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Sad Bunny

22 10:02:09

Question
I had two female rabbits for quite a while. One recently died of old age. My other bunny is now very lonely. She doesn't get excited and playful like she used to. I have considered getting another rabbit in hopes she will bounce back, but I graduate from high school in a couple of years and this is not a possibility. What do I do? I can't just let her be depressed all the time!

Answer
Dear Lindsey

When you graduate, who will take care of your surviving bunny?  Note that she is more prone to illness and other problems if she is depressed and lonely.  I would recommend you let her choose a new mate from your local rabbit rescuer:

www.rabbit.org/chapters

and two rabbits will be less trouble to care for than one lonely, ailing rabbit for whoever takes over when you go to college.

If she's not a house rabbit, then make her one NOW.  This will help ease her depression by giving her more human interaction, and removing her from the place she associates with grief.  For more information on litterbox training, spay/neuter, etc., please see:

www.rabbit.org/

You don't say how old she is, but if she's under 10 years of age, there's no reason to think she has a short life left.  "Old age" in a rabbit is 12 years and beyond, so if your other bunny was younger than that, she didn't die of old age.

I hope you will be able to help your bunny recover and have a new lease on life with this help.

Dana