Sudden Death? I’m So Confused

[nikiway]

I’m not sure if this is where I should post…

I haven’t been on in ages because life’s crazy and I’m trying to downgrade my time online. But today I went to my room to give Atti more hay for the day when I saw him laying on his side.  I must have screamed loudly calling Atti’s name because my brother came running in asking if I was okay.  But I wasn’t because Atti hadn’t moved.

I don’t understand how he can be playing with me yesterday but when I come home from school today, he’s not even alive.  He’s around 7-years-old and is a Mini Rex.  When I first got him I read that they live 6-10 years, but when I asked about that, ppl here said they should live longer than 10.  I don’t know if Atti was just an old man or if I missed something.

His poop has been normal, I have changed NOTHING in his diet or anything! But when I found him, there was stool coming out of his rear, and a pile of mucus covered poop a few inches away.  Everything I’ve read in the past never prepared me for this.  If his poop was solid and normal yesterday, why was it different today, yet he died the same day it changed?

I don’t know how to say it.  I feel like I missed something and he had to pay for it.  Last night he thumped once or twice, but I assumed it was because Charlie (kitten) was bothering him, I hope he wasn’t trying to tell me something.  I’m just in shock that Atti’s not here right now.  My mom came home from work to help me bury him, and it sucks even more because we just had our oldest cat put to sleep on Saturday.

If it matters, I got Atti when he was 6-years-old, and he was unneutered (he was supposed to be a breeder, but I would never do that).  Could the fact he was never neutered be a cause?  I’ve only had him for 6 months, and although it’s not that long, I feel like he’s been with me longer.  I just don’t understand what happend.

[KatnipCrzy]

I am so sorry for your loss.  It does not sound like it was anything you did or anything you could have prevented.  The abnormal poos by his body are probably not an indication of cause of death- it is most likely just his body relaxing after passing away.

Atticus was lucky to have such a devoted owner that loved him and gave him a better life.  I know there is nothing I can say to make you feel better about losing him, but it really does not sound like he suffered or it was preventable.  Binky Free Atticus!

[LittlePuffyTail]

My condolences to you on the loss of your bunny friend. I know how hard it is to lose a beloved pet and it can be very frustrating not knowing why. Rabbits often hide their illnesses very well and it happens this way sometimes. Remember the good times you shared together and let him live on in those memories.

[BinkyBunny]

Oh Nikiway, I am so sorry! How sad. Don’t blame yourself. Rabbits are very mysterious this way, and sometimes they have health issues that you just don’t know about. At the rabbit rescue I volunteered for there was the beautiful bunny that was just so much fun and everyone loved – she had the best diet, the best care, and one day she suddenly died. Later after an autopsy, they discovered she had a bad heart. 

He also may have been older than six – are you sure of his age? Many times people just have to guestimate since after five, it’s hard to tell how old a bunny really is for sure.

But the bottomline is don’t be hard on yourself, don’t blame yourself. He had a wonderful life with you and though it may have been short, I’m sure he felt loved, and the care and love you gave him was an incredible gift.

I am so sorry for your loss. HUGS

 

[MarkBun]

If you’re really concerned, you could get a necroposy done on her to find out why she died. I don’t want to upset you anymore but what you described sounds like it could have been a poison reaction. How old is your brother? Does he know what not to feed the rabbit? I have heard of more than one bun who died because a younger sibling didn’t know any better and fed them something that was very bad for them. If it was him, I have found that the best way to handle it is to have the child help with the handling of the body. Nothing gets engrained into a child’s mind than carrying a dead pet.  Shouting at them can actually sometimes build resentment against a future pet because it ‘got him in trouble’ the last time.

[nikiway]

Thanks guys, BinkyBunny, I’m not sure about his age. They said he was around 6 when I got him and since I’ve had him over 6 months, I’m assuming he’d be close to 7-years-old.
Mark, my brother’s 17 and doesn’t know or care about Atti. He only came running in because he thought I was hurt. I’ve looked all around his night time area and my room and nothing out of the ordinary in on the ground or at his disgression. I’ve fed him the same and treated him the same, and when we took Atti out of the room, Charlie was running around looking for him.
It’s gonna be weird tonight when Charlie doesn’t find Atti.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Oh I am so sorry to hear this!! That’s so sad *HUGS* They can live longer, but they can go at very young ages as well. It’s nothing you did, just maybe his time to go the bridge. It might sound silly, but maybe an angel needed a bunny *hugs*

[MarkBun]

Sometimes rabbits do just suddenly leave us. There has been more than one that has just passed on at SaveABunny. I’m sorry for your loss.

[jerseygirl]

 Oh nikiway – I am so sorry!  I’m sure it is just part of the shock that you feel this guilt.  Please don’t blame yourself,  that fact that you had Atti in with you, kept check on his mood changes, appetite, toilet habits etc gave him a far better chance than many rabbits out there.  I thought same as BinkyBunny, that he may have been older than you thought and died a natural death.  Even at 7, that’s a good long life for a rabbit. 

Though this is a heartbreaking event, try accept it may have been Atti’s time to go.  Focus on everything positive about his life with you rather than think too much about his death.  He had a wonderful home to spend his last days.  *Binky Free Atti – such a divine little bunny!* 

[Sarita]

Oh, I’m so sorry for your loss.

I’ve had this happen to me before and I was devastated – my vet did a necropsy but she was really unable to tell any cause and even sent some tissue out to a lab but still nothing that my vet could tell. I did not have much information on this particular rabbit since she was a stray before I acquired her. It broke my heart but I knew it was nothing I did – it just was one of those things and I only hope she went very quickly since I discovered her when I got home from work.

[sweetbluebun]

I’m so very sorry, I know it’s hard when a beloved pet passes away. Don’t feel bad, maybe it was just his time to go, just know that you did all you could to give him a happy life and I’m sure he was very happy with you during the time you had together.

[Beka27]

I’m so sorry Niki. I won’t repeat everything that the others said, but most importantly, please do not blame yourself. Who knows what his life was like before you. Take comfort in the fact that he knew love and what it was like to be cared for in the 6 months you had him. Hugs…

Binky Free Atti!

[xParadise]

I’m so sorry for your loss. You did everything you could for him and I’m sure that short time he was with you, he knew he was loved very much. It’s so hard to see them go, but just know that for at least that six months you were able to give him a wonderful home and lots of love.

[nikiway]

You’re all so kind, it makes me feel a little better knowing that it was probably his time. I wish I had the information from the people I got him from so I could find out the real deal on his age and how he lived before me. I picture a bunch of cages with a ton of buns, but the man selling Atti may have been a rabbit lover who cared for his bun really well. I will probably never know, but they said they’d mail out everything, and I never received any papers, but I didn’t care because I have no use for a paper showing he’s pure or not. The man who was selling Atti wasn’t there when I took him, so I think they may have lost my info.

The man whom I guess was selling Atti called me the next day offering me a baby rabbit (he wanted me to drive Atti back to him and swap for a different bun!), because Atti was supposed to be for breeding, and that’s when he told me he was 5 or 6 (I feel like he said 6, but I’ve read my own words saying 5 so I’m not sure) and a baby bunny would live a lot longer, but I said I wanted Atti (I had the night to bond with him, and I knew I couldn’t just throw the relationship away) and nothing more was said. So maybe by telling him I’m not breeding him he didn’t send info? Who knows…
I just hope Atti’s up on Rainbow Bridge with all my past kitties, waiting for me and having a great time playing with all of your past bunnies.

Thanks for all of your kind words, they help a lot.

[wendyzski]

I’m so sorry for your loss.  At 7ish and unneutered it could have been anything.  Rabbits hide it so well when they are sick, and there may not have been any symptoms to see.  You clearly cared for him very well, and I’m sorry you had so little time with him.

Maybe in time you will be able to share what he taught you with a rescued or shelter rabbit who has never had the chance to have a loving home.

[bunnytowne]

Awe  how sad.  That was certainly sudden with no signs at all.    The poo …  when someone or pet etc passes the body expells fluids or poos a lot of the time.

That was so unexpected.  OH dear.  HE will be ok he has a nice meadow to run in and play with other buns waiting to reunite with their human companions.

[lilmizzsnickerz]

its so sad .. i found malibu and didnt notice till she didnt come out for a cuddle and i lifted her out of her box lucky i didnt see the other two as my bf dealt with it ..still it took me months to get over

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