Gene Hackman's dog likely died of starvation and dehydration

New details were released about the death of one of Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa's dogs, whose body was found in their Santa Fe home, along with the deceased couple, in late February.

The dog, Zinfandel (nicknamed Zinna), likely died from dehydration and starvation, according to a necropsy report issued by the New Mexico Department of Agriculture’s Veterinary Diagnostic Services and obtained by USA TODAY on Monday.

The 12-year-old Australian Kelpie mix's stomach was mostly empty, with the exception of "small amounts of hair and bile," per the department. The report also stated there was no evidence of infectious disease, trauma or poisoning.

The date of the dog's death was not disclosed, but the report states the autopsy showed "severe postmortem decomposition" and "partial mummification."

Why was the Hackmans' dog in a crate?

On Feb. 26, after maintenance workers spotted Arakawa on her bathroom floor and called 911, sheriff's deputies and paramedics discovered Zinna dead in a crate. The couple's two other dogs, Nikita and Bear, were found roaming the property, and both the front door and a back door were ajar.

Robert Gruda, the owner of Gruda Veterinary Hospital, recently told USA TODAY that the hospital's staff had told Arakawa to confine Zinna to a crate to keep her from running around following a "major surgery" in January. “She was an excellent dog owner, excellent caretaker to those dogs,” he said. “She really doted on them.”

Near Zinna, Arakawa's body showed decomposition, and investigators estimated she'd died Feb. 11. The Oscar-winning actor was found in a mudroom with a cane and sunglasses nearby.

According to the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office, Arakawa, 65, died due to Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare disease that is contracted by contact with mouse droppings. According to the CDC, Hantaviruses "are spread mainly by rodents and are not spread from person-to-person." And Hackman, 95, had heart disease and complications caused by Alzheimer's disease and died from natural causes.

A mask, a cane and a frantic dog: Inside the final hours of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa

Investigators theorized that once Arakawa died, Hackman no longer could care for himself or the dogs. He likely didn't know his wife had died, officials said, citing his Alzheimers disease.

Hackman was believed to have died about a week after his wife, with his pacemaker last showing activity on Feb. 18. Hackman had been in very poor health, according to Dr. Heather Jarrell, New Mexico's chief medical examiner.

Investigators were unclear how Hackman spent his last days. Jarrell said the autopsy showed that Hackman hadn't eaten recently, but that he did not suffer from dehydration.

Contributing: USA TODAY staff

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Gene Hackman's dog: Zinna died with an empty stomach