Abortion and Stillbirth in Rabbits

Abortion in rabbits means a doe loses her pregnancy before the kits are ready to be born. Stillbirth means full-term or near-term kits are delivered dead. These are not diseases by themselves. They are signs that something disrupted the pregnancy, such as infection, severe stress, poor nutrition, uterine disease, difficult labor, or a metabolic problem like pregnancy toxemia.

Pregnancy loss can affect the doe, not only the kits. Some rabbits become quiet, stop eating, or develop vaginal discharge. Others may have no obvious warning signs until dead kits are found in the nest or the doe becomes suddenly ill. Because rabbits can decline quickly when they are painful or not eating, this is a problem that deserves prompt veterinary attention.

In pet rabbits, the goal is to protect the doe's health first. Your vet will look for urgent complications like retained fetuses, uterine infection, dehydration, shock, or obstruction during labor. Treatment depends on the cause, how sick the doe is, and whether she is still pregnant with any live kits.

Causes fall into a few broad groups. Infectious causes can include bacterial disease affecting the uterus or placenta, such as listeriosis, and other reproductive infections. Rabbits can also develop uterine infection after fetal death or difficult delivery. In breeding settings, contagious disease and poor sanitation increase risk.

Noninfectious causes are also important. Difficult labor, called dystocia, can lead to fetal death and stillbirth, especially if a kit is oversized, malformed, malpositioned, or the doe is exhausted. Pregnancy toxemia is a rare but serious metabolic emergency seen around the end of pregnancy or just before kindling, with obesity, poor intake, and first litters listed as risk factors. Severe stress, overheating, trauma, poor body condition, sudden diet problems, and inadequate nesting conditions may also contribute.

Underlying reproductive disease can matter too. Rabbits are prone to uterine disorders, and a doe with uterine inflammation or structural problems may be at higher risk for pregnancy complications. Sometimes no single cause is found, especially if the doe is examined late or fetal and placental tissues are not available for testing.

Your vet will start with a careful history and physical exam. Helpful details include breeding date, expected due date, appetite changes, nesting behavior, any discharge, whether labor started, and whether any kits or placental tissue were passed. Because rabbits hide illness, subtle changes like smaller fecal pellets or less interest in food can be important.

Diagnosis often includes abdominal palpation plus imaging. X-rays can help confirm whether fetuses are still present and may show fetal skeletons late in pregnancy. Ultrasound can help assess the uterus, retained fetuses, fluid, and sometimes fetal viability earlier in gestation. If the doe is sick, your vet may also recommend blood work to look for dehydration, infection, organ stress, or metabolic problems.

If abortion or stillbirth has already happened, testing the fetus, placenta, and vaginal discharge can sometimes identify an infectious cause. Your vet may suggest cytology, culture, PCR, or necropsy through a diagnostic lab when available. This is especially useful if more than one rabbit is affected, there is concern for a contagious disease, or the doe may be bred again in the future.

The best prevention depends on whether the rabbit is intended for breeding. For pet rabbits not meant for breeding, spaying prevents pregnancy and also reduces the risk of serious uterine disease later in life. If a doe will be bred, pre-breeding health checks, good body condition, a high-fiber diet, steady food intake, clean housing, and low-stress handling all matter.

Avoid sudden diet changes, overheating, overcrowding, and contact with sick rabbits. Pregnant does should have a quiet nesting area, easy access to hay and water, and close observation near the due date without excessive disturbance. Obesity and poor appetite can raise concern for pregnancy toxemia, so keeping does fit and eating consistently is important.

If a doe aborts or delivers stillborn kits, remove contaminated bedding carefully and wash hands well. Ask your vet whether the doe, the environment, or any tissues should be tested for infectious disease. If there are multiple rabbits in the home or breeding group, isolation and sanitation become especially important until your vet helps rule out a contagious cause.