My New Bunny Suddenly Passed Away... Why?

[meganeliz]

Hi All. I purchased a 10 week-old (at least I was told he was 10 weeks-old) Holland/mini lop rabbit from a pet store last Sunday. Besides being quite skinny (I could feel his spine pretty well while holding or petting him), he appeared to be in great health (no runny eyes/nose, normal breathing, nice coat, etc.). The whole reason I picked him out was because he was very lively and loving toward me at the pet store. All week, he was fine. I housed him indoors in a large cage, gave him unlimited access to timothy and alfalfa hay/young rabbit pellets/fresh water, and even had him using his litter box with ease within a few days. I also allowed him plenty of hopping time whenever I was home to supervise. The whole week, he seemed to act like a normal, rambunctious baby bunny. Anyway when I went to check on him yesterday morning, he was dead. I'm so heartbroken over this, and I just keep wondering what I could have done to prevent it. In the short week I had the little guy, I really bonded with him. Has anyone ever experienced anything like this?

 

[lavingroony]

I'm sorry for your loss Don't feel too bad about it, he could have had some underlying conditions, but it's hard to say based on your description. Bunnies hide their illnesses very well, often til it's too late.

Anyway, one way you could possibly have detected problems would be bringing the new bunny to the vet once you got him, to make sure that he's fine (and hold the pet shop responsible if they sold you a sick bunny). But seeing as he appeared totally healthy and you'd only had him for a week so far, I can tell you that under the circumstances I wouldn't have brought him for a checkup, to be totally honest >< The journey might stress him, plus since he looked healthy the vet might not have detected anything either. Just a suggestion, you weren't an irresponsible owner at all.

Hope he's happy on the other side, my condolences.

 

[ladysown]

he was thin when you got him and docile.... that's a hint right there that something wasn't right with him.

Rabbits are good at hiding that something isn't right with them until it becomes too much for him.

I'm thinking that something was wrong and therefore he died.

I am sorry for your loss. Do know that that apparently healthy rabbits can die for seemingly no cause. It's always distressing when it happens.

 

[Bville]

I'm so sorry for your loss.:bunnyangel:

Depending on the pet store and where they get their rabbits from, your bunny may not have come from the best conditions. I hope you are going to let them know what happened. I bought my first two rabbits at a pet store and I remember they said we had a one week health guarantee. I also asked where they got their rabbits from and was told it was a local breeder. I felt okay about that because I was worried about a "rabbit mill" type situation, but I know a little more about rabbits now and would probably ask more questions about the breeder. With my third bunny though was a rescue from the SPCA so I really didn't mind what her background was and knew she had at least seen a vet for her spaying. If you want to try again with another rabbit, maybe visit local breeders or go to local rabbit shows and find someone you think is caring for their rabbits well.

 

[Nancy McClelland]

So sorry for your loss. It only takes a short while for them to steal your heart away. We always take new bunnies to a vet first thing. The only experience we had like this was with Bonny--she was a rescue that was around 3. She was fine, happy, feisty, and when our son came over to feed everyone while we were out, he found her laying in her hutch on her side--thought she was just sleeping 'cause she was a flopper, but she was gone and we don't know what or why.

 

[JBun]

I don't know that there is really anything more you could have done. Rabbits are pretty fragile animals, so unfortunately these things do occur. It's good to take a new rabbit to the vet for a check up, but even if you had taken your bunny to the vet, the vet may not have caught an underlying health problem without there being a noticeable issue and doing additional testing.

It can be very difficult for a new rabbit owner to catch a health issue with their rabbit because of not knowing what is normal for their rabbit and the way rabbits show they are sick. It's not apparent and usually takes experience and knowing your rabbits normal behavior to spot when something is off with them, and even then it can be pretty difficult to spot unless they've also stopped eating.

 

[meganeliz]

Thank you everyone for your kind words and advice. I feel a little better knowing I probably could not have prevented it. I've had bad experiences before with pet store animals, so I think I will steer clear of them from now on. I'd been planning to get a rabbit for a long time, but was really not planning on buying one from a pet store; the little guy just stole my heart though. I'm now looking into maybe getting a Holland lop from a rescue or a good breeder. Even after spending only a short time with the little guy, I'm convinced I need a bun in my life.

 

[existenziell]

I've gotten 5 rabbits from pet stores and have never had issues. Not sure what happened with yours. Do take some comfort in the fact that he was able to spend his last days with you and not in the store. It sounds like you spoiled him. Rabbits in pet stores don't get the attention and care that they deserve, so I'm sure he was glad to be with you.