MarieAnson
Warren Scout
Hello everyone
I feel that I need to get some support and possibly advice, hence this post.
Last Thursday morning, my son discovered my darling rabbit, Thomas laid on his side in our conservatory. He claims he saw his leg twitch and when my DH arrived to take a look Thomas had just passed away
My DH said that there was nothing obvious to indicate why Thomas has died, but he noticed that he did have a small amount of white around his nose/mouth.
Thomas was a beautiful lionhead and was only 11 months old. I had acquired him from a lady, who for personal reasons was forced to part with him. I had owned him for 7 months. He lived as a house rabbit, having ownership of our large conservatory. He had so much space and freedom and appreared to be a very healthy and happy boy.
Thomas was my second lionhead, my first Missy came to me by complete fluke as she was found on a gold course behind our house and despite posters and appeals no one came to claim her, so she became mine. She lived in the house too, but she always had a runny bottom which I kept clean and one day I was trying to be helpful and kind, so I put her out in a hutch in the garden during the nice weather. I am sure you have read ahead and have already guessed what happened to her. Yes flystryke. I was devastated and blamed myself for her death. It took me three years to get over Missy and when I heard about Thomas I felt ready to embrace another bun.
The night before Thomas' death I visited him to say goodnight, just before I went to bed. I put him his lamp on and went to close the windows. Thomas was sat on the floor and usually when I walk by him, he hops off, but he didn't he remained sat. I closed the windows and then knelt down beside him, he remained there. I stroked him and then picked him up in my arms and he accepted the cuddles we often had. He didn't seem ill, he wasn't bloated, hot or anything. I then put him down and unusually for him, he hopped off behind the sofa, which is where he would hide away if he wanted to. I remember saying to him 'well if that's how you want to be then i'll see you in the morning' How tragic to now know that I would never see him again!
The following morning was chaotic in our house and I was late for work, so I didn't get to pop in a see Thomas before I left for work, that is why my son discovered him minutes later.
Call this coincidence but Thomas and Missy, both died on exactly the same day and around the same time :shock:
I am beside myself with grief at the loss of Thomas, given that he appeared to be a healthy, happy bun. The vet looked at him soon after his passing and she could find no signs or indicators as to why he died, she put it down to his heart, or a stroke.
I am racked with guilt. I wanted to put everything right with Thomas because of the horror of what happened to Missy and is someone up above trying to tell me I can't have rabbits? I am constantly going over the 'what if' scenarios in my head. Thinking that he was dying whilst I was getting ready for work
One thing that is holding me back and I can't stop worrying about is. Was Thomas ill because of the warm weather? THis may seem an odd thing to ask, but as I have mentioned, Thomas lived in our conservatory, and as most of you will know they do get very warm in the daytime. Thomas would stay behind the sofa in the heat and we opened windows and he had access to water and food.
Each night, after a warm day he seemed find and during the days, displayed no signs of heatstroke or distress. I did on a couple of occasions place him outside in his indoor cage, but as he wasn't used to the outdoors it seemed to stress him out as he would push around his water/food dish and his litter tray and nose the door to get out.
Could the repeated exposure to warm temperatures in the daytime have caused his sudden death?
I am absolutely devastated. I can't bear to look into the conservatory, because when I do I see Thomas sitting in his favourite spot and then my heart sinks, realising he has gone. I can't cope with the grief right now and I am not getting much support from my family, as in their eyes he was just a rabbit and I need to get a grip!
I haven't eaten since he died as I can't face it and I have a constant aching in my heart.
Is there anyone that can help me make sense of this?
Thank you.
I feel that I need to get some support and possibly advice, hence this post.
Last Thursday morning, my son discovered my darling rabbit, Thomas laid on his side in our conservatory. He claims he saw his leg twitch and when my DH arrived to take a look Thomas had just passed away
My DH said that there was nothing obvious to indicate why Thomas has died, but he noticed that he did have a small amount of white around his nose/mouth.
Thomas was a beautiful lionhead and was only 11 months old. I had acquired him from a lady, who for personal reasons was forced to part with him. I had owned him for 7 months. He lived as a house rabbit, having ownership of our large conservatory. He had so much space and freedom and appreared to be a very healthy and happy boy.
Thomas was my second lionhead, my first Missy came to me by complete fluke as she was found on a gold course behind our house and despite posters and appeals no one came to claim her, so she became mine. She lived in the house too, but she always had a runny bottom which I kept clean and one day I was trying to be helpful and kind, so I put her out in a hutch in the garden during the nice weather. I am sure you have read ahead and have already guessed what happened to her. Yes flystryke. I was devastated and blamed myself for her death. It took me three years to get over Missy and when I heard about Thomas I felt ready to embrace another bun.
The night before Thomas' death I visited him to say goodnight, just before I went to bed. I put him his lamp on and went to close the windows. Thomas was sat on the floor and usually when I walk by him, he hops off, but he didn't he remained sat. I closed the windows and then knelt down beside him, he remained there. I stroked him and then picked him up in my arms and he accepted the cuddles we often had. He didn't seem ill, he wasn't bloated, hot or anything. I then put him down and unusually for him, he hopped off behind the sofa, which is where he would hide away if he wanted to. I remember saying to him 'well if that's how you want to be then i'll see you in the morning' How tragic to now know that I would never see him again!
The following morning was chaotic in our house and I was late for work, so I didn't get to pop in a see Thomas before I left for work, that is why my son discovered him minutes later.
Call this coincidence but Thomas and Missy, both died on exactly the same day and around the same time :shock:
I am beside myself with grief at the loss of Thomas, given that he appeared to be a healthy, happy bun. The vet looked at him soon after his passing and she could find no signs or indicators as to why he died, she put it down to his heart, or a stroke.
I am racked with guilt. I wanted to put everything right with Thomas because of the horror of what happened to Missy and is someone up above trying to tell me I can't have rabbits? I am constantly going over the 'what if' scenarios in my head. Thinking that he was dying whilst I was getting ready for work
One thing that is holding me back and I can't stop worrying about is. Was Thomas ill because of the warm weather? THis may seem an odd thing to ask, but as I have mentioned, Thomas lived in our conservatory, and as most of you will know they do get very warm in the daytime. Thomas would stay behind the sofa in the heat and we opened windows and he had access to water and food.
Each night, after a warm day he seemed find and during the days, displayed no signs of heatstroke or distress. I did on a couple of occasions place him outside in his indoor cage, but as he wasn't used to the outdoors it seemed to stress him out as he would push around his water/food dish and his litter tray and nose the door to get out.
Could the repeated exposure to warm temperatures in the daytime have caused his sudden death?
I am absolutely devastated. I can't bear to look into the conservatory, because when I do I see Thomas sitting in his favourite spot and then my heart sinks, realising he has gone. I can't cope with the grief right now and I am not getting much support from my family, as in their eyes he was just a rabbit and I need to get a grip!
I haven't eaten since he died as I can't face it and I have a constant aching in my heart.
Is there anyone that can help me make sense of this?
Thank you.