Formerly Bonded Bunny grieving?

[Eireen]

Fawn and Benjamin were bonded for 6.5 years. Two days ago, Ben stopped eating and pooping so I took both buns to the vet to get him checked out. He ended up getting hospitalized and I was told to take Fawn home. Benjamin was hospitalized for about 20 hours before he passed away in the incubator at 9 last night. I brought the body home so Fawn could grieve and understand what had happened. She sniffed the blanket and the body for maybe a minute and then proceeded to go about eating, thinking things, and hopping around as normal. Is there a chance she didn’t recognize her mate since he smelled like hospital incubator? Or has she finished grieving? She doesnt seem to look for him. I left the body with her for 3 hours and she just seems to occasionally sniff the blanket.

If she has moved on, how soon should I be getting her a new mate? I’ve read forums that say I should get her a new mate fairly quickly to cope with the loss. I have a dog that I would prefer that she would bond to as I’m still grieving Benjamin, but I want what’s best for her. Please advise, thanks!

[Azerane]

I’m very sorry for your loss of Benjamin.

In terms of Fawn grieving, every rabbit is different and there is no hard and fast rule about how soon your should or shouldn’t adopt another rabbit for them to bond with. Bonding can be stressful, so adding extra stress at a stressful time isn’t always a good thing, however some rabbits really do get depressed and will become lethargic and stop eating after their bonded partner has passed away in which case a new bond is often well received.

If Fawn is still eating well and acting quite normally I think she is coping well and there is no rush to get another rabbit if you still need time to grieve, which is completely understandable

[Dface]

All bunnies are different-if she’s eating, and acting normal, you do not have to rush to get her a mate

When my girl lost her mate, she refused to let me take the body back, she groomed him and slept on him for 12 hours before I could take him.
She lost a third of her body weight in a week. She sat in her cage and didnt move for days. She had to be hand fed and given water. She didnt leave her enclosure for 2 weeks. She became increasingly nervous and destructive when she finally did leave the cage. She also got aggressive towards people at times.

We got her a rabbit teddy and rubbed it all over her, we used it to coerce her into eating(if the teddy was “eating” it would encourage her to eat) She had something to groom and to cuddle.

She’s an example of a rabbit that needed company and was grieving.

Im only saying this to highlight a rabbit that needs company looks like- your rabbit might actually be coping well with you for company right now.

I had to rush into getting another rabbit (that I wasn’t ready for) it make the bonding process so much harder. Even though my girl wanted company, she still needs to go through the entire process of bonding with this new rabbit-thankfully having another rabbit just in the room has made her happier and she has started to act the way she used to.

You will notice behaviour problems if she isnt okay alone, and be sure that you do whats right for both of you when you are both ready

[12345ABCDE]

So sorry to hear about your Benjamin, but it seems like Fawn (beautiful name btw) is coping well at the moment so don’t rush out to get a new mate just yet. Unless she starts showing signs of depression or anything like that, wait until you have finished grieving and feel ready to deal with the bonding process.

Dface, that sounds so terribly heartbreaking 

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