Doe bleeding?

[Anntann]

My lovely big American Blue doe was really docile last night. There was a little blood in the cage, but I didn't see any wounds. This morning, there was more blood where she was laying soaked into the bedding. Not a whole lot, but kind of like she might have aborted maybe? (she was bred a week ago).

So,... what if anything can I do for her? Is this a "she's gonna die" thing or just a natural "let her heal up" and give her plantain or something?

 

[MaggieJ]

It does sound like she aborted. Unless she is in danger of bleeding out, I doubt it is life-threatening. I'll see what I can come up with in terms of something to give her... I really should have this kind of info at my fingertips, but have never had this particular situation.<br /><br />__________ Sun Oct 03, 2010 7:25 am __________<br /><br />Okay, I'd certainly give her plantain... Can't hurt in the slightest. Raspberry leaves and/or shepherd's purse may be a good idea and they are both safe foods for rabbits.

Here's a link to the herb page of Two Hunnyz website:
http://twohunnyzrabbitry.webs.com/herbinformation.htm

And the one for the index to her articles:
http://twohunnyzrabbitry.webs.com/articles.htm

Krystal is very knowledgeable and I trust the information she provides.

 

[mommaebear]

I'd really like to know any information anyone has about what an abortion looks like. I have a doe from my colony that was acting "off" so I approached her and upon inspection saw she was bleeding from her vagina. She seems...quiet, a little sluggish but still pretty healthy looking. She did pass a lump of something that could have been an extra plump placenta, or a growth, about a quarter size around. She is clearly bleeding from her uterus there is no block in her canal, and I don't think I feel any kits. I've given her a half TUMS, shepards purse tea, raspberry leaves, and some other green munchies. She's eating and drinking still though. The last two times this happened to me I was a noob and lost both Momma bunnies, but I caught it really late, and in the winter. It's not blood red, a little watered down. Anyways any info would be awsome, Thanks!

 

[MaggieJ]

I wish I could help out, but I've no firsthand experience. An abortion should not cause the loss of the doe, unless there are secondary complications like infection from retained embryos... and even then, don't rabbits reabsorb them?

I have read that a few lavender buds (fresh or dried) will help expel whatever may be still in the uterus, but have never tried it and now I can't even find the info about it. I think the measures you have taken should be helpful.

http://twohunnyzrabbitry.webs.com/herbb ... abbits.htm
http://twohunnyzrabbitry.webs.com/herbinformation.htm

Okay, found a bit about lavender... still don't know how reliable it is.

http://www.healthypetcorner.com/rabbit.html

 

[5dognightfarm]

We've had a doe abort before once, she was about maybe 2 1/2 to 3 weeks along. Didn't do anything for the doe really, she wasn't bleeding much. Just a bunch of squishy bloody baby-bunny-ish looking blobs in the cage tray.

 

[Anntann]

Boy...I'd forgotten about this.

The doe in question did, indeed, abort. She healed up just fine and went on to have kits 2 months later.

I gave her plantain and raspberry with a few lavender leaves. She grabbed the plantain like it was a lifeline. Didn't even look at the raspberry leaves. Later, when I had the dog at the vet's, I asked about the whole aborting thing and he told me that rabbits are able to abort because of illness, or poor genetics, or fear...and then be rebred within a few days successfully. Apparently ALL prey animals heal very quickly if there's any chance at all.

Aborting a fetus is simply the body shedding all cells in the uterus...there's no real injury. We just see the blood that surrounds the fetus to cushion and feed it.

 

[mommaebear]

There was too much blood for it to be just around the kits. She did really well the first day, than the second she slipped away on my. When i opened her up both horns were full of about 9 kits, about 3 weeks in I figure. There was one kit backward and forced back into the kit beind it and REALLY squished, and the cord didn't seem to be attached very well and was right on the edge and torn, the placenta was still attached though, so I think it was a placental problem, everything else looked perfectly normal.