“How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” ~ Winnie The Pooh
This post is in honor of my sweet boy Oliver, who left me quite suddenly two Fridays ago.
I’m still heartbroken, but each day gets a tiny bit easier. While he was 8 years old, I really did expect him to live until he was 13. Rabbits are so fragile. Even though I acted the moment I noticed he wasn’t behaving normally (not eating his favorite treat), I don’t know what else I could have done.
Oliver was an enthusiastic eater, and he loved other animals, especially chasing cats. He was such a good boy and will be dearly missed.
My purpose in this post is actually two-fold in how I want to honor the memory of Oliver:
To help bunny parents mourn the loss of their bun.
Help bunny parents watch for signs of sickness to prevent premature loss.
Here we go…
1. Tips For Coping The Loss of your Bun
First of all, people cope with loss in different ways and at different rates. Wherever you’re at in your grief, don’t be afraid to let yourself grieve however you need to. It’s the healthiest thing you can do.
It can be tempting to avoid it, but don’t give in to that. In order for you to look back one day with happiness of the memories you shared with your bun, you must grieve first. I know for me, that means a lot of crying. For you, it might look a little different.
Here are some ways you can grieve in a healthy way (even if it initially hurts):
Cry. Feel the pain and let it out. Do this privately or with someone who loves you and will be a comfort to you. I promise once the emotion subsides, you will feel at least 1% better.
Reflect & Memorialize. Look through photos and videos of your bun. It may be painful at first, but that will subside into cherishing the memories.
Give Back. As humans, we love when something redemptive comes out of a tragedy. One way you can honor your lost pet is by choosing somewhere to serve. Maybe you start to volunteer at the humane shelter. Maybe you pet sit for a friend or neighbor.
Take Comfort From Others. When you receive condolences from friends and family, accept them graciously. You may even want to ask anyone who knew your pet if they have any favorite memories of your late bun.
One thing that has really helped me the last couple weeks is a book I found that has been extremely helpful. I like to take comfort from God as well, so when I found this book, I knew I had to read it. I highly recommend checking it out - it’s a quick read:
We Will See Our Pets In Heaven: The Afterlife of Animals From A Biblical Perspective
Give Your Other Pets Love. Remember who you still have in your life! And take moments during your days to love on them. It will provide you with comfort as well as them. This is especially important if another rabbit was left behind. They’re grieving too, so be sure to give them extra love and attention after the passing of their best friend.
2. Tips For Preventing Premature Loss Of A Beloved Bun
One of the worst feelings is asking yourself what else you could have done and the self-doubt that comes after losing a pet. It’s best to deal with those feelings and then move forward into a hopeful future, armed with the knowledge you need. Death is inevitable, but we can still strive to give our pets the longest, happiest lives we can!
Keep in mind that as prey animals, rabbits are masters at hiding when something is amiss.
If you notice any of these behaviors in your bun, you should take action immediately:
Stopped Eating. If your bun has not eaten in 24 hours, his body could shut down. Syringe feed him Critical Care until you can get him into your bunny vet.
Loud Teeth Grinding. This means your bun is in severe pain - get him to the vet right away. Note: soft grinding may happen when your bun is happy (during cheek rubs, for example).
Lack of Balance/Coordination. This could be many things - get your bun to the vet right away.
Really Small Poops. While this can sometimes be stress related, but it could also mean digestive issues. If your bun has not been through something stressful (death of other bun, moving to a new room or house, etc.), then get her to your rabbit savvy vet for a checkup.
Diarrhea. This could signify bloating/GI Stasis. If you do not see an improvement within 8 hours, get your bun to the vet.
Lethargy/Inactivity. If your bun seems ‘flat’ and like he can’t keep his eyes open for anything (even his favorite treat), get him to the vet ASAP.
I know all of these result in a vet visit, but it’s best to have your rabbit savvy vet nip this in the bud before tragedy strikes. Remember, rabbits are fragile creatures and they are excellent at hiding when something’s wrong. Your bun needs you to look out for him.
I hope this post was helpful for you; please feel free to leave your thoughts or any other ideas I missed in the comments below!
Kristin