Lost my baby bunny during a neuter… please help

[Lilbunn95]

Yesterday was the worst day of my life.

I had a buddy who was just about to be seven months old, his name was Charlie. Charlie was found being sold by some dumb man who had all these babies crammed in a tiny tiny cage, they were all probably between six and eight weeks old. I saw them and I knew I just had to save one, and then I saw him. They picked him and as soon as we were home, I had to scrub his tiny yellow feet that were solid with urine and rabbit droppings. He smells like an old cow.

After an emergency vet visit, he had worms as well as other elders I forget. We got him medication in a few weeks he was all better. After he was better I bonded him with my Holland lop, Penelope. They grew quite fond of each other eventually, they would cuddle and groom and follow each other. Once Charlie reached maturity, he began to try and melt her, she is spayed but she would run away and be annoyed. All day and night he would do this. Nonstop. He had to be neutered to get rid of his aggression and frustration. So after taking him to the vet and getting the greenlight, keep in mind this vet also spade my rabbit successfully, we planned for yesterday‘s visit. I dropped him off at 7:30. My boyfriend I went down the street. We get a call 8:20… And it was my worst nightmare. As soon as the anesthesia was administered, his heart shot up to 200 bpm, and then stopped. They perform CPR oxygen and reversal drugs for 30 minutes. There was no use. My boyfriend and I went back and we sat in the room with our beloved Bunny for nearly half hour, just petting him and kissing him and telling him how much we loved him. He was just about to be seven months old, he was just a baby!!! I worked so hard to give him a good life… i’ve been crying for 24 hours

Moving forward, I don’t know what to do for my girl Penelope. She doesn’t seem to understand what happened, she’s hiding and looking around for him, I know that we will need to get a new companion for her, but I need her to know that he’s gone. The vet is closed today for Thanksgiving maybe theyre preserving him before they cremate him next week and maybe I could take her to see him or something? Someone please give me advice because im completely broken

[Sirius&Luna]

I’m very sorry for the loss of your bunny, especially during such a routine operation, it must have been such a shock.

It sounds like he was very lucky to be saved by you, and no doubt he had a very happy life while he was with you and Penelope. It’s important to neuter rabbits when they have a friend, you were doing what was best to give him a happy life, and i’m very sorry it went wrong. Sometimes rabbits do just have weak hearts.

For Penelope, generally, it is good to let a bunny see their friend that has died,it helps them to understand. If the vet would allow it, perhaps let her sniff him and decide for herself that he’s gone, otherwise they do get confused. Would she be stressed by the car ride?

[tobyluv]

I’m so sorry about the loss of Charlie. You rescued him from a bad situation and gave him love and wonderful care. Try to spend as much time as possible with Penelope. I know it’s confusing for her, but most bunnies seem to cope well with a loss after just a couple of days or so. Due to it being 2 days after Charlie’s passing before Penelope would get a chance to see him, it may not be possible for her to do so. It can be scary or stressful for bunnies to just visit the vet’s office, so it might be better for her to stay home with you, but you can decide about that after you speak with the vet tomorrow.

Since you want to get another companion for Penelope, you may be wary of another bunny going through surgery, although complications are rare. If you have a rescue in your area, they usually spay and neuter before a bunny is adopted, and some shelters do so too.

[Lilbunn95]

Thank you both so much… it’s hard but I’m healing little by little. Baby steps 🙁

[Kate]

I’m so so sorry for the loss your bunny, Charlie  Please know you are such a sweet and loving person to have taken him and nursed him back to be healthy and in a nice home. You are a wonderful bunny mom! Like you, I lost my bunny and it was unexpected – that makes it even harder to cope with. I’m glad you have your boyfriend and Penelope with you. I’m waiting for my bunnies ashes as well next week, in the mean time to help you work through the loss, you and your boyfriend could do a little project in memory of Charlie. I’m so sorry this happened to you..take care <3

Binky free little Charlie <3 <3

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