I feel like it’s my fault…

[Oliver The Bunny!]

Hello everyone. Two months ago, I lost my Netherland Dwarf to GI Stasis. The vet my sister works with, who I took him to for cremation, said that it was probably caused by a tumor or a blood clot. The day he passed, I look into his cage in the morning and knew he was sick, everyone else in my family said he looked okay but I could tell something was wrong. Halfway through the day, I just had a feeling I couldn’t save him. He passed in my arms that evening.

A month later, I ended up taking home two 4H breeding rabbits. A retired mom, and her 6 week old baby. I didn’t notice until recently, that even when I got her, the baby was very lethargic. Flash forward a month and they both seem sick (slight diarrhea off and on). I took them to the vet for a checkup after getting labs and meds from my sisters clinic to treat minor pinworm. The vet said they looked fine, other than the baby being very underweight (which I already knew and was working on) but I still felt like something wasn’t right. I took them home and was feeding the  baby critical care once at night and any time I noticed she was lethargic to give her a boost. She was eating a little better on her own. Just a few days after I took her to the vet. She mostly stopped eating, I continued the nightly critical care. Then on Sunday night, I checked on her and she was extremely weak. I immediately gave her critical care, took her temp, put her on a low heating pad, and had my sister give her injectable fluids. But I felt like I was going to lose her… and I did. She has been nibbling on alfalfa just an few hours earlier. She didn’t have alfalfa until recently, before that she was getting grass hay, which is what she was feed at her old home too. She was also on a bad quality pellet, but I had to keep her on it for a while because I didn’t want her to switch pellets right after she moved and weaned. She was so underweight that my sister thinks she has malabsorption brought on by EPI. She also said that it’s not normal for a rabbit to not want to eat and with a rabbit that little it was most likely congenital. The mom was also very obsessive with nesting and bathing her and was very protective. The previous owner mentioned that the litter was very hard on her. I know it might have been out of my control, but I can’t help but feel like it was my fault. I should have fed her critical care in the morning too. I lost two rabbits in 2 months. I feel like I’m doing something wrong. If I had done something different would they still be here. The baby (Judy) was starting to help me feel okay after losing my Ollie, but now she’s gone too. I feel like I should give the momma rabbit to my sister, who’s looking for a rabbit to bond her male with. I just don’t want to lose her too and I feel like if I keep her I will.

– Sorry this is such a long post

[LBJ10]

I’m sorry you lost Judy. Honestly, I think you did your best and there was just something very wrong with her. From the sound of it, she was doing poorly from the beginning. Perhaps she didn’t get the proper nutrition as a very young bunny and her gut bacteria didn’t fully establish.

[Bam]

It really does sound like there was something wrong with Judy from the start. It’s not possible to say what of course, but something that was already there when you got her.

Try to not blame yourself. We always do feel some sort of guilt at the loss of a pet though, but it doesn’t mean we have reason to. It’s normal to feel it, but it just means you care a lot and wish you could’ve saved her. I don’t think you could’ve done more. Giving her more critical care wouldn’t have made a difference.

I’m glad she got to come to you. I think it’s very likely she would’ve passed a lot sooner if she hadnt been fortunate enough to get you for a human.

[Oliver The Bunny!]

Thank you both, it feels a little better to know that I probably couldn’t have done much (other than what I tried) to save her. I just with I could get her back. Now I’m trying to decide what to do with her mom. My sister was looking for another bunny to bond with her rabbit. I should probably keep the mom, but I’m afraid I’ll lose her too. I love rabbits so much, but I’m not sure if I can keep owning them. Obviously I will if the bond doesn’t work I’ll keep her. I wouldn’t give her to anyone but my sister.

[prince dorian the bun]

So very sorry,  that is so rough and I get how you feel, been there too,  but you are not to blame! (Sadly the people who might be rarely feel guilt). I also get not being up for dealing with more loss, so if you find it easier to let your sister have her and give yourself some time to grieve before considering another bunny that is valid. But maybe if things don’t work out with the bond she can help you with your grief. Sending you big virtual hug and be kind to yourself.

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