For humans, there is nothing sadder than losing one’s friend, family, or life-long companion. This is precisely the case for animals, including the soft-natured and affectionate rabbit. A rabbit’s grief is real, and they grieve in their own ways. How do rabbits grieve, and how can you help your beloved bunny with their grief?
Rabbits grieve by showing several signs, and it’s crucial to look out for them. You can help them by letting them say goodbye to their deceased friend, giving them extra love, affection, and a stuffed toy. They should be monitored closely, and you may need to consider getting them a new companion.
Grief works in several ways, and it tends to affect all of us. The chances are that your pet rabbit is just as sad about its companion’s death as you. Stay with us as we go look at the symptoms of rabbit grief and how you can help them get over it, and it may also help you!
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Understanding How Rabbits Grieve
Your rabbit will be deeply affected by the loss of its friend or companion, and they might not fully understand that their friend has died, but they will know that their friend isn’t with them anymore.
Many rabbit owners have reported that their rabbits will stare off into the distance, and it may seem like they are looking for something.
Some rabbits may lose their desire to play and receive affection or even lose their appetite altogether. It may be good to make a consultation with your vet for a more in-depth evaluation.
Luckily for you, you can do a few things that could make a big difference for your grieving rabbit. Although some of them may sound silly, rabbit grief is genuine, and it’s not something that should be taken lightly.
Read below for the ways you can help your bunny during the grieving period:
How You Can Help Your Grieving Rabbit
When your rabbit loses its mate and you start to notice the clear signs of grief, it is crucial for you to provide them with the proper support. Many rabbits may get sick and die of loneliness when they lose their friend, which you need to prevent.
Allow Your Bunny To Say Goodbye To Their Deceased Friend
If possible, it might be a good idea to allow your rabbit to say goodbye to its friend and understand what has happened. Give your rabbit some alone time with its friend’s deceased body. Often your surviving rabbit will groom, nudge, or sniff its mate.
Eventually, they will begin to understand that their friend is gone. When a surviving rabbit does not get to see his friend’s body, they will have a much more difficult time understanding where his friend went and why.
He may wander around in your home for a long time, searching for his missing companion, and he may never stop looking. This is one of the things that could lead to a rabbit getting depressed and dying.
Seeing your rabbit act this way could make things more difficult for you as well, as you are also grieving the death of a beloved pet.
Spend Some Extra Time With Your Rabbit
If your surviving rabbit has not lost its appetite and is only showing little signs of grief, it is your responsibility to sympathize by spending some extra time with your rabbit.
Make sure to give your bunny extra love and attention and share their grief with them. Whether your rabbit likes to be pet or held, make sure you accommodate their preferences and needs as much as possible during this difficult time.
It might help to talk to them in a soothing voice and tell them you are grieving the death of their mate too. Rabbits can sense when a human is sad, happy, or scared, and sharing your grief with the rabbit may also allow them to bond more closely with you during this time.
If you can, try to allow your rabbit to come out of their cage, so they can be close to you whenever they feel like it, instead of being in another room or inside their cage.
Provide Your Surviving Rabbit With A Stuffed Toy
Some rabbit owners have found that giving their surviving rabbit a stuffed toy or animal helps them significantly to deal with their grief.
The rabbit may cuddle up with the stuffed animal and may even groom them. This allows the rabbit to feel less alone with its friend gone.
You may also want to give your rabbit some toys that may help to stimulate him and distract his focus from his loss.
You can even try to imitate your rabbit’s behavior with the stuffed toy, helping the stuffed toy to become alive and allowing your rabbit to interact with it.
Monitor Your Grieving Rabbit Closely
Each rabbit will have their own way of dealing and coping with its companion’s death. Some may respond to their friend’s death by refusing to eat and becoming lethargic and depressed.
Others may show signs of anger out of frustration towards you. It doesn’t matter how your rabbit shows their grief.
You need to ensure they are still drinking and eating. A loss of appetite could lead to illness in rabbits, so you need to keep a closer eye on them during this period to make sure their health does not decline.
Consider Getting Your Rabbit A New Companion
You may never know when and if the time is right to adopt a new friend for your rabbit. You may not be ready to get another rabbit, but it could be the only way for your rabbit to get out of depression.
You can take your rabbit to meet some possible companions at many shelters or animal rescues. This will allow them to find their ideal friend that best suits their needs and personality.
Conclusion
You and your bunny may grieve your loss in different ways, but it doesn’t mean you can’t be there for each other to make things better. You can ensure your surviving rabbit’s happiness and good health by taking the above steps in the grieving and healing process, which may also help you!
