Hello,
Unfortunately late last week one of my lovely bunnies, Lilly, passed over. Obviously i'm very upset but mostly confused as to what happened and worried that i may of missed something.
She was absolutely fine the night before, her hutch was inside the conservatory and every night i pop a blanket over the front of the pen on cold nights (we dont have full heating in the conservatory - it isnt cold by any means but over the night in winter it can get chilly). The sides are left open for air and we have done this for years. But she was absolutely fine - hopping around, eating and drinking, everything was fine in terms of toilet. When i went to say good morning she was dead
She looked like she had literally been sleeping and then fell over dead. The pen had been freshly cleaned the day before and there was no sign of a struggle - nothing had been kicked etc. Her sister was just cuddled up next to her.
Im just very worried that i missed something, or that i could of done something. I did notice the day before she did sneeze a couple of times but i thought maybe she had some hay tickling her nose. I took her out and checked her - her eyes were bright (no weeping) and her nose was clean and dry, as were her paws. She was a brown and white dutch rabbit and so any marks would be easy to see. I know it sounds morbid but i did give her a quick check over after she had passed but there wasnt so much as a runny nose. Im devastated as to what happened to her - she was 4 and a half years old, vaccinated and spayed. Did i miss something?
Also her sister is obviously very upset. Luckly i read its best that they spend time with the body to accept death and by the looks of things shes spent a few hours with her in the night. I really cant get another rabbit due to things out of my control (i had to move back home to look after my ill dad and he doesnt want anymore). I've been giving the remaining rabbit lots of cuddles and attention and playing with her. Shes eating and drinking fine (she didnt even go off her food for a day), i've brought her some new toys to distract her and cheer her up but she actually seems ok. Will she be ok on her own. I know its not ideal but i work from home and have the rabbit play pen in with me during the day - it would just be the evenings/nights she would be alone.
Unfortunately late last week one of my lovely bunnies, Lilly, passed over. Obviously i'm very upset but mostly confused as to what happened and worried that i may of missed something.
She was absolutely fine the night before, her hutch was inside the conservatory and every night i pop a blanket over the front of the pen on cold nights (we dont have full heating in the conservatory - it isnt cold by any means but over the night in winter it can get chilly). The sides are left open for air and we have done this for years. But she was absolutely fine - hopping around, eating and drinking, everything was fine in terms of toilet. When i went to say good morning she was dead
She looked like she had literally been sleeping and then fell over dead. The pen had been freshly cleaned the day before and there was no sign of a struggle - nothing had been kicked etc. Her sister was just cuddled up next to her.
Im just very worried that i missed something, or that i could of done something. I did notice the day before she did sneeze a couple of times but i thought maybe she had some hay tickling her nose. I took her out and checked her - her eyes were bright (no weeping) and her nose was clean and dry, as were her paws. She was a brown and white dutch rabbit and so any marks would be easy to see. I know it sounds morbid but i did give her a quick check over after she had passed but there wasnt so much as a runny nose. Im devastated as to what happened to her - she was 4 and a half years old, vaccinated and spayed. Did i miss something?
Also her sister is obviously very upset. Luckly i read its best that they spend time with the body to accept death and by the looks of things shes spent a few hours with her in the night. I really cant get another rabbit due to things out of my control (i had to move back home to look after my ill dad and he doesnt want anymore). I've been giving the remaining rabbit lots of cuddles and attention and playing with her. Shes eating and drinking fine (she didnt even go off her food for a day), i've brought her some new toys to distract her and cheer her up but she actually seems ok. Will she be ok on her own. I know its not ideal but i work from home and have the rabbit play pen in with me during the day - it would just be the evenings/nights she would be alone.
