Rabbit - gagging and fluid coming out of mouth

Question
Hi,

Last night my 3 year old Netherland dwarf female (neutered) bunny past away after what seemed to be some sort of gagging fit. She was sitting there like normal and then all of a sudden she was gagging and fluid started bubbling out of her mouth. She ran around frantically for a few seconds then collapsed. I rushed her to the emergency vet but she past away in the car on the way (abaout 4-5mins after she started gagging). I've read most of your comments to previous gagging cases but most related to while eating. My bunny wasn't eating and hadn't eaten for an hour or so. It all happened within 5 mins and she seemed fine beforehand. No noticeable changes in mood and behaviour at all.

any ideas?
Thank you
Amanda  

Answer
Hi Amanda,

I am very sorry for your loss.

I am armchair quarterbacking here so I can't tell you for certain.  My guess is that she had a blockage of some kind in her stomach for awhile, from the point where she didn't eat and drink anymore.  SHe may have drank or eaten a little even with the blockage because her body was probably thirsty and telling her to drink (wasn't absorbing fluids from the intestines because of the blocage higher up) and her stomach got too full (distended) and it got pushed up and out instead of down.  She probably aspirated some of that material which would have had stomach acid in it along with water and food material.  the stomach was so full and was trying to convulse and get the material out to the intestines, but since it was blocked it could only go up, and with rabbits, you know it's virtually impossible since rabbits don't vomit, so this is an extreme thing to occur.

I would probably say there would not be a real way to see this coming.  I would bet your rabbit didn't even expect that to happen.  She probably didn't feel the blockage as being a problem and kept eating and drinking like normal, and the stomach got too full and was trying to empty itself.  As far as I can tell you did everything right.  I know you will probably feel some guilt but that was a virtually unpredictable thing that happened.

Again, I'm sorry you lost your little bunny girl.  Her spirit went back to God, as every animals' spirit He creates. I hope you will get to see her again when all things are made new again.