Help / advice needed for bun who has lost his mate

[Drone79]

Hi, some of you may have seen my post a few days ago, on Thursday I sadly had to put my six year old beautiful little girl to sleep, and her mate seemed to be ok in the following days, but I have noticed he seems to have lost interest in his veggies and his behaviour is slightly off

Prior to losing her I did have lots of spare food in the evening as well – I feed them pellets in the morning, and he grazes in the garden a little during the day (which he still does) but is barely touching his usual veggies which I give in the evening, aside from the green beans. I don’t think he is eating much hay.

I took him to the vet yesterday for a health check to be safe and to get his booster – weight is great, teeth are great, breathing etc – tip top.

He lives in the house, in the conservatory in a big hutch with loads of space but runs about the garden whenever he wants, however he also seems to have stopped going upstairs at all. I bought him a couple of toys, but he has no interest. He just doesn’t seem as excited but I am concerned, thinking back, it has been like this for a little while.

He is just laying in his litter tray in the bottom of the hutch a lot. Yesterday when he was out, he seemed ok, he has always been a super relaxed bun (in fact I would call him borderline lazy he just loves to chill), he did a flop, lay around, but i really don’t know what to do. He is s also six

He has had a little case of the sneezes for a couple of days (no discharge etc, the vet checked him over thoroughly yesterday) I mention just in case but this seems to be all but gone

 

[tonibun]

He is probably missing his friend now and I would look for another Rabbit to keep him company. If you go to a Rescue there will possibly be a spayed female you like but I would wait for a week or two in case your girl had something contagious. Do you know why she had to be put to sleep?

 

[Drone79]

It was abscesses and tumours sadly, nothing contagious

He seems to be drinking an awful lot of water as well

Just in addition to this he is laying down now in the garden facing the spot where she used to lie I don't know if he is just grieving but he started his sneezing again

 

[Cinnabun14]

Hi, some of you may have seen my post a few days ago, on Thursday I sadly had to put my six year old beautiful little girl to sleep, and her mate seemed to be ok in the following days, but I have noticed he seems to have lost interest in his veggies and his behaviour is slightly off

Prior to losing her I did have lots of spare food in the evening as well – I feed them pellets in the morning, and he grazes in the garden a little during the day (which he still does) but is barely touching his usual veggies which I give in the evening, aside from the green beans. I don’t think he is eating much hay.

I took him to the vet yesterday for a health check to be safe and to get his booster – weight is great, teeth are great, breathing etc – tip top.

He lives in the house, in the conservatory in a big hutch with loads of space but runs about the garden whenever he wants, however he also seems to have stopped going upstairs at all. I bought him a couple of toys, but he has no interest. He just doesn’t seem as excited but I am concerned, thinking back, it has been like this for a little while.

He is just laying in his litter tray in the bottom of the hutch a lot. Yesterday when he was out, he seemed ok, he has always been a super relaxed bun (in fact I would call him borderline lazy he just loves to chill), he did a flop, lay around, but i really don’t know what to do. He is s also six

He has had a little case of the sneezes for a couple of days (no discharge etc, the vet checked him over thoroughly yesterday) I mention just in case but this seems to be all but gone

I haven't had rabbits for very long, but I think it's depression. I've seen it in other animals, and it sounds the same (uninterested in food or play, but physically fine). The fact that he's lying in her old spot kind of cliches the deal for me. We had a friend whose dog used to lie in the same spot on the porch as her doggie friend did, after he died. She was fine after a while, especially after they got her another friend, but continued to lie in the same spot. Perhaps it was her way of remembering him...
He may have known something was wrong with his friend long before you did, and that's why his behavior has been off for a while, as you said. His friend's dying has probably just made it a bit worse/more obvious (not sure if obvious is the right word here). If your vet was rabbit-savvy, then he's probably fine (physically). If the vet isn't rabbit-savvy, then maybe try and see if you can get him to one who is. Sneezing is the one thing that stands apart from depression to me, but since I haven't had rabbits for very long, I'm unsure of what could be causing it. All in all, I agree with Tonibun about getting him a new friend, if you're able, and the week-long quarantine.

Also, how are you doing? Are you feeling okay since she left?

 

[Drone79]

I haven't had rabbits for very long, but I think it's depression. I've seen it in other animals, and it sounds the same (uninterested in food or play, but physically fine). The fact that he's lying in her old spot kind of cliches the deal for me. We had a friend whose dog used to lie in the same spot on the porch as her doggie friend did, after he died. She was fine after a while, especially after they got her another friend, but continued to lie in the same spot. Perhaps it was her way of remembering him...
He may have known something was wrong with his friend long before you did, and that's why his behavior has been off for a while, as you said. His friend's dying has probably just made it a bit worse/more obvious (not sure if obvious is the right word here). If your vet was rabbit-savvy, then he's probably fine (physically). If the vet isn't rabbit-savvy, then maybe try and see if you can get him to one who is. Sneezing is the one thing that stands apart from depression to me, but since I haven't had rabbits for very long, I'm unsure of what could be causing it. All in all, I agree with Tonibun about getting him a new friend, if you're able, and the week-long quarantine.

Also, how are you doing? Are you feeling okay since she left?

I am okay thank you for asking. I get her ashes back in the next few days which will be nice. He seems to have perked up a little today , which is nice to see, took a treat. Was excited for his breakfast, seemed to eat a little more last night in the way of veggies

I will think about getting him a new companion, I am a few weeks away from moving house which will be stressful for him so maybe now isn't an ideal time, it may not be fair on the new bun either but I am certainly on the lookout, and I will keep a close eye on him between now and then

 

[Cinnabun14]

I am okay thank you for asking. I get her ashes back in the next few days which will be nice. He seems to have perked up a little today , which is nice to see, took a treat. Was excited for his breakfast, seemed to eat a little more last night in the way of veggies

I will think about getting him a new companion, I am a few weeks away from moving house which will be stressful for him so maybe now isn't an ideal time, it may not be fair on the new bun either but I am certainly on the lookout, and I will keep a close eye on him between now and then

I think you're right about waiting, since you're moving. I think it'll be better for all of you (including new bun), so keep doing what you're doing. Glad your bun's more interested in food, that's an excellent sign!! I'm glad you're okay too, and if you need anything don't hesitate to message

 

[beki]

Sorry to hear your bunny was put to sleep.

I have recently been in a similar situation where I had to put one of a pair to sleep the the surviving bunny was depressed and off his food for a while.

He was off his food for around 2 weeks but could be tempted by a bit of carrot (his favorite) and grass. He was very quiet and not quite himself for a while.

It has been 3 months now since he lost Betsy and he is acting more like his usual self, but still on the quiet side as I think he is lonely. He is still alone as he is 11 and I didn’t think it was fair to get a new friend for him at this stage.

I hope your bunny perks up soon.

 

[Cinnabun14]

@beki, So sorry about your loss . I hope your bun perks up soon too.

 

[LandonKerr]

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