Bonded rabbits need to split — how?

[fancyteddy1]

My female rabbit, Miley, is terminally ill and when she passes she will be leaving behind Bolt, my male rabbit. They have been bonded since they were young, for about four years (I know, poor Miley’s so young ). What can I do now, in order to prepare Bolt for her passing, perhaps making it easier on him?

 

I was wondering, should I try to introduce a new female rabbit now, with Miley still around, so Bolt has someone else once Miley goes? Or should I wait? I read a few articles saying that people need to bring the rabbit’s body back to the surviving partner, and let him sit with it for a few hours. Is that a myth? It seems very morbid and upsetting.

 

Please respond asap, any tips appreciated.
Thanks.

 

Julie.

[Snowytoshi]

I am not sure of the bonding, but I do know that it can help them to be with their bondmate’s body. Here is a bit about it from this website: http://rabbitsinthehouse.org/pair.htm

Now we must address the saddest separation. Rabbits form very strong emotional bonds with one anther. When they lose a companion through death or any other permanent separation, the survivor grieves. This grief may be expressed in ways that we expect such as loss of appetite and acting withdrawn. However, it may also manifest itself in ways that seem strange to us. An increase in destructive behavior, aggression or a deterioration in litterbox habits are sometimes observed in the surviving rabbit.

Because rabbits communicate in non-verbal ways, it is difficult if not impossible to explain to them what happened to their friend. The mourning period is often greatly reduced if the survivor can spend a few hours with the body of her partner. This is the only way that they can learn and come to terms with the reality of death, by sniffing, seeing, and touching. If one rabbit dies while hospitalized, request the body to show the surviving rabbit. The bereaved rabbit will accept consolation more readily, knowing where his or her mate has gone. There have even been reports of rabbits who continued to search the house or wait expectantly for their missing partner to return for several weeks.

Although your first impulse may be to rush to adopt a new friend for your rabbit to spare him the pain of loneliness, most rabbits need at least 7-10 days of mourning before they will be ready to accept a new companion. It may be as much as a month if they did not see their partnerÕs body. On the other hand, your rabbit may be emotionally ready for another rabbit long before you are yourself. Rabbits when they recognize death (see above) are often able to recover faster than their human caretakers. This is one example why having a trio or larger group of rabbits can be beneficial. When one dies, there is less pressure to adopt a new one immediately. The surviving two are there to comfort one another.

Here is another link that will help: http://www.rabbit.org/journal/2-1/loss-support.html

It’s a very painful thing for us humans to do, but it is (as the above articles suggest) much better for the remaining rabbit.

[RoyalElvira]

Perhaps you could get them a stuffed bunny and keep it in their cage with them now. That way when she passes, he will still have the stuffed bunny that will smell like her until you get a new bun…? It might help him not be so sad, plus he will still have a “friend”.

[Karla]

I have always let my bunnies say their goodbyes to the dead body. I have found that it really is important to them, and makes the grieving easier. I don’t find it morbid at all. I guess you could say it is morbid as well that when people die, they are not put into the ground immediately by the hospital, but actually people are invited to say goodbye to the dead body placed in a coffin at a ceremony. We all have different ways of saying goodbye.

I would not get a new bunny right now. I think it is important that Miley is not being stressed about a new bunny in the house. She should have full attention and love right now. But of course, that doesn’t mean you can’t look around for a new bunny so that you can go out and pick up Bolt’s new girlfriend soon after.

In regard to how quickly it should happen, I think there are many different opinions. I know a big rabbit rescue that bonds the remaining rabbit the day after, because they have found that the longer, the remaining rabbit is alone, the bigger the risk of it dying afterwards because it doesn’t eat. On the opposite, I have heard from people who had problems with the bonding straight after that found that the remaining rabbit wasn’t ready to meet a new partner soon after.
I would most likely wait a week, not longer.

[Sarita]

I agree let Bolt say goodbye to Miley. I have had many bonded pairs where one has passed and I know many people say that the remaining one can get depressed so I know it is true but mine have never gotten depressed so I believe it truly depends on the rabbit.

[Beka27]

I also agree to not introduce a new bunny beforehand. Miley needs to be as unstressed as possible. You also don’t know what the timeframe is for how long she’ll be with you. I’d suggest just enjoying this time with her…

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