Rabbit had a miscarriage... *update 1/29 - graphic images*

[MamaSheepdog]

I'm sorry, Teddy.

You did all you could for her. I hope you or we can figure out what the problem was.

Good luck with the necropsy. Remember- you can't hurt her now.

 

[OneAcreFarm]

So sorry hon! {{{hugs}}}

 

[skysthelimit]

I'm really sorry you lost her. Sounds a lot like ketosis.



Ketosis (Pregnancy Toxemia)

Ketosis is a rare disorder that may result in death of does 1 to 2 days before giving birth. The disease is more common in first-litter does.
The most significant physical change is fatty deposits in the liver and kidneys (noted after death has occurred). Merck Vet manual

 

[fuzzy9]

So sorry you lost her!

 

[Teddy2511]

Thank you all; the necropsy went okay, but I had my dad do the cutting up part... I couldn't bring myself to hold my dead rabbit or pick her up out of the cage, but I did do the picture taking.

From what we saw, it looks like Izzy retained two of the three placentas; when I found the dead kits she had delivered earlier there was one placenta and three kits. My dad thinks that it looks like one placenta was left in each horn... But since I am not very familiar with rabbit anatomy, I would love any input from you experts on what you think may have been going on in there.

If there was a placenta in each horn of her uterus, would that have been a cause of additional problems? And if the Pen G had gotten into her sooner, would it have helped prevent this? I'd love any ideas that would be of use in case something like this ever happens again. (Though I hope that never happens! :-x :no: ) Also, would a dose of oxytocin have even helped?


Here are some of the pictures from our necropsy:

 

[ladysown]

those look like retained kits to me.

why exactly she died...it's hard to say.
but she wasn't eating.
she had her kits early.
She was an unwell doe. My best guess was that the kits died on her due to some unknown reason, and she died either as a result OR she had a pre-existing condition which caused the kits to die, which caused her to die....

It's hard to say for sure.

She had ALOT of internal fat. I'd suggest either working your does harder or moderating their feed a bit.

This whole pregnancy only in one horn is a bunch of bunk by the by.
EVERY SINGLE TIME I've had to open up a rabbit who was pregnant she had babies on both sides. One breeding, both sides. Sometimes the opening up was a deliberate I want to save the babies (have done this successfully!) and I know I can't save the doe, and other times it was a by product of an ill rabbit needing to be culled and wanting to see if I could figure out why.

 

[Dood]

I don't think they are retained kits as the substance looks too 'squishy', did the contents feel like there were bones?

Oxy may have helped her expel these but as Ladysown stated, something else was wrong for her to give birth early and to go off her food.

As for the pregnancy on one horn statement. No one stated that this is the norm in rabbits but it does occur and can be the explaination to copious amounts of blood or clots a day or two before kindling.

I haven't cut open many pregnant does but the ones I have necropsied also had kits in both horns, usually one horn had a few more than the other, but in searching for an explanation on why my doe lost 1/4 cup of blood and clots 2 days before kindling, the emptying of the uterine horn was the only explanation I found.

I believe it would actually be a rather rare occurrence that some stressor would only affect kits in one uterine horn causing those fetuses to be absorbed or that only one ovary had eggs that ripen and are released after mating. Definitely the exception and not the rule.

 

[skysthelimit]

Neither the oxy or the pen would have been much help at that stage. Probably the calcium and electrolytes. But never second guess yourself to the point you upset yourself, you could not have learned without this experience. I was very fortunate the first time this happened, and I saved my doe, but her litters have been half the size after that. The other doe, well, nothing I learned saved her.

 

[Teddy2511]

those look like retained kits to me.

I don't think they are retained kits as the substance looks too 'squishy', did the contents feel like there were bones?

There were no kits left in the uterine horns; only the two placentas... We opened up both horns completely and only found the placentas. We also checked her vaginal tube to see if it was plugged in any way, which it was not. :? I can't figure out why she wouldn't have passed the placentas with the kits, so I guess something else must have been wrong.

Neither the oxy or the pen would have been much help at that stage. Probably the calcium and electrolytes. But never second guess yourself to the point you upset yourself, you could not have learned without this experience.

Thanks, I have passed the point of second guessing myself now, but that was my first response... And though it is still a litle hard to have her gone right now, I know I will apreciate the experience in the future. :yes:

She had ALOT of internal fat. I'd suggest either working your does harder or moderating their feed a bit.

I don't know why this would be... She has never really been one to overeat, but since I had only had her for half a year, there could have been other internal things from before that I didn't know where going on.

What do you suggest as good exercise for them? Just letting them out to hop around more often?

 

[ladysown]

I don't know how you are keeping your rabbits to be able to answer if more exercise is key.

I find that measure feeding is the best way to help contain internal fat build up.

Did you know her history before you purchased her? is she a first time mom? Was she an adult when you got her?

 

[Teddy2511]

I don't know how you are keeping your rabbits to be able to answer if more exercise is key.

I find that measure feeding is the best way to help contain internal fat build up.

Did you know her history before you purchased her? is she a first time mom? Was she an adult when you got her?

This particular doe was being kept in a 24x36 cage while here with me, and about the same size cage in her previous home. I didn't take her out for anything but check-ups, grooming, and breeding/palpating because of her strong dislike for being handled. I would hold her in my arms occasionally to try and get her used to being held, but I never did enjoy the experience... I usually came away with more frustration and pain than she did! :lol:
My other bunnies get to come out on occasion to play in our living room, or spend time being held by the rest of our family members.

I do measure my feed for my rabbits, usually by the weight of the rabbit. A 4lb rabbit would receive 4oz of pellets per day; less if it wasn't finishing them.
I was free-feeding Izzy though, prior to her death, because she had been nursing a litter and was just weaned from them a few days before she miscarried.

No, she was not a first time mother before she came to me, and in fact, she had great breeding records. Other than peanuts from true dwarf x true dwarf breedings, and one very large (7 kit) litter that died because of cold, she had never had a problem. She was really good at pulling plenty of fur and placing her babies way in the back of the nest in a nice deep indent.
Unfortunately, in the last litter she had she ate one of the babies, so I was getting a little skeptical about whether she should continue as a brood doe or not. This litter that she miscarried, was my test breeding; if she did fine with them she would be sold as a brood doe, but if she failed again she would be getting spayed and petted out.

Sadly, I guess I got my answer, though it certainly was not the one I hoped for. Nor in a way that I would ever desire to experience again. :no:
But I have learned a lot, and I hope that helps in the future with my rabbit breeding goals.