This is the infamous "what came first" question.
Did our best attempt at an autopsy last night. Please forgive me for not having pictures, it was 10pm and had been a hectic evening
She was just shy of 2 years old, purebred Satin. She had been a great mom for her first litter at 8 months old. Failed at 4 litters after that. Would quit eating about 1/2 way through pregnancy. Would either give birth to dead deformed kits or have nothing at all. This last pregnancy I was pulling out all the stops to try and get some kits from her to foster to other does. Trying to determine if its just her, or a genetic thing in her lines.
This pregnancy she got grazing time outside in a playpen 2x per week, probiotics and electrolytes in her water, also had fresh water available, calf manna, BOSS, oats, and hay. Plus her normal pellets of course, which she always quits eating first btw.
She quit eating everything but a few greens 8 days before she aborted the litter 5-7 days early. 7 out of the 9 kits looked fairly normal, but very, very small. She didn't eat anything from the time of delivery to when we dispatched the next day.
Autopsy looked very normal with no signs of parasites or tumors. All organs looked healthy except her liver and gallbladder. Liver was a very light tan, and gallbladder was HUGE and leaking. Did have two leaking areas in the small intestine also. This is the first adult domestic rabbit we have butchered. She surprised us with how much fat she had. I'm not sure it was excessive. On top of shoulder blades, around kidneys, and bladder area. She always looks emanciated after being pregnant. There was definite muscle loss along the spine, making it appear to protrude.
I should add that this rabbit and her daughter our the only ones in my bunny barn giving me these issues. My other does are still producing fine. I have a granddaughter from this line that isn't old enough to breed yet, so no insight there yet. Daughter is due this weekend and looks good for the first time ever, also on the grazing, calf manna, water supplement, etc treatment. First time she has continued eating through a pregnancy. This will be her 4th. I do realize that this craziness is NOT something I want to breed into my herd. I'm just lucky enough to have the space and REALLY want to figure out if this is genetic, contagious disease, random, whatever???
Any insight on whether being pregnant and not eating caused the sickly liver? Or did she have liver problems, from overweight or something else, cause the constant failed pregnancies?
Thanks for any thoughts!!!
Did our best attempt at an autopsy last night. Please forgive me for not having pictures, it was 10pm and had been a hectic evening
She was just shy of 2 years old, purebred Satin. She had been a great mom for her first litter at 8 months old. Failed at 4 litters after that. Would quit eating about 1/2 way through pregnancy. Would either give birth to dead deformed kits or have nothing at all. This last pregnancy I was pulling out all the stops to try and get some kits from her to foster to other does. Trying to determine if its just her, or a genetic thing in her lines.
This pregnancy she got grazing time outside in a playpen 2x per week, probiotics and electrolytes in her water, also had fresh water available, calf manna, BOSS, oats, and hay. Plus her normal pellets of course, which she always quits eating first btw.
She quit eating everything but a few greens 8 days before she aborted the litter 5-7 days early. 7 out of the 9 kits looked fairly normal, but very, very small. She didn't eat anything from the time of delivery to when we dispatched the next day.
Autopsy looked very normal with no signs of parasites or tumors. All organs looked healthy except her liver and gallbladder. Liver was a very light tan, and gallbladder was HUGE and leaking. Did have two leaking areas in the small intestine also. This is the first adult domestic rabbit we have butchered. She surprised us with how much fat she had. I'm not sure it was excessive. On top of shoulder blades, around kidneys, and bladder area. She always looks emanciated after being pregnant. There was definite muscle loss along the spine, making it appear to protrude.
I should add that this rabbit and her daughter our the only ones in my bunny barn giving me these issues. My other does are still producing fine. I have a granddaughter from this line that isn't old enough to breed yet, so no insight there yet. Daughter is due this weekend and looks good for the first time ever, also on the grazing, calf manna, water supplement, etc treatment. First time she has continued eating through a pregnancy. This will be her 4th. I do realize that this craziness is NOT something I want to breed into my herd. I'm just lucky enough to have the space and REALLY want to figure out if this is genetic, contagious disease, random, whatever???
Any insight on whether being pregnant and not eating caused the sickly liver? Or did she have liver problems, from overweight or something else, cause the constant failed pregnancies?
Thanks for any thoughts!!!
