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babies suddenly die

22 10:14:33

Question
QUESTION: Our Castor doe had babies 2 wks ago. We noticed Monday that her water bottle was jammed and not giving our water so we got it fixed and she was drinking fine. We took the kits out and were taking some 2 wks pictures of them and they all seemed fine.
Today I went out to feed the Doe and all the kits were dead! No sign of the mother harming them. They didn't seem to have sunken bellies, they seemed all fine so we have no idea what would of caused them to all die any suggestions? My daughter is going to be devastated today when she gets home.


ANSWER: Dear Traci,

I am sorry about this terrible, unexpected loss.

Unfortunately, a necropsy with histopathology and possibly toxicology testing done on major organ tissues would probably be the only way to know what happened.  There are just too many possibilities, from heat stroke to something toxic (pesticide?) to the after-effects of not being fed by their mother (who might have gone dry if she was without water for too long).

If you choose to have necropsy done, then be sure it's by a vet who is experienced with rabbits:

www.rabbit.org/vets

I am very sorry.

Dana

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Our rabbits are in a heat controlled building so the cold wasn't an issue. We live in Iowa so it is colder right now but like I said they are in a building and very protected. No pesticides so I know that isn't an issue. We don't believe that they were hungry as the night before we had them out and they didn't look lethargic so someone mentioned that their nesting box might of been the problem?  Toxic from that maybe?

Answer
Dear Traci,

Is there any reason for you to think there was something toxic in the nest box?  I can't imagine there would be.  But I don't know what's in it.

Truly, the only way to know what happened is with a necropsy including histopathology and toxicology.  Without that, anything is just a guess, and there are probably hundreds of different guesses one could make.

I'm sorry about the loss of the babies.

Dana