Lost 2 kits not sure why.....

[tm_bunnyloft]

The kits all seemed fine after I warmed them up. They were all eating well and were no worse for being born on the floor and chilled.

Then yesterday one of them seemed swollen and was squeaking allot. Shortly after I found it like that, it died.

Now today I found another one just like it and it died too.

It is weird because their faces and necks are swelling like they are retaining fluid. They squeak a bunch and shortly after that they die. All were fine at 8 this morning when I put KK with them for their morning meal. By 2 the one was swollen and by 2:30 it died.

Any ideas what this weird swelling and death could be caused by?

 

[MamaSheepdog]

It sounds like anaphylactic shock- an allergic reaction- but to what I have no idea.

Has KK been exposed to anything weird?

 

[MaggieJ]

What is KK?

 

[tm_bunnyloft]

KK is my black Jersey Wooly Doe.

The SR. bunz are on pine shavings in the garage but thats not out of the ordinary. They are the kits that were born on the cold floor and I thought were dead. Warmed them under warm water.

The Timothy in the nest box had allot of dust. Could it be from breathing in the dust?

 

[MamaSheepdog]

The Timothy in the nest box had allot of dust. Could it be from breathing in the dust?

It could be. If that is the only thing you have identified as different, I would go with your gut feeling.

Can you replace the bedding with something else? If you have a document shredder you could use paper shreds. I prefer brown pulp paper (grocery bags) because it has softer fibers and isn't bleached, and I think it is less likely to cut them.

 

[Miss M]

There have been other cases of chilled kits being warmed, seeming to be doing just fine, then suddenly dying of various issues. Many warmed kits will turn out fine, but some, while seeming to have recovered, just suddenly fail.

How long have they had this Timothy in their nest?
Did KK come into contact with anything before 8, that the babies had not been exposed to before?

 

[tm_bunnyloft]

The timothy is what has been in their nest since day one. There is nothing new. One of the final two is now showing signs that it is going to fail too. I will be surprised if any of the litter makes it.

The one doe died. So having one of the two left now showing signs of failing, I may just as well cull the remaining of the litter. I can stick her back with the buck for a quick breed back. I am breeding the other doe now too, so its a good time.

Who knows maybe Ill actually get a litter of does next time and all will go well. I can at least hope.

 

[Miss M]

So sorry, TM! I've never heard of this kind of thing in baby rabbits. It does sound like anaphylactic shock. But to what? That's what's odd.

 

[Demamma]

If they are in the garage there could be some residual from chemicals or something. sorry you lost the litter hope all is well with the next one.

 

[tm_bunnyloft]

They are in the house now. There is nothing that would be an allergy or irritant that I can think of.
I just checked on them and they are all dead this morning. I will assume it is because of just how chilled they we re and rebreed her today.

Thanks for all the ideas.

 

[Miss M]

Better luck with this try! :clover:

 

[tm_bunnyloft]

Thank you. I now know that I can not trust her so I will be watching her very closely. I sure hope I get some does from her so that she can move along to a new home soon. Two nice does like the sable marten buck and she is gone. Maybe that is why she keeps giving me bucks. lol