My bunny George passed away last week

[Stacey]

I’m pretty sad my bunny got sick last week. He stopped eating & drinking so I took him to the vet. He had a blockage in his intestines & the vet said he wouldn’t survive surgery. His stomach was 5-6 times the size it should be because it was full of gas. The vet said it was also starting to fill full of fluid. I feel really guilty that I didn’t know this was happening to him. He was completely fine the day before & still eating and playing, the next day he was sitting in the corner refusing to eat or drink & was very sick. I got him to the vet as soon as I could (within 24 hours as that was the only opening there was, we only have one vet that treats rabbits in my city) but there was nothing he could do for George so we had to have him put to sleep. I’ve been really depressed about it. He was super smart & I was very attached to him. He was a free range bunny so it sucks not having him running around my house anymore & not being able to cuddle with him. I have another bunny that is a year younger (tried to bond them but my female hated George so I had to keep them separate) She’s cheering me up some but I still feel incredibly guilty. George was only 3 1/2 years old

[Bam]

I’m very sorry that you lost George.

You mustn’t feel guilty though. It sounds like George had bloat, a dreaded condition that’s practically always fatal. It’s not known why it happens, and the onset is sudden.

I hope you and your other bun can comfort each other. She might become more bonded to you now George is nolonger around. That happened when I lost one of my bunnies, the remaining one became much more outgoing (the two buns had a very profound dislike for each other).

Binky free, sweet ****George****

[September]

Hello Stacey. I am sorry about your George. I know how you are feeling. I lost my Timothy suddenly, unexpectedly almost 5 months ago. He was also around the same age as George. I came home from work to find him passed away, and I just don’t know what happened. He seemed so healthy. The emptiness is awful, it’s like part of you has gone missing too. That’s the only way I can describe it at the moment. The initial grief and guilt has faded somewhat, so I can say it will get easier, even if the feeling of loss never goes away completely.

Like Bam, I hope you find some comfort with your other bunny and that she can help you through this.

Lynda
xx

[Stacey]

Thank you both yeah it’s really tough. I actually got him right after my Dad passed away 3 years ago. He was a really good pal for me & my fiancée.

We got Sammy a year later thinking George needed a buddy but unfortunately she really did not like him (both were fixed but I couldn’t get them to be friends) George was extremely smart & acted more like he was a dog than a bunny. He would get so excited when he knew he was getting a treat he would run at me full speed and make a growling noise He was hilarious & im really missing him a lot. My mom passed 4 months ago so George was a huge comfort to me through the grief process. Realizing he was so sick & there was nothing we could do was very hard.

Me & Sammy are bonding more like you said. She’s actually pretty happy to be the only bunny.

[Luna]

I’m sorry for the losses you are dealing with right now. You loved him and tried to help him, and that’s all that matters, that is all we can do. It’s good that Sammy is being there for you.

Binky free George

[Stacey]

Thank you for your kind words Luna

I’m very lucky I still have Sammy. And like Bam said about their bunny, Sammy actually has become much more outgoing this past week. She’s being very sweet as well (running up to me, resting her face on my leg as I pet her) she’s making George’s loss a lot easier than it would have been without her.

I wish I could share pictures of them but I’m on my iPhone & im not exactly sure how…

[Bam]

Stacey, the easiest way to share pix from an iphone is to upload them to an external source like Flickr or imgur or Google Drive and paste the link to the pictures here. That way picture size is not a problem. You can upload pics directly from your phone, but you need a PC to make them show (or a forum leader can help you). You can PM me or another leader if you’re having difficulties.

[Vienna Blue in France]

So sorry for your recent losses Stacey. Glad Sammy is still there to give you those furfilled cuddles.

[Ellie from The Netherlands]

Sorry about both of your losses Stacey Rabbits have amazing healing powers to help us through the worst of times. They’re care and kindness incarnate. My bun Breintje always looks after me when I’m in a lot of pain. He’ll seek me out to give me kisses and cuddles, and he won’t leave my side on such days. I hope that Sammy will do the same thing for you, and you can pull through this together.

Please don’t blame yourself about Georges death: rabbits are masters at hiding illness and have a very frail disposition. Those two things combined lead to many unexpected rabbit deaths. It’s very hard as a rabbit owner, because you feel so helpless and sometimes even guilty. But rabbits are a prey species and will do anything not to look weak. By the time you start to notice things it’s nearly always an emergency, and there are many diseases which are likely to be fatal.

It’s very good that you took him to the vet ASAP and gave him mercy. Bloat is one of the most horrible conditions a rabbit can have: the build-up of gas in their body can even make them unable to breathe properly. Putting him to sleep was the only thing you could have done, and the most mercyful thing at that. Binky free little George, you’re free of pain and worldly sorrows now!

[Flakie]

I am so sorry for your loss. My bunny died last week of bloat and it was horrible. He had been at the vet at 4.30 pm and by 6am was dying and convulsing.

I feel so sad like yourself they are wonderful animals and our Flake hid his pain from us.

My heart goes out to you and you loss of George and lots of hugs for you

[Author]

Messages