How to explain death of a family pet to 3 year old??

[Naturally2806]

We have a rabbit who is almost 10 years old and she has taken a bad turn over the weekend. It's with a heavy heart need to take her to the vets tomorrow and I'm not expecting it to be good news. If not tommorrow then I'm sure it's going to be soon.
Would welcome any advice how to explain to my just turned 3 years old DS what has happened when the worst does happen. DD is only 16 months so I am hoping she is much less aware but will need advice too.
Unfortunately have no choice but to take both children to vets with me but fingers crossed a friend is coming to sit with them in the waiting room.
We watched The Snowman and Snowdog today and I carefully talked about the old dog at the beginning with DS and the when the dog dies tried in very basic terms to explain why the boy is sad.
Any advice appreciated. Our rabbit has been a much loved family pet long before our children came along and DS and DD adore her. It makes it a bit harder that she is a house rabbit so her absence will be very noticeable.

In my experience honesty is best. A 3yo will know if you are holding back or telling a white lie but equally words like died will not have the impact they would on a more mature person.

I don't know if that helps at all but I would try to tell the truth and then give time for him to ask questions.

I was wondering about saying she's gone to stay at the vets for a while as she's not very well but I guess the inevitable questions will come later as to why she's not come home. The last thing I want to do is frighten him as he's recently developed lots of fears about all sorts of things which I know is common at his age e.g saying the vet put her to sleep and then he's frightened to go to sleep etc!!
But I do see your point georgewindsor about being honest- just not sure how much!!

Sometimes an animal is so poorly that the animal doctors can't make them better so they die. That means you won't see the rabbit any more but you will be able to remember her in your head and all the lovely times you had together.

It's no good dressing it up and saying they went to heaven or went to sleep imo.

I was honest with my (then) 2 year and 4 olds when their Grandad died who they saw several times a week.It's unfair to be otherwise,because it's confusing and distressing.

She may play games around death for a little while,just to digest it and work through it.

Honesty always the best idea-we had similar circumstances-don't do the put to sleep thing, just that she was old and it was her time to die by that she will live on in their thoughts and hearts.

We had a funeral, planted some bulbs that come up at her birthday time, and 3 yrs on they still remember her when the flowers are out. Was upsetting at the time, but it stopped any ongoing thoughts IYKWIM

Oh that's some fab ideas thank you everyone :)

Don't say put to sleep, or went to sleep and didn't wake up, as that can scare little ones a lot. I went with the truth, that the cat was very old and poorly and the vet couldn't make him better.

It was a lot tougher when the new kitten got run over at 8 months old, but they even accepted that, although they were a lot more upset about it.

Questions and games about death will follow, they are completely normal.

Oh Ophelia that's so terribly sad :(
Yes I am definitely going to steer well clear of the "put to sleep" thing. Need to be a bit cautious about the point of her being unwell as DS has been poorly and we do have regular hospital visits so don't want him to make any funny connections with that!
Kind of a catch 22 I guess!! Maybe I'll just answer any questions rather than launch into anything too heavy and judge it as we go along. Fingers crossed!
wheremymilk I do like the idea of planting something. Maybe take the kiddies to garden centre and they can choose something