Mimi (my darling female dwarf) passed away in the evening, I found her lying on her side in the garden. Both rabbits had been outside all day enjoying the sun, and I'm still unsure on what happened to poor Mimi. Izzy was at the other end of the garden and when I stepped outside he ran over to me for cuddles. Normally Izzy doesn't like to be picked up and cuddled, but this night he settled in my arms and didn't struggle. We put Mimi in a box and left her in the garage until we could get her cremated (I will leave at the bottom the contact details of the two places we used for Pipkin and then Mimi) and took Izzy inside.
There was a definite change in Izzy that evening, he led in the same spot with droopy ears and showed no interest in food or water. I stayed in the kitchen for almost 2 weeks to keep him company but I was worried, I only managed to get one day off of work and I didn't want Izzy to become lonely or depressed as he may stop eating altogether. So we started looking for another rabbit to adopt. I will do another post on our journey to find the perfect companion for Izzy as for now I want to focus on the signs or a bereaving rabbit and how to help your bun deal with the loss of their companion.
When you find your rabbit's body, it is important to let your other rabbit spend some time with them so that they understand that their companion has died. They may groom the body or lie down with them, they may bring them food or toys. Leave them alone throughout this time, it may be hard for you but please resist as this is vital for your bun, or they may be waiting for a companion that is never going to come home. Leave them for a hour or two, then remove the dead rabbit, leave them in a box somewhere safe, where other animals cannot get to them. If you own your own property you may choose to bury your rabbit, or you may decide to get them cremated.
With your other rabbit, I wouldn't leave them alone overnight. They will need comforting and love. Don't be too worried if they don't eat their dinner, they will be upset. Give them lots of love and attention and if they go sit by themselves stay nearby, just in case they need you. A good idea is to book a vets appointment if you don't know why your other rabbits passed away, if the other rabbit was sick it could have passed it on to your living rabbit.
You may notice your rabbit sneezing a lot, don't worry (unless you can see blood in the nostrils, if there is blood then you need to contact your vet) as this is a sign of an upset bun. Izzy spent one day continuously sneezing, despite being perfectly healthy. If your rabbit continues to refuse food, tempt them with their favourite treats. If that doesn't work, take them to the vets. A rabbit cannot go without food or water for long, so ensure you are monitoring their food intake through this difficult time.
You may want to find a new companion for your pet, and if you do then please find rabbit rescues, not pet shops. This is vital because rabbits don't automatically love each other and if your new bun doesn't bond with your old one, the shop won't take that bun back. A rescue will help you find the perfect bun and if the buns don't bond they will accept the rabbit back.
Bunnies mourn just like we do, they are used to living in groups. To keep your rabbit happy they need companionship. But you are also going to be losing a loved one, remember to look after yourself too.
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