RIP Sweetie after kindling

[Jay-Bird]

My 4 year old doe just passed away after kindling, and I am baffled as to why. She was a day late in kindling, but she had her nest all set up and looked ready to go. Then in between lunch check and before dinner feeding, she gave birth and died. I found the head of one kit in the nesting box, but saw no other body parts or blood, or even any other evidence of other kits, not in the nest box, in her cage, or beneath her cage. Her cage's wire spacing is too small for kits to fall out and is predator (cats) proof. The fur in her nest box looked pristine. When I found her she was still warm, but rigor mortis had set in. She was lying in her nest box on her side. There was a tiny bit of blood on her vulva, which was swollen and purple, and a little turd was just exiting her anus. Since she was still warm I did an necropsy, hoping to save some kits, but I found none inside her, either waiting to be born or in her stomach or intestines. Her liver looked like a normal healthy red, not fatty and yellowish. Her stomach and intestinal contents looked normal, not constipated or impacted.
Besides being in grief and feeling guilty, I am baffled as to what happened. This was not her first litter, (although it was her first while under my care) and she had even had kits with the same sire before. I have lost kits before (to a young or anxious mother who rejected them) but have never lost a doe. Does anyone have any thoughts as to what might have happened to her?
Thanks,
Jay-Bird

 

[Nancy McClelland]

no real ideas here--everything sounded normal. Bunnies are so good at hiding things from us and sometimes it just happens with no real rhyme or reason. We're sorry for your loss--rest in peace little girl.

 

[Maureen Las]

I am going to move this to the Rabbitry as someone there may have more experience with something like this

I am so very sorry

 

[wooly_queen]

Has she had litters before this one?

 

[lelanatty]

So sorry about your doe. Sometimes things happen that are unexplainable.

 

[Jaded]

What breed was she?

 

[RAL Rabbitry]

It might have been a shortage of calcium in her body that caused her heart to stop.

 

[pamnock]

So sorry you lost the doe. There are many possible causes, which a complete necropsy could possibly reveal . . .

Uterine Hemorrhage or rupture, pulmonary embolism, amniotic fluid embolism, aortic aneurysm, subarachnoid hemorrhage, pulmonary embolism, CNS aneurysm, cardiac arrest, pulmonary hypertension, hypovolemic shock, ketosis . . .

(A few of these you had already ruled out). Her age could also have been a factor. Older does would be more at risk for some health issues.

 

[polly]

I lost a doe like that but I was around when it happened mine looked like she choked on the placenta while cleaning up took a seizure and died it was very quick!!

 

[mistyjr]

so sorry for your loss!

 

[mistyjr]

so sorry for your loss!

 

[Jay-Bird]

She was an almost-4 year old Rex, and had kindled before several times (before she came to me) and had never had any problems before. I talked to her former owner and she was shocked as well. Sweetie really was a very healthy-seeming bunny and lived up to her name. It was just such a shock when she seemed so perfectly ready for the babies and all.