My rabbit passed away from pneumonia

[Camzfl]

A few days ago i lost my netherland dwarf, Pepper to pneumonia. I noticed that she hasn’t eaten much or gone to the bathroom very much at all. I also noticed that she was breathing heavy and had some liquid seeping out of her eyes. I rushed her to the emergency room and i received the bad news. I was not able to afford to admit her to the hospital, and i didn’t want to put her down because she was only 3. i decided to try outpatient care where they gave her an IV and gave her medication and we would have went home and i would have given her medication through syringes. Unfortunately Pepper did not make the drive home. She had a normal diet from fresh water, pellets, hay and occasionally dark leafy greens. i find myself struggling with a few things and was hoping i could receive some guidance. 1. I feel guilty because i already want to go adopt another rabbit. Its hard for me to see Peppers cage missing from my room and its eating away at me. So i want to get another rabbit, not to replace pepper, but to get the feeling of having a rabbit to love and take care of again, but at the same time i feel it might be too soon but i feel absolutely devastated. 2. Pepper died from pneumonia but i don’t really know how rabbits can get pneumonia. So i am hoping that somebody knowledgeable can explain to me how to avoid this so when i get another rabbit i can possibly avoid this happening again. Thank you.

[Bam]

I’m very sorry you lost Pepper. Pneumonia is very serious and it can progress very quickly.

Rabbits can get pneumonia when a “bunny cold” goes down into the lungs, or they can get it post a choking incident, if they breathe in a piece of food (aspiration pneumonia). Aspiration pneumonia is as a rule caused by bacteria that normally lives in the mouth and throat, where they dont cause any harm.

If you are lucky, you can treat it successfully with antibiotics and supportive care, but the prognosis is often poor, especially when it’s a bacterial cold that has spread to the lungs.

It’s not possible to replace a pet with another pet, and whether you want to adopt another rabbit soon or wait is completely up to you. There is no shortage of rabbits in need of a good home.

You should clean out Pepper’s cage and wash all his things before taking in another bun, just in case what caused Pepper’s pneumonia was something potentially contagious. Vinegar and water is good for cleaning rabbit cages etc with. If you want to be extra thorough, you can use Virkon, a rabbit safe disinfectant that is very powerful against lots of microorganisms.

[Kiki]

Unfortunately I do not know the answers to any of your questions. But the first thing is that if you feel compelled to go get a new baby to keep you company then you should do it. I know I won’t be able to adopt another kitty for a long, long while because I know myself and I feel disloyal and like no one will ever be my Nova. But you KNOW yourself better than we do. I don’t know how they get pneumonia, but I would google how to disinfect the belongings if you will be getting another pet, just to ensure their safety.

[Camzfl]

Thank you for the reply, it’s much appreciated and you helped answer my questions. I cleaned the cage out with some hot water and a cage cleaner but I will probably clean it again with vinegar before I get another rabbit. Thanks again.

[chessiesdad]

I am very sorry to hear about your loss. It’s seems so unfair to lose a young rabbit (I’ve been there). I just want to say that I felt the same way that you are about getting another rabbit right away. I did and having another rabbit to take care of is helping me heal. I say that if you feel you’re ready go for it, but..

Don’t be too surprised if you still find yourself mourning the one that you lost at the same time that you’re loving your new friend. I find myself doing that – alternating between mourning / happiness. You may also find yourself really sensitive to any behavior that may seem out of the ordinary – like not eating as much one day or something similar. This has happened to me. Understandable for sure, but it might be something that you need to watch out for.

 Just wanted to share my experience. Hope that it helps.

Binky free little Pepper…

 

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