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Farewell/Mourning

In such cases, it is important that we as animal lovers and responsible owners make the decision about what is best for our animal.

We understand that this can be a difficult decision and we are here to support you through this process.
You may then have to decide whether you want to continue treating your rabbit or whether you would rather put it out of its misery. This is a far-reaching decision that is understandably very difficult - even if your rabbit is obviously suffering a lot.

Of course, we cannot give you clear decision-making assistance here, but we can point out some aspects that you should consider:

  • Keeping an old, weak or terminally ill animal alive artificially, ie feeding it even if it resists, pumping it full of medication or constantly dragging it to the vet to keep it alive for days, is no longer of any use to your rabbit. Such measures should only be taken if there is still a clear chance of recovery. The vet will be best placed to advise you on the prognosis.

  • Often you doubt whether the rabbit is really suffering as much as it seems, or there are strong fluctuations in its condition. If you are not convinced of your decision, give yourself a few days to think about it, during which you can observe your rabbit again in peace and reflect. Unfortunately, there is no clear criterion as to whether the rabbit is still eating or "fighting" the illness, and each case must be assessed individually.

euthanasia

Examples that speak more in favor of euthanasia:

  • Your darling is paralyzed in one pair of legs or completely paralyzed beyond repair and can only move by crawling, or needs support from a wheelchair etc. and can no longer display natural behavior.
  • Your pet is in constant pain and even high doses of medication do not prevent it from showing clear signs of suffering: apathy, teeth grinding, hunched posture.
  • Your pet is dependent on constant force-feeding and cannot or will not eat anymore.
  • Despite an extremely nutritious diet, the rabbit continues to lose weight because it can no longer digest the food and gradually starves to death.
  • Your darling is so weak that he can hardly stand on his feet.
  • It is clear that the animal is about to suffer a painful death.
  • Your darling no longer takes part in life and just wants to be left alone and is apathetic.

Examples that speak against euthanasia

  • Your older or sick rabbit is calmer, sleeps a lot and is less resilient. However, it can still have a high quality of life.
  • After an amputation, it can continue to hop without too much difficulty.
  • It needs daily medication and has to go to the vet regularly, but this means it still has a pain-free and good life ahead of it.
  • The person is suffering from a long-term illness or injury, but there is a chance of recovery so that he or she can still live a longer, fulfilling life.
  • The diagnosis is simply "the animal is very ill" without any concrete details being given. In any case, a second opinion from another doctor is advisable!

The path to euthanasia

At your vet

A compassionate and professional veterinarian will always try to find an appointment for euthanasia outside of regular office hours.
This way, the euthanasia can be carried out calmly and without any time pressure. This avoids unnecessary stress for the rabbit and allows it to spend its final moments as peacefully as possible.
If the rabbit has already had regular visits to the vet, it may be beneficial to have the euthanasia performed in the practice.
The animal then knows the surroundings and the processes, which can give it a feeling of security and familiarity. However, it is important that the owner also has his or her own emotions under control and supports the rabbit during this difficult time. With calm and sensitive support, the rabbit can complete its life without unnecessary fears.

At home

There are now vets who offer to euthanize rabbits during a home visit to spare the animal the stress of transport and the restlessness in the waiting room. But this is not always the best option.
Although we humans think of dying in a familiar environment, rabbits can associate the home environment with the unpleasant situation of a visit to the vet and react with stress. The animals sense when their owners are stressed, which can lead to unexpected fear reactions. In addition, unfavorable working conditions for the vet can arise, such as poor lighting.
However, partner animals can say goodbye to their friend at home and sniff and lick him for a while before they lose interest.
Ultimately, it is up to you as the owner to decide what is best for your rabbit. You should consider whether visits to the vet were stress-free for the animal or whether they were more of a drama. The working conditions for the vet at home should also be taken into account in order to make the right decision.

What do I do now with my deceased loved one?

When a beloved pet dies, it is important for many people to give it a dignified final resting place. Fortunately, there are many beautiful options these days to bury your loved one or to keep its ashes in a special way.

  • Animal burial in an animal crematorium or animal cemetery. Here you can pay your last respects to your pet together with other pet owners and give it a dignified farewell. There is also the option of individual cremation, where you get your pet's ashes back and can keep them in an urn or scatter them in a special place.
  • Another option is burial in your own garden, but please note
    Your garden must not be located in a water or nature reserve, the grave must be at least 70 cm deep and one to two meters away from a public path. The deceased animal must be wrapped in materials that decompose very easily.
    If the ashes of a cremated animal are buried in an urn, there are no requirements.
    Our soft mourning bag is ideal for this purpose. It was made with lots of love and offers a wonderful farewell for your loved one. Here too, we are prepared for the final journey.

    ‼️ It is important to note that although RHD1 and RHD2 as well as myxomatosis are not notifiable in Germany, it is still advisable not to simply bury an animal that has died from one of these highly contagious diseases or may have contracted it. There is a high risk of the pathogens spreading further. To avoid this, it is recommended that the animal be handed over to a carcass disposal facility or incinerated. You can find more information on this in the relevant chapter. Please ensure that the animal is disposed of correctly and thus help to protect other animals. ‼️

  • But a pet cemetery is also a great opportunity to let your darling begin its final journey.
    Many pet cemeteries offer different types of graves, from individual graves to communal graves for several animals. Here you can design an individual grave for your pet and give it a very personal resting place.
  • If you want to keep your pet's ashes, there are also many great options:
    from individually designed urns made of different materials such as ceramic or wood to pieces of jewellery such as pendants or bracelets in which a small part of the ashes can be kept and your loved one can always be close to you.
    Ultimately, it is important that you choose an option that works best for you and your pet and that will help you cope with the loss and give your loved one a dignified final journey.

What should I consider if my pet has died of an epidemic?

If an animal dies suddenly without any identifiable cause, it should be determined whether it died of a contagious disease such as RHD2 in order to prevent the disease from spreading. This precautionary measure is particularly important for rabbits, as there have been epidemics in recent years caused by a mutation of the RHD virus.
Some diseases are noticeable externally, while others show hardly any signs.
It is important to note that special measures must be taken in the case of contagious diseases. Although vaccines against RHD1/2 and myxomatosis are now available, not all veterinarians are aware of them and vaccination is not possible everywhere!

  • If an animal has possibly died from an infectious disease, it should not be buried but sent for an autopsy.
    You should call your vet beforehand so that he can take appropriate hygiene measures in his practice. Any remaining companion animals should be removed from the enclosure and housed elsewhere in order to keep the epidemic pressure as low as possible.
    If they have not already been vaccinated, they should be vaccinated against RHD 1 and 2 as soon as possible. In addition, no bowls, houses or other utensils should be taken from the old enclosure into the quarantine enclosure. Strict hygiene measures such as changing shoes and hand hygiene should be observed before entering the quarantine enclosure!

  • Unfortunately, the deceased animal must be cremated because the viruses can survive in the animal's body for many months and can travel up through the soil.
    This way, other animals can become infected, even through vectors such as insects. Although it sounds harsh, it is necessary to prevent further spread of the disease!

  • Thorough disinfection of the enclosure is essential, often requiring the use of very strong disinfectants. However, the question arises as to whether wooden parts will then be so toxic that they are no longer suitable for animals.
    It is advisable to ask the veterinarian about suitable disinfectants, especially in the case of RHD, which requires a disinfectant that is also effective against non-enveloped viruses.

Grief

When a beloved rabbit or guinea pig dies, it is completely normal to mourn the animal. After all, it was an important family member who was always there and lovingly cared for.
Unfortunately, some people around us do not understand this and make derogatory comments that can put additional pressure on us.
Unfortunately, we have also had to experience this, so we want to be there for you with our community for such topics and founded our exchange group in which you can exchange ideas with like-minded people.
https://facebook.com/groups/475185624243042/

It's important not to let comments like this get you down. Just because someone isn't a rabbit lover doesn't mean they shouldn't respect our grief. The value of a living creature's existence isn't determined by its size or the price of its purchase. It's our ability to feel and love that makes us compassionate beings.
It is perfectly fine to want a proper burial for your beloved pet, regardless of the cost.
There are many ways to commemorate a rabbit in a dignified manner. And there are also many people who understand your grief and sympathize with you.

If your beloved rabbit has died, it is only natural that you mourn the loss of the animal, which was a consciously chosen family member. The little creature was always there and had to be reliably cared for. Now, where there was previously cheerful hopping and friendly sniffing, there is suddenly an emptiness.
Always remember, you were always there and were able to give your darling a wonderful and fulfilling time with you and his friends! ❤️

What do I do now with my partner?

It is not possible to say for sure whether it is important for the partner animal(s) to say goodbye to the deceased rabbit. Some rabbits continue to sniff and lick the body of their deceased friend for a long time, while others show no or only brief interest. Nevertheless, you should not blame the remaining rabbit, even if you yourself are feeling deep grief.

It is important that the animals get along well with each other.
But one thing is certain:
Rabbits are pack animals and must not be left alone!

If a rabbit is left alone, it is essential to find a solution that meets the animal's needs. Keeping the animal alone and giving it more human attention is selfish. Please also note the chapter "Society/never alone".
After the death of its partner, the grieving rabbit can become more restless or aggressive, but also passive and very withdrawn. It becomes particularly critical if it eats poorly or not at all. It must then be fed and taken to a vet, like any rabbit with an inappetizing appetite.
The stress of being alone can also cause the disease EC to break out. It is also possible that the grieving and lonely animal itself dies after a while - even in younger animals.

If the remaining partner has no alternatives, he may become very attached to "his" human and become very trusting and cuddly.
Although it doesn't look like "mourning" at first glance, it is an expression of deep loneliness. With a rabbit as a partner, the widowed animal is definitely happier.

In the animal’s interest, there are only two options:

New partner animal moves in:
Even if you are still grieving and do not feel ready for a new rabbit to take the place of the deceased animal, please do not wait too long. We are happy to help you with your search and there are many lovely rabbits waiting for a new home in animal shelters and rescue stations. If you already have other rabbits, you can try to socialize the remaining animal with your other animals.
When in doubt, the quicker solution is better than the perfect one. It is better to adopt an animal that may not be a perfect fit as soon as possible than to have your rabbit suffer from loneliness for a long time and suffer the negative consequences mentioned above.

Stop the attitude:

  • If you are considering whether you want or need to give up your remaining rabbit, you should do so now.
    Find a good home for the animal. There are various rabbit forums and Facebook groups on the Internet where private adoptions can be offered. Older rabbits in particular are often in high demand.
    In good animal shelters, the animal will be professionally cared for and it will not have to be alone there until it can be given a new home. If you find it difficult to give your animal away, you can also look for other rabbit owners in your area who are in a similar situation.
    Both widowed animals can be brought together and you can visit your animal regularly or even take over vacation care.
  • Alternatively, you can consider getting a loan rabbit if you are not ready to give up your remaining animal. This has become a very popular option to ensure that rabbits never have to be alone. You can return the rabbit to the foster parents after your animal dies.
    However, it is important to note that socializing the rabbit with one or more guinea pigs is not a solution. Rabbits need at least one companion to live a happy life.