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Grieving Rabbit Mum

SarahS

Young Bun
Hi all

Our rabbit passed away suddenly last night and we're all feeling heartbroken 💔. He was around 7 or maybe older (a rescue rabbit so unsure of his age) and had been having urinary incontinence issues for around a year, although this had improved lately. He had an operation to remove what we believed was bedding from his penis in March of last year, it turned out it was hair that kept growing, which required regular removal. Despite this he was happy and comfortable and was on loxicom once per day and gabapentin once per day since March of 2023.

Yesterday he was working on his cardboard box in the morning (bunstruction) and retired to his grass hideaway in the afternoon. He had done some droppings on his rug. He popped his head out for some basil and in the late afternoon when I got back from a walk he was still in his hideaway. I visually checked him and started making the evening meal. As I was cooking with pak choi I called him over for a piece but he didn't come out so I offered it him in his nest but he refused it. I called my partner in and we lifted him to discover hundreds of droppings beneath him and lots on his tummy. We cleaned him up and he ate some basil but refused a piece of romaine. After our meal I hand fed him the romaine. I decided to lift him for a cuddle in a blanket, I noticed his mouth and nose were colder than normal. My son suggested I let him down to see what he did and he returned to his cardboard box but didn't seem comfortable so I once again cuddled him in a blanket. I gave him some loxicom and my partner warmed a wheatbag and lit the logburner. We then rang the emergency vet. In the next 20-30 minutes he went downhill, he became floppy and passed away in our arms. We're all still in shock and I csnt stop going over and over what I had missed.

Does anyone have any idea of his cause of death? Could this be gut stasis? Any support would be gratefully received. I'm heartbroken 💔. Pictures of Billy Bumper on 14/1/24 by the fire and ready for bed in the new year.
 

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So sorry to hear that you have lost your bunny, and I'm afraid I can't offer any suggestions as to why he passed away, only a post mortem would give those answers, but 7 + years was a good age. I hope the fact that he passed in your arms, with those that loved him, will give you some comfort.
 
So sorry to hear that you have lost your bunny, and I'm afraid I can't offer any suggestions as to why he passed away, only a post mortem would give those answers, but 7 + years was a good age. I hope the fact that he passed in your arms, with those that loved him, will give you some comfort.
Thankyou for your kind words. I keep going over his last few hours wondering if there was more I could've done, which I know is natural. He went downhill so fast. He really was a beautiful rabbit with a pure soul 💖
 
I'm sorry that you have lost your lovely boy. I'm also sorry that I can't offer any suggestions as to the cause of death. It does seem very quick.
 
I'm sorry that you have lost your lovely boy. I'm also sorry that I can't offer any suggestions as to the cause of death. It does seem very quick.
The only thing I noticed but shrugged off the night before was that his mouth and tongue looked pale. I now know that's can be sign of liver lobe torsion but in the absence of other signs of ill health I dismissed it
 
We all understand and questioning yourself over and over. It's natural to keep thinking what if but it sounds like you did the best you could. Xxx
I'll do this for a while until I can do it no longer. He died with his family around him and by that point I wouldn't have wanted him to have invasive tests. Thanks for your kind words xxx
 
i'm so sorry to hear of billy's passing. He was a really beautiful bun & obviously couldn't have been more loved or better cared for.
 
I am so so sorry for your loss. There is no way of knowing the cause of his passing though anything that sudden is often quite a serious illness which often defies intervention.
Sending you comforting hugs.
 
I am so so sorry for your loss. There is no way of knowing the cause of his passing though anything that sudden is often quite a serious illness which often defies intervention.
Sending you comforting hugs.
Thankyou Bunny Momma. My feelings are the same that he couldn't be saved and I'm glad he didn't have vet interventions that possibly wouldn't have affected the outcome. He was at the vets for a check on the 3rd January and the vet was happy with how he was doing. He'd maintained his weight and they were happy the incontinence was under control. Thanks for the hugs, I really need them just now x
 
So sorry for your loss 😢

It’s impossible to know what caused his sudden passing without a PM. Conditions which can be involved include RHD ( Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease), especially if the Rabbit is not vaccinated.Pale mucous membranes (gums,tongue etc) is one sign of *possible* RHD. But there are other possible causes too.
 
So sorry for your loss 😢

It’s impossible to know what caused his sudden passing without a PM. Conditions which can be involved include RHD ( Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease), especially if the Rabbit is not vaccinated.Pale mucous membranes (gums,tongue etc) is one sign of *possible* RHD. But there are other possible causes too.
Thankyou InspectorMorse. He was vaccinated and due his next vaccination in June. I thought of RHD but there was no blood staining around his mouth and nose. Not sure if there always will be with this disease? Thanks for your kind words, we're all really struggling at Billy Bumper residence just now x
 
Thankyou InspectorMorse. He was vaccinated and due his next vaccination in June. I thought of RHD but there was no blood staining around his mouth and nose. Not sure if there always will be with this disease? Thanks for your kind words, we're all really struggling at Billy Bumper residence just now x

The one small ‘good’ thing is that he passed in the comfort of his own home. Also, it sounds as though he was not feeling unwell for a protracted amount of time. Of course none of this can lessen your grief. But to use a phrase that might sound odd, a ‘good death’ is one like that BB appears to have had. It’s how I would want to go myself. At home rather than being in some strange clinical environment.

RIP Billy Bumper ❤️😢❤️
 
The one small ‘good’ thing is that he passed in the comfort of his own home. Also, it sounds as though he was not feeling unwell for a protracted amount of time. Of course none of this can lessen your grief. But to use a phrase that might sound odd, a ‘good death’ is one like that BB appears to have had. It’s how I would want to go myself. At home rather than being in some strange clinical environment.

RIP Billy Bumper ❤️😢❤️
Thankyou, I have taken comfort from the fact that he passed away in the comfort of his own home surrounded by the family that love him ❤️. My partner is a nurse who has seen many humans pass away and there was a point when he knew we weren't going to save Billy Bumper. We were waiting on the vet calling back and he told me to just be with him. I almost lost it, but composed myself enough to talk Billy through his last moments. Gosh I miss him so so much 😢 💔
 
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