How can rabbits die

Its breaths may come in fits and starts. Keep an eye on how often your rabbit urinates and defecates, and what the waste looks like afterwards. A change in urine or feces can be a warning sign for a dying rabbit. With feces, watch out for changes in texture, color, or smell. With urine, traces of blood is a sign that something is wrong. If your rabbit is not defecating at all, this may be gastrointestinal stasis. GI stasis is a common sign of illness or poor health.

It usually happens when a rabbit stops eating, and the digestive system as a whole slows down. This may be a sign that your rabbit is not getting sufficient nutrients from its diet and is related to the symptom of refusing to eat.

A rabbit needs a moving digestive system in order to survive. If your rabbit has not defecated or urinated in over 6 hours, you should contact a veterinarian to find out if treatment is necessary. This is also a sign of dehydration. It is common for a rabbit to uncontrollably release its bowels in the minutes before it dies. If your rabbit is making unusual noises , this can be a sign that it is not well.

A rabbit that feels uncomfortable may grind its teeth audibly. When it is in pain, especially if it is frightened, a rabbit screams. As a rabbit nears the end of its life, especially if an illness is a part of its death, then it may let out involuntary groaning or squeaking sounds.

Other sounds to keep an ear out for are the sounds associated with difficulty breathing. This include sneezing, snuffling, gasping, and wheezing. While dying, a rabbit will often begin to drool. It can let out a lot more saliva than you would expect from such a small animal, especially if the rabbit has not been drinking much water.

Your rabbit may also have a swollen face or mouth as the apparent cause of the drooling. If your rabbit is shivering even though the room is nicely warm, this can be a sign of shock.

A rabbit will also shake as it nears death if it is frightened. You can put a light blanket over the rabbit to give it some comfort. However, do not tuck the blanket around the rabbit.

Allow it room to move around if it needs to. A rabbit near death often experiences involuntary spasms in which its body jerks uncontrollably. This may look like a fit. During one of these fits, the rabbit may hit itself against any nearby objects or walls. For the comfort of the rabbit, it is best to clear a large space out on the floor and set down a blanket for the rabbit to lie on. Your rabbit may also demonstrate a loss of control over its limbs, or a sudden lack of coordination. Fly-strike, anorexia, collapse, gut statis, poisoning, swallowing an object, injury, not being accustomed to outside temperatures, heart attack, and injury are some of the top reasons for your rabbit to pass away.

A lot of these problems are unavoidable, and they become even more dangerous as your rabbit gets older. If your rabbit avoids these causes of death and makes their way into old age, they will die naturally. Rabbits die naturally by acting strange, refusing to eat and drink, and being very lethargic and slow.

One of the biggest symptoms to spot is if your rabbit stops eating or drinking. This could be sparked by some stress, but it will lead to further problems. Eventually, most rabbits will feel the need for a new partner. Some may not, however. When you decide the time is right to attempt an introduction , approach it with patience, kindness, and tact.

But death is a part of life. Be gentle with yourself as you work through your bereavement. And, if your rabbit has left a partner behind, be kind and patient with them, as well.

Do you have any advice for readers who may be grieving the loss of their bunny? Please let us know in the comments. I have a bunny who is 10 years old now.

About 4 years ago, her partner became ill suddenly and within 24 hrs, sadly had to be put to sleep. This was very stressful for the remaining bunny. All I could do was cuddle her and try to spend more time with her.

Despite the slow introduction and to seemingly having paired them, one day they had a massive fight and both sustained substantial injuries. They both recovered but it was so sad that they then had to be apart, especially as the new bunny was so placid and clearly just wanted to cosy up with the other bunny. Even though they were apart, their cages and runs were always next to each other, so they could see and smell each other all the time.

For a long while, the older bunny still tried to attack the other through the cage bars but after 2 years, I started to notice them lying next to each other either side of the bars of their run during the day. One afternoon, the runs were being moved with the bunnies still in them and one got under the dividing bars and into the other run. I watched them for about 2 hours but they were just fine. It was so wonderful and I was so surprised.

They have been together all the time since and share all of their living and exercise spaces together. Looking back, I think I probably tried to introduce a new bunny to early and also think the grieving bunny may have been able to accept her loss more easily, had I brought the dead bunny home from the vets for her to see. I know that now she is 10 and has been taking daily painkillers for more than 2 years for possible arthritis pain, her time with me is limited, but I do feel more prepared this time.

I got my 2 bunnies just 3 months ago. And smaller one died. I have been crying all the day! In the morning we were playing, she was active, but in the evening she was just lying down. At the night time I understood that she died I got her small, but for 3 months she became much bigger, she was eating a lot. I am so sad. And I see that another rabbit is sad too. Became too tame to re release so became a member of the family. Built him a hutch and run, just finished his shed for winter. Came home early, went to check on him as usual and he was in his bed cuddled up with his toy thumper, seemed very quiet.

Talked to him and petted him for a bit before going inside. Came out to check on him and he was upside down stretching out. Ran to get van keys to take him to the vet and he died in my arms. Devastated, its like he waited to see me one last time. He brought me a lot of joy and was a pleasure to look after. Today I woke up and my bunny was dead he was 7 years old I loved him so much what should I do to help myself feel better because I feel like I am entering depression.

Ive just lost both my rabbits within 24 hours of each other. They were both from the same litter and were only 3. Healthy diet of hay and pellets. Fresh water, occasional carrots and fruit.

No signs of infection or bleeding. Look healthy. Both house pets no other animals. No children. I hurried the 1st today and the remaining rabbit has died just an hour ago. Anyone have any idea. Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Rabbits are amazing animals that come in an astounding variety of shapes and sizes, from the mighty Flemish Giant to the adorable Columbia Basin Pygmy and the feisty Netherland Dwarf.

And how much space it will need for a happy life? This virus has been released in Australia to kill wild rabbits and will move from wild rabbits into captive ones that are housed outside.

There is a vaccination to prevent infection with this virus and pet rabbits should be vaccinated once a year. Rabbits that get grain or large amounts of other easily digested material such as some vegetables or any kind of fruit can have a severe disruption of their digestive tract, resulting in the overgrowth of bacteria that produce toxins.

If you get another rabbit, immediately take it to an experienced rabbit veterinarian who can advise you on how to properly feed it.