Pregnant Rabiit...not sure if shes ready to have her babies..

Question
QUESTION: Hi, I have a doe that i left in the same cage with the male for four days. she's due anytime this week, but he hasn't made a nest. I give her fresh straw everyday but she keeps pooping in it as soon as I give it to her. She's also turning the nesting box so the opening is against the side of the cage, making it so she cant get in. I tried to pick her up today and had much more difficulty than usual. she usually doesnt mind being picked up but today she ran around her cage when i touched her. I picked her up anway and checks her "area" and she has a small white bubble of discharge coming from the hole above her buumhole. not sure what it is. Should I be worried?

ANSWER: Dear Sonya,

I would get her to a good rabbit vet to be sure she has not developed a pyometra (infected uterus), which can be life-threatening.  You can find a good rabbit vet here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

Once she is well again, this is the most important article I can share with you with respect to breeding her:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/breeding.html

I hope this helps.

Dana

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

QUESTION: Hi, well, I'm not POSITIVE that she is for sure pregnant, though they were going at it pretty well so I assumed she was. My mom felt hr belly about 2 weeks later and said she thought the uterine horn were swollen. Also her behaviour has been different the past few days, though she hasn't made an effort to make a nest or pull fur. A few days ago i checked on her and she wouldn't let me pick ehr up as she usually does, and she had a white small blob coming from her vulva. is it possible that it's something else?

ANSWER: Dear Sonya,

Yes, it's possible that this is something related to imminent birth. But I cannot see it to know for sure.  So I really think it's best that you see a good rabbit vet who can examine the bunny in person and tell you what's up.

There are many things I can do over the internet, but guessing a problem like this without seeing it isn't one of them.  Anyone who tells you otherwise is not being fully honest.

So it's off to the vet with her ASAP.

Hope this helps.

Dana

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

QUESTION: I can't afford to take her to the vet, though. I'm not sure if she was ever ACTUALLY pregnant...we've felt for babies a few times and my mom thought she felt the uterine horns swollen but she could have been mistakes, I read on this site somewhere that some people mistake intestines for babies. Today was her 32nd day after I seperated the male and female. Is there anything I can do, besides pulpating for babies to be sure she has some in there?

Answer
Dear Sonya,

No, there's nothing more you can do besides palpating.  And as you say above, that doesn't always work.  

Remember that sometimes your rabbits may need veterinary care, so it's important to save up for those emergency times.  There are instances when you simply cannot do things yourself to save your rabbits' lives, and you need to be prepared.

Good luck,

Dana