AboutLee Meyer (Mr.) Expertise I have 4+ years of experience with House Rabbits, rescue groups, and working with shelter rabbits. I do educational talks about house rabbits. I advise potential adopters, supervise bunny 'dates', fundraising/educational rabbit events, and help rabbit owners with their rabbits. I will answer questions about: general behaviors, body language, housing, toys, bunny-proofing, diet, spaying/neutering issues, nail clips, preventative measures, diet, and health questions.
To clarify, I will not discuss: anything that deals with rabbits for fur, food, factory-style breeding, deliberate or casual breeding by pet owners, or experimentation. I will not discuss how to poison wild rabbits you consider pests. My focus is solely on rabbits as loved pets. It is the reason I am a House Rabbit Society member as opposed to an ARBA member. If you do not view your rabbit the same way you would a pet dog or cat, please ask another expert your question.
I am not a veterinarian and cannot conclusively diagnose your rabbit. I do a lot of reading and have been exposed to many different situations across our six healthy rabbits, the shelter rabbits I work with, and my mother's rabbits.
IF YOU THINK THERE'S A PROBLEM, DON'T WAIT FOR A REPLY, GET TO A VET IMMEDIATELY!!! Sometimes what appears to be a small problem is life-threatening.
My advice with respect to medical issues doesn't take the place of a good rabbit vet. The House Rabbit Society has references on their site for vets they have researched. There are US and international links here for vets all over the world with rabbit experience: www.rabbit.org/vets/vets.html
I recommend the following resources to all rabbit owners:
House Rabbit Society - online rabbit info (www.rabbit.org)
Book: Rabbit Health in the 21st Century 2nd Ed. by Kathy Smith
Book: House Rabbit Handbook 4th Ed. by Marinell Harriman
Experience House Rabbit Member since 2004
Discover Your House Rabbit organizer - 2006
Rabbit Adopter since 2004
HAWS Board of Education member (rabbits) since 2005
HAWS Rabbit Volunteer since 2004
Organizations National House Rabbit Society, Wisconsin House Rabbit Society, Humane Animal Welfare Society (HAWS), Education Board Member for Rabbits, Friends of HAWS
Education/Credentials BSEE, MSEE (Electrical/Computer Engineering), Marquette University
Expert: Lee Meyer (Mr.) Date: 5/15/2008 Subject: getting another bunny after one died??
Question I had 2 dwarf rabbits, and they LOVED each other very much. My one baby died today, leaving the other very seemingly lonely and scared. How long do I let my one rabbit left grieve for her friend until I purchase another for her?
Answer Hi,
sorry to hear your little guy passed away.
hopefully you allowed your rabbit to be around the one that died, so that she could get an idea of what happened. This is critical to the living bunny figuring out what happened. Otherwise they just think "one day they took away my friend and I never saw him again, and I don't know why". And they may be afraid that will happen to them.
The best thing to do for the near future is to spend more time with her, giving her a lot of attention and love. Keep all the things that smell like your boy in with her. His scent will eventually start to fade off, and this helps the survivor of the pair to realize he's gone. For now they will be comforting for her.
It may sound funny, but just talk to her about what happened. They are empathetic animals, they will understand. If you're crying that's okay. And just tell her that you're going to take care of her, that you love her, and right now you guys are going to spend more time together.
At some point you may get an indication she may be ready for another rabbit. Best thing to do is go to your local animal shelter or rabbit rescue group around you, and arrange to have a few bunny dates with potential suitors. Generally you need to do this with fixed rabbits, and that is generally what you will find with rabbit rescue groups (and most shelters if they are proactive with their rabbits). Don't try pairing with any intact male - he will totally be revved up on hormones.
But the key is letting the rabbits pick each other. Rabbits pick who they will get along with. It may be a bunny we would not pick. That is why you need to try several. Size differences, color or breed types mean nothing to them.
But this is probably weeks to months down the road. You are the alpha bunny, you need to bond with her and be her buddy right now as you are the stable piece in her life.
