Bonded partner passed

[Salem Fluffle]

Freckles passed away today and I’m worried about Rascal – her surviving (true) brother. I’ve never had a bonded pair before them so this is my first time dealing with it. Obviously they shared everything so her scent is all over. Do I try to remove some of her scent to make this easier for him? Do I leave everything as is for him to keep processing that she’s gone? We were on the way to the vet in an emergency for her when she passed. Rascal spent about 20 minutes in the carrier in the car with her, and then when we made it to the vet we put a blanket on the floor so he could be with her body. He spent about 40 minutes with her, sometimes grooming her face, sometimes just laying next to her. When he finally went back into the open carrier on his own we said our final goodbyes to her body and took Rascal home. I just want to make sure we do everything we can to make this easier for him since they had been together since birth.

[DanaNM]

I’m so so sorry for your loss. 🙁

It’s really good he was able to spend time with her body and say his goodbyes. Bunnies that are able to do that usually handle things quite well (sometimes better than we do honestly).

Her scent will naturally decline over time, he will be able to tell between “fresh” and “old” smells, so I wouldn’t worry about removing her scent or anything like that. I would keep his area just the same for now, so it’s not so many changes all at once.

All you can do for him now is spend extra time with him (even if its just hanging out in the room with him), and make sure he keeps eating and pooping. He may be a bit more quiet than usual, but if he stops eating he may need to be syringe fed. If you have other bunnies, he might like seeing them as neighbors if you notice he starts to get depressed. Some bunnies also like having a “stuffy” to cuddle with.

 

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

[Salem Fluffle]

Thank you, Dana. Rascal seems to be doing okay. The first day was tough – he ran a couple of laps in the pen area looking for her. Now he occasionally goes to rest in the corner she claimed during these last three weeks. I’m relieved he’s still eating, pooping, and sleeping the same. I think he misses his sister but we’re spoiling him with extra pets and treats. We have the other two bunnies so I finally took down the visual barrier and we’ll begin the process of bonding them again.

[DanaNM]

((( Rascal ))) <3

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

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