decreased appetite and decline to play.
Human pair bonding
These bonds can be temporary or last a lifetime. Pair bonding is a behavioral and physiological bond between two mated individuals, and is rare among non-human primates.
It's best not to separate bonded cats for any reason, although when one passes away it's inevitable. Many times at a rescue shelter, they will insist on adopting both cats in a bonded pair, and many times it's on a buy one, get one free program, so you only pay the price for one cat, but get a pair of them.
Bonded pairs of animals have generally grown up together. While often siblings, non-siblings can bond as well. Although every animal can develop bonds, there are times when these bonds are so close that one or both animals decline when not with the other.
Many times the surviving rabbit will sniff, nudge, groom, and even hop on their mate. Eventually, though, he will begin to realize his friend is gone. A rabbit who doesn't get to see his mate's body will likely have a difficult time understanding where his friend went.