Rabbit advice please.

[SauvignonBlanche]

DH and DD got two 8 week old female rabbits (sisters) just under 2 weeks ago, we got a phone call from the pet shop after a week asking us to take them in to be checked by a vet as there had been a problem with some other rabbits. They were checked and deemed to be fine.
One of them has died today.
I know rabbits are happier in small groups but the pet shop have said that if we get another female rabbit they could fight as they will not be used to each other.
I don't like the sound of that but don't want the remaining one to be lonely either.
What shall we do?

Get the other rabbit to an independent vet asap.

Is she a house rabbit or is that a possibility?

If you really want a pair, try somewhere like here for a new friend.

My little laddy is nearly 11 weeks. As he's a house rabbit rather than a hutch rabbit, he gets quite enough company from the cat, DP and me. My parents have offered to pay for counselling when he finally works out he's a rabbit not a person

That's nice of your parents, the counselling sounds expensive!
I should have said, the remaining rabbit is seeing the vet tomorrow but it is the vet for the pet shop.

Don't bother. Go and see a proper vet, independently, just in case. Mine are lovely and offer same day appointments for pretty much everything! unlike the bloody people doctor Pet shops are not a good place to get bunnies and I only got mine from one because I know they're good - they're an independent local chain with a very very very good reputation. Large chains are only in it for the profit...

As I said, a lone house rabbit is fine, a hutch rabbit needs company. And a spayed/neutered rabbit is a happy and healthy one. Females are in danger of all sorts of nasty cancers if they don't get done, and teenage years are apparently worse than people Think teenage hormones, toddler communication... Getting the snip bypasses a lot of the hormones afaik

Santana like to go for a flollop on his lead every so often, which helps his socialisation. He doesn't like dogs much but will tolerate them at a short distance (he is always held, I don't expect dog owners to train their dogs for there being a bunny in the local park!)

Should we get another one quickly or wait a while?

Just seen this on another Super furry animals thread
"Female rabbits can be very hormonal unless spayed, and will be happiest, and hence calmest, when spayed and then paired with a neutered male rabbit. They really are very timid animals, and benefit from a rabbit friend."

So should we wait until she is spayed? She's only a baby!

I wouldn't know, tbh, Santana is my first. I reckon it'd be easiest to introduce them while she's still a baby. Contact your local rescue, they'll be best placed to advise you and will help you find somebunny to lurve

Hope your rabbit got the all clear from the vet. If she's an outside bunny, please get her a friend. Your local rescue centre should help with finding one your bunny will get along with. It may be a good idea to wait until she's spayed - again your rescue centre will advise.

Please make sure you have her spayed. Our female house rabbit recently died from cancer (she was unspayed). The house is empty without her. I can vouch for unspayed females being aggressive, territorial and moody (think hormonal teenager). However, mine was incredibly loyal and none of those things with me (just the rest of the family).

She did get the all clear - thanks!
We will get her spayed.