When bunny gets old, responsible bunny owner found themselves cherishing and keeps an eye on their health. All the animals including rabbits have a natural lifespan, when they reach their senior age, you might observe bodies and behavioral changes. This article will explore about the ‘Signs your Rabbit is dying’.
Understanding the signs of their old age and the changes that comes help to be prepare emotionally and make sure the comfort and the care your bunny deserves in those days.
Here are few signs that indicate the last stage of rabbit’s natural lifespan.
What Are Common Causes of Rabbit Deaths?
The death of your bunny depends on the various factors such as rabbit’s age, living conditions and the overall health. The living conditions are mostly controlled by their guardians and the level of care we offer is important. The most common reasons of rabbit mortality include:
Also Read: Urine Scald in Rabbits and its Causes, Symptoms, & Treatment
When a rabbit’s digestive system slows down or stops moving entirely indicate the gastrointestinal stasis condition. It is mostly caused by improper diet, lack of fiber, stress and underlying the health problems. This can even leads to death if not treated properly.
Do You Know? The teeth of the rabbit grow continuously throughout their lives. Lack of chewing and dental malocclusion can cause several dental issues. These problems lead to pain, difficulty in eating and death if not taken seriously.
Rabbits are more prone to respiratory infections mainly when they get expose to more drafts and inadequate living conditions. These infections are life threatening for rabbits.
Your bunnies are sensitive to high temperature and heat stroke can lead to death. It is vital to offer them with a cool and the well ventilated environment mainly during the warm weather.
Several health problems caused by the different parasites like mites, fleas and worms. These infections may lead to death if not treated.
Viral infections such as rabbit hemorrhagic disease and myxomatosis are highly contagious and dangerous for bunnies.
Falls, attacks from predators and improper handling are some accidents and injuries which results in death.
Enteritis is basically the inflammation of the intestines are caused by the various factors consists of diet changes, stress and other bacterial infections. Some cases of this enteritis can be life threatening.
Rabbits also develop cancers like the other animals which can leads to death if not addressed properly and treated on time.
When they are at their senior age they become more prone to several health problems which lead to natural death.
Make sure the well being and longevity of the rabbits, it is important to offer them the healthy and the balanced diet. Also ensure to provide a clean and safe living environment.
Major Signs Your Rabbit Might Be Dying
Before starting, the following signs might not indicate the immediate death. Some situations may be handling by the vet.
If your bunny shows more of these signs, then they can state its death. Only vet can make you sure about the particular condition.
Also Read: How to Keep Rabbits Cool in The Summer? Expert Tips & Tricks
If you observe any signs from your rabbit, it is recommended to take them to a vet for the check-up or treatment.
Behavioral Changes
These changes not always indicate the signs of the last stage. Many life threatening problems lead to behavior changes such as hormones and even boredom. This is the very first sign shown by your rabbit which clearly states that something is wrong with them.
Absence of energy, affection and other personal traits are some behavioral changes that indicate that rabbit is dying. Your rabbit may become more aggressive if it involves pain also.
Nothing to Eating or Drinking
This type of signs needs more monitoring before the treatment as it could be something super simple like tummy troubles.
If your bunny is not eating or drinking for 12 hours or more than it indicates the irreparable internal damage. If you monitor that your bunny hasn’t even touched the food or drinks from last night, contact a vet.
Unable to Self-groom
Older rabbits suffer from arthritis other issues which will lose an interest in trying to groom them. This symptom can be caused by the obesity in which a weight loss plan can most probably solve it.
If your rabbits are not grooming by themselves, states that they are experiencing diarrhoea and incontinence which may pose a greater risk of infections and the flystrikes.
Lesser or No Movement
If your bunny is dying, he won’t be able to move around. It might be sudden sometimes, that your rabbit don’t want to move at all.
Paired with a clearly unbalanced indicates the clear sign that your furry friend is becoming older and id near to its end journey. Seizures are the most common in dying of rabbits.
Making Unbalanced
Rabbits are agile creatures, if bunny tries to move and falls down immediately clearly states that something is wrong. If you have a old rabbit then it is clear sign of death.
Paralysis
Paralysis is a sign that shows the clear death of your bunny. Older rabbits have weaker muscles and they become dysfunctional. This is generally observed after a long period of an erratic movement which is one of the usual signs that your bunny is dying.
Unable to Make the Litter Box
Incontinence is the most common in the senior rabbits and even humans. It can be a mobility problem or something with bladder and kidneys, it doesn’t matters. Your bunny needs a veterinary attention immediately.
Difficulties Breathing
Labored breathing generally caused by many things such as poisoning to respiratory illness. It means that your rabbit is dying and seeks for vet immediately especially if it has been for a while. If it is lead by respiratory then you may fail to treat it.
Degrading Temperature of Body
Fluctuations in rabbits body temperature is a serious sign that your bunny is dying. The normal body temperature of a bunny is 101-103 degrees Fahrenheit. The rabbit’s temperature generally gets drop to 100 or less in early stages of hypothermia.
Digestion Problems
Problems in digestion like diarrhea, misshapen poops, no movement and clear get like fecal components.
This situation is common in the younger rabbits that were early separated. In seniors, this can be a case of your bunny eating in excess.
However, in more cases, the gel like poop is much more sever and warrant a trip to the vet before it gets too worst.
Blooding In Pee
It is necessary to know the difference between blood in urine and red urine. It was a common practice in GOOGLE. Sometimes we might notice the red urine after rabbit consumes the green pigments. This was because that your rabbit has processed all of the green pigment from the food.
If the urine is red, it is not the sign of rabbit dying. IFR you observe the streams of red in urine it is different. Are you owner of an intact female rabbit and you observe the blood in her pee shows the signs of ovarian cancer which is difficult to treat mainly at that point. A less and severe possibility can be treated with a round of antibiotics.
Vocalizing
When you observe that your rabbit is vocalizing, it is grunting or actually screaming which indicates the clear sign of rabbit dying and needs to look for a vet as soon as possible.
Signs of Your Rabbit is Dying of Old Age
If your bunny is dying at an old age, you may notice loss of appetite, weight loss and reduced interest in the grooming or playing. They become lethargic, sleep more and isolate themselves.
Also Read: Snuffles in Rabbits and its Symptoms, Prevention, & Treatment
Fur become dull and patchy and mobility may be rejected because of the joint stiffness and weakness. You might notice the labored breathing and incontinence. A dying rabbit often stretches out in and usual posture which become more still.
If your rabbits indicate these signs, make sure to provide them comfort, warmth, and consider consulting a vet to ease their final days.
How to Save a Dying Rabbit? Should be Knowing
If you observe any signs that your rabbit is quite, it is necessary to react fast to give them the chance of survival. The most essential thing is that you can observe at home and are how much your rabbit is consuming and how much poop they are producing.
It is vital to keep an eye on their drinking by making sure that they you look them drinking or noticing how often they refill their water.
Call a vet immediately as soon as possible, if you observe that your bunny shows the signs of discomfort. You can try to syringe the water and food in the mouth. It is necessary to ensure that they are conscious enough to take the water and food to try.
Your pet will do a full examination of your rabbit’s body and try to determine the cause. They may start the heat therapy give warm fluid in a drip and give a pain relief. Your bunny any need a medication to help guts moving again or other medical treatments.
Not Cleared Symptoms before Rabbit Dies
It is possible for a bunny to die at nowhere. There were no symptoms that you noticed, and your rabbit is behaving normally not too long. It is impossible to know the correct reason of rabbit dying. Here are the some common reasons that have few symptoms or no signs at all.
Also Read: Rabies in Rabbits and its Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
This condition can be formed sudden in rabbits. They can even die because of fear, leads to sudden death and heart attack. Huge breeds of rabbits can have a greater chance of having a heart attack.
Viruses which are most common in rabbits include RHDV which can kill your bunny without causing any noticeable symptoms. Learn about precautions to take against the RHDV.
GI stasis has some common symptoms that are often hard to detect unless you know what to seek for? This is the most common cause of the sudden death in rabbits if it is undetected the digestive problems.
If your bunny is a plant or the food that is severe poisonous, they may even make your bunny die in several minutes and the other several hours later. If you know that your rabbit has intake poison, consult a vet immediately.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
How do You Know if Rabbit is Aging?
Signs of rabbit getting old:
- Reduced energy and activity
- Graying or thinning fur
- Stiffness or difficulty moving due to arthritis
- Loss of appetite or weight loss
- Sleeping more and playing less
Is Euthanasia a Humane Option for a Dying Rabbit?
If your rabbit is in pin or the quality of life has deteriorated beyond the repairs and euthanasia may be the most humane option. Contact a vet to assess their condition and discuss what is best about the rabbits.
These changes occur gradually when they enter in their old age.
How Do You Know if Your Rabbit is Dying?
If your rabbit stops eating and moving shows the signs that your bunny is dying. Rabbits are the cutest and the energetic animals; inactivity is an indication of dying. It relies on the cause of the death; bunnies may show the other signs of health problems as well.
Did Your Rabbit Die Stretched Out?
If rabbit passes away, it lies on stretched out and still. It might look peaceful as if this is asleep, but the loss of this beautiful creature is heavy. Body was long and relaxed; a sign may have gone quietly. Gentle presence and the warmth of rabbits brought our lives every day.
Final Thought: Signs Your Rabbit is Dying
If you notice any unusual activities in rabbit, don’t wait to see if they improve by themselves. Consult a vet right away for the proper examination of their body. Vet Treatment may give your bunny the best and another chance of recovery if sickness is detected in early stage.
Also Read: Flystrike in Rabbits and its Causes, Signs, & Treatment
Some symptoms may be harmful for rabbit, but it is better to opt for the caution when it is about rabbit’s death. If you feel that something is wrong with your pet’ normal behavior and the appearance, trust your feelings. An Attentive care and the immediate vet visits when required can help to make your rabbit happy and healthy for many years.
Do you have any experience, tips, tricks, or query regarding on this? You can drop a comment!
Have a Nice Day!!
