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Is my four months old rabbit pregnant? Please help me!

22 9:48:51

Question
QUESTION: Hi, I bought a four months old female rabbit 4 weeks ago and I kept her with my 8 months old male rabbit in a cage together. Some days ago, I felt she got a bit weak and there is like a ball or a swelling between two of her back legs. I tried to touch it but I couldn't find a firm thing there. It looks like a bloat and disposed to her right leg! I searched if a rabbit be pregnant, she must try to make a nest. So, I put hay and some papers for her but she dosn't try to make any nest! She eats enough food and drinks water too. May she be sick or has a sickness? Or is she pregnant because I am seeing that swelling between her legs? How must I understand? Please help me... I fear if I miss my rabbit! :(  
Thank you deeply.

ANSWER: Is there any way you could attach a photo and send it to me? Swelling between her legs is hard for me to envision when I am not seeing the rabbit myself.

A four month old rabbit is just entering sexual maturity, and yes, it is possible for her to be pregnant. That being said, because she's so young this is not a good thing for her at all. How small is she in comparison to your 8 month old rabbit? If he is markedly larger than she is and she's not full grown herself, then she may have a very hard time pushing out these babies. They can get stuck, or she will be unable to have them, they may die inside of her and she might go into septic shock. Rabbits sometimes will re-absorb the dead tissue in their bodies or have the dead babies at a later time with a subsequent litter.

If she does successfully deliver, then there is most likely going to be a huge issue with her not being ready and mature enough to raise a litter. A lot of young rabbits will jump in and out of the nest frequently from being nervous "just to check", but in doing so she may injure the babies not knowing any better. she may not know how to feed or clean the babies properly.

Instead of giving her a nest box, make an upside-down U in the box so she has to crawl in rather than being able to jump in. You want a lid on the top. A cardboard box would allow you to open the flaps but it should be strong enough to hold her weight when she jumps on it. The box should be just a little bigger than she is. Fresh hay is ok but make sure it hasn't been exposed to mold and has been kept airtight because mites love to hide in hay.

If she is pregnant, don't worry if she doesn't make a nest right away, some mothers will do this right before delivering, which usually happens at night. If you find that she has delivered and the babies are scattered throughout the cage and still alive, then put them all together in the box. If she hasn't pulled any hair then you can clip a small amount from her , or you can buy fake nest liner at the pet store.

Should she not feed, then you will be feeding twice a day by syringe. I will help explain that process should it occur.

You can usually feel the babies inside her from about a week into the pregnancy. 2-3 weeks in they will feel like little hard marbles. One week or less before and they will feel more like plums that are a little softer. If you lift your rabbits front legs and feel down from the center, just below her ribcage to just above her genitals you should be able to feel the kits on either side. That is where they should be located, not simply between her legs.

Swelling between her legs could also indicate rabbit syphilis. It is harder to notice it in males than in females and its extremely contagious amongst rabbits. If the male, or the female had it, then both would be now exposed and infected. Both would require treatment from a qualified rabbit vet. Go to rabbit.org and they have vet listings for those that specialize in rabbits throughout the US and Canada and beyond. You want a rabbit vet. a vet who treats rabbits only in emergencies is not a good choice. They will often treat the rabbit like it is a cat or dog and prescribe anti-biotics made for cats and dogs rather than for rabbits which has lead to a lot of unnecessary deaths amongst rabbits.

I have just actually gone through this ordeal (rabbit syphilis) with my rabbits. Four of them required treatment. One of my does vaginal area and anus was swelled right out about an inch. You may notice scabs or ulcerations on the genitals as well. It might cause straining during urination for the female. Both may have yellow/ brown crustiness around the genital region. Also, the rabbits fur may be thinning around her genitals or around her eyes and nose. Brown crustiness can also accompany this in the rabbits nostrils or in the corner of the eyes. In the eyes it might look more whitish. If any of this is going on get them both to the vet to be examined.

You should be able to feel the kits by now inside her. If you can't, then get her to a vet for an examination. Ulcerations or abscesses / swelling in this region is not a good sign. However, the syphilis won't kill them right away, but eventually they will get infection on their noses as well and the ulceration will eventually burst and there will be infection present. Then the rabbit will get hutch burn where their urine will scald their legs. It is painful for them and can damage the kidneys interim.

Get her seen by a qualified vet.

I hope this was helpful,

Alice

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

QUESTION: Hi,
Thank you so much for your complete reply! My four months old rabbit died some last weeks. :( In last day of her life, she got diarrhea and I tried I didn't give her many foods. I gave her water but she couldn't endure and finally she died forward of my eyes. It was so sad and terrible. I was really sad,.. Sorry, I couldn't take any picture from her. -.- I guess maybe she wasn't pregnant because from diarrhea. Many of my rabbits died from same sickness "diarrhea". -.-
 
My 7-8 months old rabbit(Alex) is alone now. (I guess he is 7 or 8 months because it's 5 months I have him and when I got him, seller told me he is 2 months old) His bulk isn't very big and strong (if you must see him, I will attach an image from him next time). He is feeling so alone these days... Is it good to keep a rabbit alone in a cage? I like to bought a new female rabbit for him. But I don't know is it good to keep two female and male rabbits together? Because I heard a male rabbit can't live with a female rabbit forever.

And second,
Some times ago(before my 4 months old rabbit), I bought a female rabbit for Alex. She was older than Alex. Maybe 3 or 4 months older than him.. When I kept them together, it looked they are very good but then that female rabbit started to beat Alex very bad. I tried so much She gets friendly with Alex but it didn't happen and I had to sell her. :( I fear if I buy a female rabbit for Alex and it happens once. So, if I want to buy a female rabbit for him (for breeding) , how much should she be older or younger from my male rabbit(Alex)? Should they be in an age together? How must I understand they will get friendly and good together or no? Does it depend to their Breeds/races or ages?!

And in last,
For food, I give Alex carrots and parsley everyday and sometimes lettuce. And one time in one week, fruits like apple, banana or watermelon. Are they good and enough for him?! I like to give him hay but I fear if I change his food, he gets diarrhea. What should I do?
Thanks for all~
Eli.

Answer
Hi Eli

How many rabbits have you lost now?

I am asking because if it is more than one, then you should either consider leaving Alex to live on his own, or take him to a vet to be sure he isn't a carrier of any disease. Rabbits generally don't die from diarrhea. Especially with the bloat that the female had between her legs. Rabbit syphilis I mentioned in the last e-mail will cause problems with the genitals as will a urinary tract infection.. However, I am wondering if the diarrhea happened after she caught something else. Do you still have the body? That will be the vets biggest clue to what is going on because she was symptomatic and he is not.


A four month old rabbit is nowhere ready to breed. They should be *at least* 6 month and you will need to find one that has her own cage already. Put the female in the male's cage, or let them run free together, let them do their thing, then get her out. Then the next day, repeat the process for best results, then keep her away from the male. Exposing her half way through her pregnancy to the male is not good because he will breed her constantly and she can get pregnant twice. She can carry two litters at once. If those litters are two weeks apart, then often you will end up with some that have been in utero too long and die and the other half are underdeveloped and die.

The food above is fine. Go to rabbit.org for a complete listing of what to feed and what not to feed. If they get diarrhea that doesn't resolve itself in 24 hrs, you can give them pepto bismol. They hate it, so you are better off giving them a tablet, crushed and only 1/15th of it and sprinkle it on their food.

Some rabbits decide its love at first sight and others develop a good bond and others don't want anything to do with each other. You can't tell these things until you get the rabbit, but they can't live together anyhow. Put their cages side by side and this will provide some bunny interaction, but the best pet you will have, is one that is kept alone.


Alice