Hammer is grieving

[BunnyLiz]

My poor baby Hammie!  I thought he was doing well, but he is starting to show some grieving over Rose.  He eats really slow now, still eating all his pellets and salads, but it takes him about 3 or 4 hours to finish the pellets now.  He used to gobble them up in maybe a 20 minute period.  And I have a habit of feeding salad leafs randomly through the day, If im in the fridge and going upstairs then ill sometimes grab a little leaf of whatever and use that as a treat.  He always ate that quickly.  But I just did it and its sitting on his shelf, not even nibbled.  He and Rose had a pair of matching bunny plushies, the plushies usually moved with them when they switched cages so Hammer’s smells like Hammer and Rose’s smells like Rose.  When I cleaned out her cage I thought maybe hammer would like both so I gave him hers too.  He did like his plushie, would lay with it every now and then, groom it on occassion.  But now he is obsessive about Rose’s bunny.  If he is lounging, its snuggled as close as possible to her bun.  He grooms it constantly now, id guess a few hours a day.  He follows it too, if I take it then he will follow it.  He was angry more then sad, but now I think he is just plain sad.  Hammer, Rose’s bun, and I all cuddled last night for close to an hour.  I pet Hammer, he groomed the bun.  I did get a few kisses though, always nice to get a few bunny kisses.  But its hard to watch him like this, i want to help him but dont know how.  Any one have any tips or experience with this? On how to help a bunny get past a death?  I think he will be fine, still eating and pottying normally, but its driving me crazy not being able to help.

[Sarita]

Oh that is so sad – poor Hammer and poor you. It sure sounds like you are doing all the recommended things by giving him plenty of attention and giving him the plushies.

Does he realize there is a new rabbit in the house? I wonder if you should start introducing them even though she is not altered to see how he will react.

[kralspace]

Aww, poor Hammer, I know it’s so hard to watch him grieve like that.

My Daisy did the same thing when he lost his mate,Pringles. Not that Pringles died, but when I brought a short term foster home from the shelter, Pringles took one look at Toby and it was love (lust) at first sight. The shameless hussy dumped poor Daisy and refused to leave her spot beside Toby’s cage so I gave in and kept him.

Tried bonding all 3 bunnies, big time disaster.

Daisy did like Hammer, grieved, wouldn’t eat, just hid out in an overturned basket shredding a blanket to tiny pieces. He finally lost so much weight, I contacted the NTRS and set up a date day and we found his present mate, Lola. But I thought I was going to lose that little bunny, I’ve never seen anything sadder in my life. He didn’t like to wander the house, so when Pringles would go exploring, he’d wait by the food bow and refuse to eat until she came back and he had properly groomed her.

I’d let him know there was another bun in the house, even just to watch from across the room. I know he’s not over Rose yet, but he might like to have the company.

((Poor baby))

[BunnyLiz]

Yes he is very aware of Her (no name yet), she is in Rose’s old pen, right next to his. Im a bit nervous to introduce them now, Hammer is not taking it to bad but he is not happy she is here. She on the other hand, is being a brat! She has taken to thumping at Hammer, which she gets badly scolded for. I know its not her fault, but the last thing I want for Hammer is to have a new bunny in Rose’s cage thumping at him. She is young so she has lots of mood swings, she will lay next to him through the bars, then 30 minutes later get up and thump at him, then run away to chin everything in sight. She is definitely a spirited little thing, extremely stubborn too!!

[BunnyLiz]

Karlspace that is soooo sad!! Your poor Daisy! At least Hammer is eating, slowly and without excitement but still eating.

[kralspace]

I know, but it’s so heartbreaking to watch him. Rabbits are the first pets I’ve had that show such strong attachments to each other. Daisy’s better off with Lola, she appreciates all the attention he gives her.

The first time Pringles wandered into the living room and within sight of Daisy/Lola’s condo, Lola threw a fit. She pushed Dasiy behind her and ran up and down the condo snarling and barking at Pringles telling her that Daisy was HER’S and that Pringles should hit the road. and fast.

[BunnyLiz]

Oh thats cute how Lola reacted though. It all sounds like a bunny soap opera.

[kralspace]

It is a bunny soap opera, I have 3 pairs, trying to get everyone their ‘out’ time to play and make sure the couples stay away from each other can be a challenge. Especially since my cats don’t respect closed doors, they’ll worry them open and the fun begins. The boys aren’t too bad, but the girls are terrible, Bad Girls.

Give Hammer a nose rub from us.

[Beka27]

Poor Hammer… oh geez. I can’t even imagine how mine would/ will react when one passes on. I guess try to give him more attention if you can during this period. I don’t know think putting him with the new bunny is a good idea since she’s not spayed and is obviously in full-blown puberty. If you’re planning on trying to bond them together, you want to wait and go about it the right way.

[KatnipCrzy]

Leave it to a bunny to decide a short term foster is her long lost soulmate.  Naughty Pringles.  And poor Daisy pining away for Pringles while she was making wedding plans with Toby.  Just your luck to have an instant bond- when it breaks another bond.  It sounded like it ended well except for upping the household rabbit count.

Aw……poor Hammer, just continue with the TLC and I am sure he will come around.  His new girlfriend is awful cute too. 

[jerseygirl]

((Hammer Sweetheart)) Did he see Rose after she past? I think this helps them realise they have gone. Then it’s just a matter of letting them grieve.  I’m sure he’ll become more curious about the Newbie in time and recover. How is his health otherwise? Here a thread that had some advice and links of grieving. https://www.binkybunny.com/FORUM/tabid/54/forumid/11/postid/91377/view/topic/Default.aspx

[kralspace]

I was reading the article too, about how they need to grieve over the body, it’s so sad. I wonder if he will eventually let Rosie’s plushing go or it may become his blankie for good.. Poor baby. I bet the new girl can’t figure out why Hammer’s not totally infatuated with her.

[RabbitPam]

It really hasn’t been very long at all since Rose passed, so I think Hammer’s grief is more natural than worrisome.
I guess the plushie is helping him, since he won’t let it go.

Any way to get a new plushie for the new baby, and get her smell on it? You could introduce her by giving him that plushie also. Then he would still have Rose’s but also start to familiarize himself with the new bunny. It might take the edge off the thumping if he likes her smell.

[BunnyLiz]

No Hammer did not get to grieve over her body. I thought I had read that somewhere and was giving him the body but my mom thought it was weird and a bad idea so I just thought I was insane then. I should have looked it up then and there, but since she thought it was better for him not to see her I completely dismissed it and went back to my own grieving. I wasnt in any condition to really think it through or really even care enough about that at the time. The new girl did actually get a plushie, but she immediately started humping it violently lol. Pulling its fur and biting it, I didnt want her to ruin the plushie so I toke it. She obviously needs to be spayed asap lol

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

When we lost Kokanee, luckily it was at home and Kahlua got to say goodbye and I think that helped. But she really grieved. She had one ear up and one ear flat on her head (just like after her spay) for over ten days. She thumped all the time, hung out in corners and destroyed things.
Noot was grieving (I assume) when he came to the shelter, and wasn’t eating. They all grieve differently-just be there for him, pay as much attention as you can. The stuffed animal is great. Chuck still loves his lion and his bunny (Bunny is ‘very good looking’ according to Chuck ) even though he has a best friend now. I’m not sure what it is but they really like a stuffed animal, and I bet that will help him. So wil attention from you.

If your still in the crying stage (I am still in the crying stage &#160 try not to do that in his presence, they aren’t like dogs, but they can sense your emotions and it’ll be more helpful if you can try to stay positive with him

*HUGS* It’s so hard losing them, and it’s worse to try to help an animal deal with it *HUGS* {{Nose rubs for Hamme}}

[bunnytowne]

Awe poor Hammer.    I didn’t let Cotton see Laith’s body either.  I should have.  He looked all over for Laith and came to me for extra attention.  Even though he would chase Laith and nip him they would stil lie next to each others houses when one at a time they had play time.

Ohhh it is so hard when they feel bad and you can’t explain what has happened.  That the other bun isn’t coming back.  Lots of people don’t know to let the surviving bunny spouse view the body don’t feel bad.  Just be there for him he will pull though just takes time to grieve some longer than others.

[BunnyLiz]

Ive been trying to give him as much play time as possible, even though he doesnt usually look like he is enjoying much of it. We have had many conversations and cuddles. I put a big 3×4 grid pen in my living room too, because im either in my room or the living room and he can come with me now. He doesnt get to run around the whole living room, and I dont sit in there with him all the time, but hopefully the extra time, fun and new experience will help him out. RoseBun (Rose’s old plushie) travels with him to his pen and the living room pen. Which I know he likes, because he always spends a few minutes with RoseBun before re-exploring the pen. RoseBun went to the vet with him today too, he really got comfort out of that, they were practically glued together when possible. And yes im still in that crying stage, thanks for the advice KK, ill try to not do that with Hammer around.

[LittlePuffyTail]

Poor little guy. Please give him a big bunny hug for me!

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