Bunny Sudden Death

Question
Had an approximately 9 yr old bunny (she was a rescue but we had her for 7 1/2 yrs so I am not sure of her age.)  Lop kept inside in wire cage.  Litter box trained.  Roamed the house under supervision.  VERY friendly and healthy.  Well muscled, coat healthy, eyes and nose clear.  She had lots of water, pellets, fresh food, timothy hay.  She was a SPOILED bunny.

2 days ago she was panting in the slider doorway--sitting on the sill against the screen. Hunched up in her normal resting position, not splayed out.  Room was not hot--ceiling fan going.  She had been hopping around in the evening and the wee hours happily.  I had just changed her litter box and cage that evening--lots of regular pooping and urinating before i changed it.  (actally a LOT of pooping and urinating--thought she was a poop machine but it was regular sized.  We kept the cage open when were were home and she hopped in and out at will but spent most of her time in the cage.  Seemed to come out in the evenings mostly.

I picked her up gently to see what was wrong--thought she might have been hot.  I noticed she was WET underneath at that time and thought a bath might be helpful to cool her off, clean her up and for attention (Not bloody)  She LOVED baths--liked the attention.  I usually put her in the kitchen sink with a few inches of water and washed her underneath -- she loved it!  Not usually on her back or head.  Then she would spend about 1/2 hour wrapped in towels getting pets sitting on my lap. Then when she told me she had enuf she would struggle a little and I would put her down where she wouid hop around and flick at me and groom herself.  She loved to be gently combed.

So started on the bath as per usual but she tried to hop out and I gently put her back in.  Then she tried again to jump up on me and i comforted her, checked the temp of the water and put her back in.  Then she leaped up, kind of arched her back, sraightened her legs and went completely LIMP.  Like she died INSTANTLY.  I tried to revive her for a long time, held her in my arms, etc  Altho she was limp, I was afraid but was not sure she was dead since her eyes looked clear (they never clouded up) but she was not breathing and I got no response. Her legs were straight out and rigid but her body was limp.

WHAT HAPPENED?  I am really confused!  In retrospect--she was out of the cage when I cleaned it the evening before and did not come hopping in to investigate, but she was kind of hanging out in her favorite hiding place near my daughter watching TV so I didn't worry.  There were no poops in her cage overnite and she had not eaten from 9pm evening before and she died about 8am next morning.  There was evidence of urination where she had been hanging out.  (sometimes she did that tho on her blanket.) and I noticed an odd sweet smell which I realize was coming from there in the nite.

It was a bunny proof house--wire protected, no chemicals, no poisonous plants that she can get into etc.  She was well behaved--did not chew things that we did not give her, had toys, etc, teeth were good.  She mostly investigated things, chinned them and played with rags and paper and hung out.  She was a HAPPY and very spoiled and well loved bunny  (she had recovered a year ago from the death of our collie (a Lassie type).  She had been depressed but then was spoiled by being our only remaining mammal pet!  She did not seem sick, off her feed, or old--she was well muscled and not skinny or bony.

?????

Answer
Hi Mary Pat:

I am very sorry to hear of your loss.  My thoughts are with you and your family.

Based on everything you told me I believe "nature" happened, that is - it was her time.

House rabbits have an average life-span of 8-9 years.  Few make it to 10, but not many.

If they are spoiled (like yours was) and are lucky enough to live out their entire life (as your's did), then generally, the ultimate cause of death is organ shutdown.  Similar to other animals and even humans.

I suspect your bunnies kidneys failed, which would certainly explain everything you experienced.

Since domestic rabbits evolved from wild rabbits, they hide pain and illness just the same as wild rabbits.  In the wild, an animals that shows pain or weakness is an easy target for a predator, so they don't.  Generally, rabbits hide pain up until its far too late and as you experienced, some die suddenly.

While it is traumatic, my personal feeling is that its better to die suddenly and in the arms of a loved one than to get sick and suffer for a long time first.  I believe your bunny felt safe enough in your arms that she felt it was ok to let go of the struggle.  Clearly she had a strong bond for you - she wanted your presence while she passed to another place.

It was her time - she was at the end (or exceeded) her normal life expectancy and there's nothing you did wrong and nothing you could have done to help her.

Take the time to grieve your loss then perhaps you can consider adopting another bunny.  The rescue groups are totally overfilled with bunnies just waiting for a home.

Again, I am sorry for your loss and wish you the best in dealing with this painful experience.

(((hugs)))

Lisa L.