Part 5: Dealing With the Loss
of a Rabbit
In all
aspects of rabbit ownership whether it be breeding,
rescuing, or just long time ownership, there will
unfortunately be a time when your rabbit will pass on.
Rabbits, if kept healthy can live up to 10-15 years, and
when they pass on it can be a difficult experience. When
the time comes you may be faced with the decision of
whether or not to let them pass on their own, or give them
a helping hand.
Natural vs. Assisted Passing
The topic
of euthanasia is always a touchy one for many people. Many
say it’s not right to let a rabbit sit and suffer, and
others think it’s not right to play god and take its life.
Ultimately, just like with breeding you probably have your
own opinion and what I say probably won’t change your
mind, but I would just like to bring to your attention a
few things if you are faced with this tough decision.
When
choosing between a natural versus assisted passing, your
foremost concern should be about the quality of life you
rabbit will have if you keep it alive.
-
I mean, how much pain
does your rabbit appear to be in?
-
Can it still perform
its daily routines such as eating, going to the
bathroom, walking?
-
If your rabbit is
faced with a medical condition, is there a chance it can
be corrected or reversed?
-
Is your rabbit
putting up a fight, or does it appear it has given up?
These are
some tough questions to ask yourself, but I’m sure there
are at least a hundred other things that will cross your
mind. Whichever you choose I’m sure will not be an easy
decision, and that’s one sign that you took a great deal
into consideration before doing so. Also, an assisted
passing can be quite expensive, and that’s one thing you
need to take into consideration too. Apart from the
euthanasia process, your veterinarian will most likely
want an appointment before hand to give you his
recommendation.
A Proper Burial
After
your rabbit passes on and crosses over
Rainbow
Bridge,
you need to think about what you want to do with the
remains. A popular choice is usually cremation and it is
usually quite costly if you want a private session so you
can keep the ashes. If you just want it cremated without
receiving the ashes it is usually significantly cheaper.
Having a pet buried can be more expensive if you have it
in a cemetery. If you have a plot of land where you can
bury the loved one yourself that is fine too, just make
sure you dig more than two feet to prevent other animals
and pets from digging it up.
A Place in Your Heart
Just
remember, even when your beloved companion passes, it is
never forgotten and is always in your memory, heart and
soul. It’s natural to grieve the loss of a pet just as it
is with anyone else you’ve spent your life with and cared
about. So, allow yourself to grieve, and afterwards allow
yourself to move on.
I know
that was a sensitive topic, and I tried to approach it as
delicately as possible. All I hope is that when the time
comes you’ll be better prepared. I really didn’t want to
end this on a sad note, but this is an inevitable part of
ownership. What happens afterwards is up to you. One
suggestion I have is to not run out and get another rabbit
right away. Give yourself some time to grieve, and if this
bun was part of a bonded pair give them time to grieve
too. Just like with Nibbler and Oreo, Nibbler wasn’t ready
for a new friend until several months later so give both
of you some time to grieve before attempting to find
another bun.
Too many
people rush out to get another rabbit as if to fill a void
in their life that simply can’t be filled. Your companion
who passed on can’t be replaced, (s)he was unique, and you
have to remember that. If you choose to get a new rabbit
remember that it is different from the one you lost. It’s
not any better, nor worse, just different. So, just keep
that in mind if you choose to get another rabbit.
Well,
this pretty much ends my bunny basics course. I hope now
that after finishing this section you feel more confident and
better prepared for your life with one of the world’s
greatest animals. Here is your link to the advanced rabbit
care section of this site:
