I think some pet rabbits are deformed?

Question
I had got 2 pet rabbits a while back and was not aware that they were not fixed. They had a litter which all seemed fine. So, I obviously kept the male away from the female and deceided to try and find homes for the bunnies. Anyway, i found homes for most of them, when my young daughter deceided to open the males door and let him in with the doe again.  It was only about an hour and she was pregnant again.

So, I have these long haired bunnies which are half Lionhead (father) and holland lop (doe) and I have been raising them.  Anyway, today I was brushing and triming their hair.  I have seperated the males and females...when trying to sex the bunnies, I thought something looked funny with some, but I wasn't really sure and couldn't see well since they have such long fur.  Anyway, one a few of the bunnies, it looks like their genitals might be deformed.  There are 2 long fleshy spots on two sides of the bunnies abdomen near the tail. It's sticking out a bit..at first I thought it might be the testicles of the bunny, but I don't think it is.  In a way, it looks like intestines or something and when I touched it, one of them jumped. I love bunnies and am going to take them in to the vet asap, but wanted to know why this happened and what it might be?

Answer
Hi Kim

You are doing the very best thing by taking them to the vet.  Without seeing it I cant tell you for sure but when bucks are young their testicles are very funny looking.  If the bunny had no hair you would be able to see that the testicles almost look like funny shaped worms under the skin as they are developing.  Usually they start to develop around 3 months old but some start early and some later.  Provided they are acting normal in all other ways (eating, drinking, pooping) it is most likely the testicles.

There are some other issues that can cause deformities in that area.  First if you don't know where both parents came from and they didn't come from very responsible breeders either one of them can carry a genetic defect where the bucks can get a split penis.  Although this in itself is not life threatening it is carried on into the next generations and is often difficult to have the bucks neutered because the testicles are usually deformed or often times they don't fall.  There is also something called vent disease that is a sexually transmitted disease in rabbits.  This generally presents with sore genitals that rapidly progress to necrosis of the testicles and is very painful.  It is doubtful that this is what it is because both of the parents would have it also.  If your vet is suspicious of this after seeing the area he/she will want to check all the bunnies.  Although this can be treated these rabbits should never be bred.  Rabbits have scent glands in that area.  These can also get infected, when this happens there is usually a horrible smell.  You would notice it because it almost smells like a skunk.  There is also a possibility of a hernia.  

At any rate the best thing you can do is get the bunnies to your vet to make sure they are ok.  All of the bucks should be neutered.  This will prevent future accidents and they can't be bonded unless they are neutered.  Bucks will fight if they are not neutered and often times even neutered bucks will not have a successful bond.  When they are neutered it is easier to find them a good loving home, it is easier to litter train them and they generally have better personalities.  In all honesty the doe should be spayed as well.  Does that are not spayed have a higher incidence of uterine cancer and often die at a younger age. Although some people bond neutered bucks with unspayed does (me for one) many will say that it is not a true bond unless they are both fixed because one still has their sex hormones.  Personally I could not afford to have all of my does spayed but it only costs me $40 to have my bucks neutered.  Whenever we have a buck that we do not intend to use for breeding or is past his show or breed prime we have him neutered.  Because we raise and show rabbits but do not cull any of them for moral and ethical reasons we have found that having the bucks neutered and properly bonded with other rabbits has made them happier and saved us cage space.  Since you only have a few pet rabbits I would strongly suggest you talk with your vet about having them fixed.  I think you will find that they make much better pets.

I hope your bunnies are ok.

Sincerely,

Pam