Preggy Bunny Bleeding?!

Question
Hi, I suspect that my 4 year old bunny is pregnant. She should be at around 20-21 days now. I have felt something when I palpated her... I picked her up today and spotted some blood on her bum. There were small spots of blood in the cage. I am really worried for her. What can be going wrong?

Thank you for your help.

Answer
Dear Sophie,

She could be having a miscarriage, or giving birth prematurely--or she might simply be spotting.  But if you are concerned and if she's showing any signs of distress or pain, then I would get her to a good rabbit vet right away for an exam and treatment, as necessary:

www.rabbit.org/vets

If she is having her first litter at the age of four, then that's a risk, since her pelvic bones will be more set than those of a younger rabbit.  I hope she will be fine, but please do find a good vet via that list and be ready to take her in ASAP, just to set your mind at ease.

Please also read:

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

and

www.rabbit.org/health/spay.html

If she is not pregnant, then this could be either a false pregnancy (not usually accompanied by bleeding) or a sign of a serious uterine problem (uterine hyperplasia or adenocarcinoma--cancer) that might require that she be spayed ASAP to effect a full recovery.

I hope she will be fine soon!

Dana