djhartm
New Member
Our California, whom we adopted from the House Rabbit Society, passed away on our bed last night as we did our best to comfort him. He was ~8 years old, & neutered. We noticed around Easter that he was not finishing his food, and he had an episode of lethargy, which cleared-up on its own. Saturday morning he was fine, eating carrots & alert. By early afternoon he was lethargic again but we did our best to give him fluids. Sunday he was still lethargic and now not eating or urinating/defecating. I tried to massage his stomach and did not feel anything abnormal. His condition remained unchanged throughout the day, and by late night, he would not take water by syringe. We I had him on his back rubbing his tummy, He urinated a bit, and it was very thick, almost gelatinous. We put him in a blanket (I noticed he was getting cool, which I now know is a sign of shock) between us in bed & checked-on him during the night. Monday AM he started to 'scream'; we were terrified (truly a horrific sound) & held him as his body trembled like an electric shock was passing through it, and then he died.
A friend came over who took care of him when we traveled, and helped us bury him. My wife & I are traumatized by the manner in which he died, which seemed horrifically painful and scary to him. He did not deserve to die in that manner. I know we should focus on the 8 great years we gave each other with lots of love, pets & treats, but this is just killing us. Somehow, it would have been easier if he had just passed quietly, but we just feel terrible.
I know it is largely irrelevant, but is it normal that rabbits die this violently? We hope & pray he was not suffering too much at the end and is now in a better place.
RIP Gabriel & thank you for sharing your wonderful life with us!
A friend came over who took care of him when we traveled, and helped us bury him. My wife & I are traumatized by the manner in which he died, which seemed horrifically painful and scary to him. He did not deserve to die in that manner. I know we should focus on the 8 great years we gave each other with lots of love, pets & treats, but this is just killing us. Somehow, it would have been easier if he had just passed quietly, but we just feel terrible.
I know it is largely irrelevant, but is it normal that rabbits die this violently? We hope & pray he was not suffering too much at the end and is now in a better place.
RIP Gabriel & thank you for sharing your wonderful life with us!
ray:
