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.
It's important to monitor your rabbit closely after they've lost a companion. Some rabbits can become depressed if they're left alone when a friend passes away. Your remaining pet may also stop eating and drinking.
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.
Whether it is a wild animal or a pet, all are deeply affected by death, something they don't understand, but they know their friend is no more. Rabbit owners report their grieving pet will stare off into the distance, lose his appetite and desire for play, sit in the corner and not come out.
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.
The most common symptoms of a dying rabbit include a lack of appetite, a loss of strength, and erratic movements. Other signs will vary depending on the cause of death, and sometimes you will not notice any symptoms before a rabbit passes on.
Rabbits can develop abnormal behaviour and may suffer if you leave them on their own and with nothing to do for long periods, so you should keep your rabbit with at least one other friendly rabbit.
The domestic rabbit, also known as the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), are prone to a multitude of infections that may cause them to die suddenly. Pathogens that may cause mortality in rabbits include those which are bacterial, viral, and protozoan.
It is clear from these results that teeth problems and digestive upsets are the two major killers of rabbits that die prematurely.
Many people ask, can rabbits live alone? Rabbits are social animals, and, like us, can suffer from loneliness. Though there are exceptions, most rabbits want and need another rabbit for company. For this reason, we always recommend keeping rabbits in groups of two or more.
Rabbits are social animals, so a single rabbit is likely to feel lonely and depressed. 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.
ere are three options to deal with your pet's body a er he/she passes. Some people choose to take their rabbit's body home and bury him/her. Most people choose to have their rabbit cremated. With private or individual cremation, you will receive your pet's ashes back.
Put each rabbit in separate runs next to each other but with a barrier between them - or two rooms separated by a baby gate for indoor buns. Keeping them apart but swap each rabbit over into the other run several times each day. This helps to stop the rabbit's deciding a run is their own territory.
Rabbit is limp, floppy or cold
These rabbits are very, very sick and may be close to death. The common end point of dehydration, shock or sepsis is a weak floppy rabbit, often with cold ears. They tend to sit hunched in a corner and 'feel funny' when you pick them up. Wrap them up warmly and get to the vet ASAP.
Rabbits have extremely delicate respiratory and digestive systems, and any change in the balance of these systems can result in death if they are not treated properly and quickly.
A lonely rabbit may become hyperactive and angry. They may display destructive behaviour such as gnawing at the carpets and other furniture. Lonely rabbits may pull at their fur and overeat.
Barring the odd rogue rabbit that likes the lonely life, rabbits generally benefit from the company of other rabbits. They will often be far happier and content with a mate. Rabbits are not that unlike humans, they also get bored, even depressed, and when they do, they often act it out with destructive behaviour.
These findings are consistent with those in previous studies [11,13], suggesting that the life span of pet rabbits is typically 9–12 years with a maximum life span of 14 or 15 years.
Caring for your pet rabbit
It is important that you understand all the requirements for caring for a rabbit before you buy one. Rabbits generally live for 5 to 8 years depending on their environment and breed, but they can live for as long as 12 years.
Since rabbits can sleep with their eyes open, the best way to know when they're sleeping is by watching the rabbit's nose. When rabbits are fully asleep, their noses will slow down and stop twitching altogether. They will either be flopped over on their side or fluffed up into a bunny loaf.