Generally, pets mean more to us than just animals. They are family and can help us create many fond and beautiful memories. In other words, if you have lost a pet rabbit, it’s normal to wonder “why my pet rabbit died.”
Here are some of the things this article will help you to discover:
- Why do rabbits die?
- Why would a pet rabbit die suddenly?
- What is the most common cause of death in rabbits?
- How do pet rabbits usually die?
- What does it mean when your bunny dies?
Why Do Rabbits Die
It’s natural for things to die, regardless of how much we love them. There are several reasons a rabbit could die, and you can discover this by having a postmortem examination. It’s important to note also that rabbits are susceptible to different factors at different stages of their lives.
Generally, rabbits can live for as long as 11 to 12 years. And each stage of its life requires deliberate care. Rabbits start as young rabbits, then adult rabbits before becoming senior rabbits.
Stage One
A “young rabbit” is any rabbit within the first 12 months of its birth. However, there are giant breeds that are regarded to be adults as early as their 9th month. Usually, a rabbit undergoes three stages in its first year: babyhood (0 – 3 months), adolescence (3-6 months), and teenagehood (6-12 months).
Stage Two
In the second stage, between the 12th month and the 5th year, rabbits are considered adults. Their growth has either slowed down or stopped at this stage. At this stage, your rabbit tends to become bored if it is kept in the same environment daily.
Stage Three
From the fifth year upwards, the rabbit enters its golden years. These are usually called senior rabbits. It is wise to include your veterinarian in your care for the rabbit at this stage.
Reasons Why Baby Rabbits Die
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Underlying health conditions
Sometimes, rabbits are born with genetic or other health issues. You may be unable to tell this by examining them yourself. So if you get a baby rabbit from a pet store and it dies, it was probably already ill.
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Heart attacks
Rabbits are very delicate creatures. Even the older ones are fragile, and they become anxious very quickly. It’s more severe with baby rabbits. They can have heart attacks just by being scared by loud noises.
Since they are still young, they could die from such heart attacks. So if you have small rabbits, you should keep them in quiet places and keep loud noises away from them.
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Harsh housing conditions
Due to the delicate nature of rabbits in general, baby rabbits may not survive in unfriendly accommodations. It can be very tough if you keep them outdoors. For instance, any rabbit that strays away could die from harsh temperatures. Sadly, any sibling rabbit may not survive if it doesn’t get enough warmth.
Reasons Why Young/Older Rabbits Die
Older rabbits are more prone to overgrown teeth, arthritis, heart or liver disease, and cancer. This is because their bodies are already weak, and they cannot take the strain of everyday activities like they used to.
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Overgrown teeth
This is a common cause of illness in adult or senior rabbits. Usually, chewing hay or other fibrous meals helps to file back the teeth that are constantly growing. However, due to the loss of appetite that comes with old age, senior rabbits cannot continue this process.
This is why dental diseases are common in older rabbits. If precautions are not taken, they will lose much weight and die.
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Arthritis
Like humans and other animals, rabbits develop weakness in their joints and muscles over time. You may notice that they have become more sluggish or in pain when you carry them. These signs are manageable but can result in the death of a rabbit when care is not taken.
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Heart or liver disease
The older rabbits get, the weaker their organs become. So, older rabbits can quickly get infections or diseases in their organs, especially the heart or liver.
Why Would a Pet Rabbit Die Suddenly?
Several factors can cause a rabbit to die suddenly. It can be very shocking, especially for adult rabbits who look young and agile. Here are some conditions that can make a rabbit die suddenly:
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Flystrike
Flystrike happens when germ-infested flies land on rabbits and lay eggs on their coat. When these eggs hatch, they become insects that eat the rabbit’s body. This disease is especially deadly because insects can eat a rabbit from the inside out.
Usually, rabbits who are infected have very smelly and dirty bums. Flystrike is deadly, but it can be treated if you detect it early.
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Bad injuries
If your rabbit becomes badly injured and doesn’t get treated, it could die. The injury will fester and make the rabbit terribly ill. It could even infect other rabbits in the area. These injuries could happen while rabbits play with one another or when your rabbit goes outdoors.
So, you should examine your rabbit from time to time.
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Grief
Yes, a broken heart can make your rabbit die suddenly. Likewise, when rabbits lose their partners or friends, they become lonely. So you need to show lots of love and attention to such rabbits.
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Loud noises
Rabbits get frightened easily, and when this happens, their heart rate rises. This could result in a heart attack that would kill such a rabbit. Even everyday noises like the barking of a dog can terrify your rabbit.
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Poisoning
As a pet owner, you should know what substances are harmful to your bunny. For example, if your rabbit eats meals coated with dangerous chemicals or pesticides, it could suddenly die.
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Late abortion
Usually, a rabbit’s body will re-absorb a failed pregnancy. However, if the pregnancy has advanced fat, this may be too difficult to do. In such cases, the pregnancy will create toxins in the womb and eventually kill the rabbit.
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Ingesting sharp objects
If your rabbit swallows a sharp object, it could get lodged in its throat or cause damage to its organs. To prevent this, you should not leave sharp objects lying around. It could even cause a fatal injury.
What is the Most Common Cause of Death in Rabbits?
The Royal Veterinary College researched the most common cause of death in rabbits. The results showed that more rabbits die from flystrike than any other disease. Other high-ranking causes are anorexia and collapse.
Why Do Pet Rabbits Usually Die?
When rabbits are gravely ill or nearing their deaths, they often isolate themselves. They begin to eat less and play even less. As it has been explained in this article, many reasons can be responsible for this.
Some rabbits scream very loudly before they die; others just lay still. It’s not a pleasant experience to watch your bunny die. However, the best way to move on is to do your best to prevent such disease from spreading to your other pets.
Any time you notice something unusual in your bunny, take them to the vet. That way, you can get them checked and treated if need be.
What Does It Mean When Your Bunny Dies?
First, you must remember the rule of nature. All living things die. So, if you have lost a bunny at any point, it’s only natural. There are times when the death of pet rabbits can be avoided, but at other times, you may be unable to help it.
So, what does it mean when your bunny dies? It can be a combination or one of these things.
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Malnutrition or Poisoning
Rabbits can die if their bodies do not receive the proper nutrients for growth and good health. For instance, if you introduce a new meal or treat and your pets start dying, it could be because the treats are unhealthy.
You must pay attention to any changes that you observe in your pets. You should also run any dietary changes by your vet.
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Untreated infection
If you failed to treat an infection or illness and your rabbit dies, it could result from the untreated disease.
When rabbits play around, it’s not unlikely that they could get injured. It could even get injured while playing outside the cage. This is why it’s important to keep sharp objects away from plain sight.
So, an untreated infection could be deadly, and it would cause your rabbit’s health to decline rapidly.
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Loneliness
It could also mean that your pet was lonely. Rabbits have been known to die after a partner or close friend died.
By nature, bunnies are social creatures. They like to interact with their environment. This included you and other bunnies around them. So, if your bunny loses a friend, you could get another rabbit. This way, the grieving bunny won’t be lonely.
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Old age
As much as every pet owner would like it to be so, pets cannot live as long as we do. So, if a rabbit has reached the end of its lifespan, it will die.
An old rabbit could die because it cannot keep up anymore.
It could be puzzling if the rabbit did not show any signs of illness. Nevertheless, it’s okay to mourn the loss and honor the memory of your pet.
Bear in mind that rabbits are skilled at hiding their illnesses. So it may be difficult to tell that your rabbit is ill. The safest choice is to schedule regular check-up appointments and shower all the love you can on your furry friend.