Strange death. Advice????

[Kyle@theWintertime]

I got home from school today to find that my little Sharif had died sometime this afternoon. He was hale and hearty yesterday.

I'm finding it very strange though. Ever since he was a kit, he and his foster-siblings have LOVED sitting in the water dish. Just yesterday I was chuckling at him...he was sitting in the water dish when I was feeding everybunny, calmly grooming himself. He hopped out when he heard the pellet scoop, but still.

When I found him dead today, he was really damp, as if he'd been sitting in the water dish again today.

Yesterday it was mid to high fifties out. Today, it was in the thirties. I'm wondering...could the cold and wind today combined with the soaking from sitting in his water dish have caused him to fatally chill????

Other than being wet and dead, he seemed fine. He was in good flesh, good coat, he ate his pellet ration all up yesterday too, he never missed a feed.

I'm just...shocked. Sharif is kind of a special bunny to me. I don't even know how to process this.

 

[Bad Habit]

I'm so sorry

 

[Mickey328]

awww, no advice but much sympathy for your loss, Kyle

 

[MaggieJ]

I'm so sorry, Kyle! Poor bunny!

I don't know for certain, but I would think he may have got chilled, especially if was windy. What works in summer might not be so good in November.

 

[ladysown]

i know that rabbits who actively sit in water dishes often will have something not quite right with them.

I would wonder that something was a bit "off" and that he died of whatever was "off" with him.

Chill is definitely a possibility, but the whole sitting in a water dish frequently tells me that something wasn't quite right with him.

 

[MaggieJ]

You could be right about that, Ladysown. I seem to remember that sitting-in-the-water-dish question coming up in the past. I had totally forgotten about it until you posted.

 

[Ramjet]

Sorry Kyle

i know that rabbits who actively sit in water dishes often will have something not quite right with them.

I would wonder that something was a bit "off" and that he died of whatever was "off" with him.

Chill is definitely a possibility, but the whole sitting in a water dish frequently tells me that something wasn't quite right with him.

My tricolored doe had been sitting in her water prior to kindling ... I haven't noticed her do it since. I thought at the time it was a bit strange.
She had some rather sore feet and I wonder if that's why she was sitting in it to begin with , to relieve her discomfort. They have gotten better over the last couple weeks , no more cracked callouses as I gave her something to lay on to get off the cage wire & rest her feet and as I stated above she hasn't continued the behavior since having her kits.

 

[Kyle@theWintertime]

Thanks guys. I never really thought about the possibility that his quirky behavior might be a thing wrong.

His feet were good an' solid though.

I just don't know.

 

[Northwinds Rabbitry]

This is totally totally of subject but I have to say kyle your web and rabbits of course are beautiful the pics show their beautiful fur nice job!!!!!

 

[DogCatMom]

Oh, Kyle. I'm just so sorry at this news. :no: It's just one @#$%^$% thing after another lately, isn't it? Maybe Sharif had something subtly wrong with him all the time, but was able to mask it even from you...?

That's tragic. And sad. As for "how to process" this loss, grief is intensely personal, but is there anything you need to say to him? Scritch his little ears again? Just sit and be alone for a little while?

:grouphug: {{{Kyle}}} :grouphug:

 

[Northwinds Rabbitry]

The ending of your post is so sad making me wet eyes lol
So sad to lose an animal you love

Oh, Kyle. I'm just so sorry at this news. :no: It's just one @#$%^$% thing after another lately, isn't it? Maybe Sharif had something subtly wrong with him all the time, but was able to mask it even from you...?

That's tragic. And sad. As for "how to process" this loss, grief is intensely personal, but is there anything you need to say to him? Scritch his little ears again? Just sit and be alone for a little while?


:grouphug: {{{Kyle}}} :grouphug:

 

[Miss M]

I'm so sorry, Kyle!

 

[Kyle@theWintertime]

This is totally totally of subject but I have to say kyle your web and rabbits of course are beautiful the pics show their beautiful fur nice job!!!!!

Thanks!

Oh, Kyle. I'm just so sorry at this news. :no: It's just one @#$%^$% thing after another lately, isn't it? Maybe Sharif had something subtly wrong with him all the time, but was able to mask it even from you...?

That's tragic. And sad. As for "how to process" this loss, grief is intensely personal, but is there anything you need to say to him? Scritch his little ears again? Just sit and be alone for a little while?

:grouphug: {{{Kyle}}} :grouphug:

I'm wondering, because now I can't seem to find anyone else who has rabbits who routinely sit in their water dish. :? And for as tough and strong as he was, he WAS a true runt...it's how he survived. The larger kits were stillborn and stretched (Breezy's first litter) and the other live kits were all peanuts. He was a true runt, very undersized at birth. He is still a small little guy...Fathead and Pokerface were 2+ pounds by this age, he's about a pound and a half. I was cheering him on in hopes he'd hit two pounds soon.

But he really WAS a happy, healthy, snotball of a bunny...he just got his tattoo about a week ago and it took TWO ADULTS to get the deed done, and even with my dad and I burrito-ing him in a towel, he STILL managed to kick free (yes, a little over a POUND of bunny defeated my dad, who was holding him down while I gripped the ear and pen) and clawed the heck out of my hand before I could get away. Most of the lacerations healed without a mark, but I actually have two new scars now. I don't mind...I thought it was kind of funny, he had more spit and vinegar than all the other youngsters.

I just didn't have any way to process it...it's just so random and strange it didn't even seem sad, just, awfully confusing and upsetting. I asked a friend over, we watched some funny TV shows on Netflix, did some artwork, and called it a night at around ten. I wasn't tired so I just watched more TV and did more drawings. Until about two minutes after eleven, when I totally lost it for a while. Got it back together right now though.

But I'll be okay. Fathead and Breezy are bearing the brunt of my need to squish little Mini Rex; Breezy loves the attention and Fathead reminds me that not every litter ends in either immediate or eventual tragedy.

I did pet him a while, though.<br /><br />__________ Fri Nov 08, 2013 12:00 am __________<br /><br />Just lost it again when I noticed my forum "avatar" was a little picture of Sharif. Changed it to a baby picture of Fathead and Pokerface; just can't handle that right now. But I will be okay.

Really though...I do wonder. I may call up my vet friend and ask.