My rabbit just died

[Beanslife]

My friend just found my 11 month old rabbit, Poe, lying on the ground unresponsive. We have no idea what happened. Over the past few weeks, Poe has been getting skinnier and skinnier. He was still eating and drinking but was losing weight.

We have another rabbit that Poe was bonded with, Bean. She is a little older than him and she seems to be doing well. They shared a cage and litter box and everything. Is she going to be okay? She seems to be fine she is eating and drinking. I’m not sure what to do. Should I take her to a vet? Should I get another rabbit to keep her company? They have been bonded for about 5 months. Poe always seemed to be more attached to Bean than she was to Poe. What do I do?

[Bam]

I’m very sorry your Poe died. The on-going weight-loss despite eating and drinking does indicate something was wrong, but it’s not possible to say what. It could have been an internal organ that wasn’t functioning properly, and even if he was a young bun, even young buns can get cancer although it is of course rare.

I gather you never noticed any discharge from the nose or difficulty breathing, sneezing/coughing or anything like that. Having a vet look over Bean would of course be good. You can do a routine exam at home first, look at eyes, ears, butt-area etc so if you notice something that seems off, you can ask the vet specifically. Buns are extremely good at hiding illness, so if they are sick, they will do their utmost to appear healthy.

Bean will need extra attention now, so she doesn’t feel lonely and get depressed.

[Ellie from The Netherlands]

That’s horrible news, I’m so sorry for your loss

Sudden weight loss in rabbits often indicates an underlying illness, and rabbits are masters at hiding their discomfort. Even if they’re seemingly acting normal, it’s important to watch for tiny changes. bam gave you very good advice, have Bean seen by a vet to see if she isn’t ill as well.

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