Rabbit is dead. Why?

Question

To clear things up, My mother bought our Rabbit but my Grandfather claimed it was his and he took it from us, so we gave up and let him have it.

He leaves the rabbit in his cage outside, where I think it Had a heatstroke.

I say he was dehydrated and his guts stopped from moving killing him.

My grandfather says he died of old age, he was about 4 yrs.

We took him into a cold room put ice packs on his ears and stomach and dropped water into his mouth,

He died a dramatic death, He moved for once last time like a stretch and flat out stopped breathing, can you please give me a opinion on his death, why he died?

Answer 1

Weird family. So sad for that bunny. Was he nice?

Answer 2

The only way to determine for certain why he died is to take the body to a vet or diagnostic lab and have a necropsy done (animal autopsy).

He may have died of heat exhaustion, or the shock of the treatment that was attempted, or there could have been something wrong with him.  We can't possibly tell just based on the fact that he was outside and died.

Answer 3

if it was hot outside, the rabbit most likely died of a heat stroke, feel bad for the rabbit but your grandfather is selfish

Answer 4

rabbits should NEVER be left outside in a cage because they could if hte weathers hot they will get heat stroke, it its cold the ywill get hyperthermia, and insects particularly flies can get in the cage and give the rabbit all sorts of diseases. the rabbit should have either been kept securely in a hutch or a cage INSIDE with plenty of food, water, and fresh veg. why would your grandad claim the rabbit was his if it was your mum who bought it, and then treat it badly? it died from your grandads neglect!

Answer 5

maybe rabbits are suppost to live inside? also have you herd the saying "God works in mysterious ways"?   sorry i couldn't be more help =(

Answer 6

Your grandfather is wrong.

Bunnys can lvie 10 yrs even more!

They should not be left outside.

I am sorry about your bunny:(

Answer 7

Does not sound like old age, especially if  the rabbit was only 4.  It was probably heat stroke, rabbits can't be left in heat above 80 degrees or that happens very quickly.

I'm sorry.

Answer 8

there could be a couple of reasons

1. u should never ever leave a bunny outside in extreme weather conditions  

2. rabbits normally only live till ten but 4 is kinda young it could be from that too but i doubt it

Answer 9

I'm not sure where you live, so I don't know what the temperature is, but there is a good chance that your rabbit was over heated.  A rabbit's lifespan is about 10 years-- I had one of mine live to be 14- so 4 yrs old is very young still.  Rabbits should not be kept outside, in the wild they live underground to keep cool in the heat, warm in the cold.  Leaving them in a hutch (even though it's covered with wire mesh) leaves them vulnerable to bugs and other animals.  Chances are if he was left outside in the heat, he wasn't getting the food and water he needed to remain healthy.  Dehydration and malnurishment is known to be a major stress on any animal's heart... so he may have died of heart failure.

I'm sorry to hear this story :(

Answer 10

I don't think it was old age unfortunately ... my cousin had her rabbit for a good 10 years. I'm sorry to hear about your rabbit =/ I think you're right about the heatstroke.

Answer 11

you probably shouldn't of gave it up, sometimes you just have to put your foot down and say no, if you know it was yours then there was no reason for anyone to take it, sounds like a cruel death, he may of died from old age, to be honest I'm not an expert but form the description you give, a heartskroke is possible.

Answer 12

ummm....... it could be many things but I would guess heat stroke as well, or it could have gotten a disease of some sort. It did NOT die of old age, rabbits generally live until they are 6-10 years, some live longer, like the bigger breeds. I believe you probably killed it when you put ice packs on his ears. The ears determine the heat of the rabbit so what you did was probably really bad. I feel bad for the rabbit and don't suggest you get another until you know how to properly care for a rabbit.