Gender Issues

Question
My husband and I bought a dwarf rabbit several months ago.  We were told it was a female at the time (she was approximately 6 weeks old).  I've recently noticed two oblong pink growths between her hind legs.  At first I was worried that they were maybe small tumors or something, but now I'm just wondering if the guy at the pet store was wrong and our little Sophie, may in fact be a Peter.  I've tried to do internet searches to find images of dwarf rabbit testicles, but no luck.  My hesitation is in the fact that they are a slight distance away from the genitalia and aren't round, but what do I know?

Answer
Hi Karen

Well you bought her/him at a pet store.  Pet stores have a habit of holding a rabbit above their head and saying 'yep its a girl.  Poor Sophie hopefully she won't get a complex.

Can you send me a private message and I will give you my e-mail.  I just went and took pictures of my rabbits testicles and his penis so that you could compare them.  Probably not the best picture since I have furry beasts but they are still quite small.  

I highly doubt they are tumors.  The in the probability of tumors vs testicles, the testicles win.  

One other thing you can do is hold the bunny cradled like a baby in your arms (if she/he lets you) and gently push on the vent area.  If a large long object appears rather than just a slit... well then I am afraid to say that Sophie may be a Peter.  

The testicles are also located a good distance from the genitalia and each rabbit is different.  If you want I will send you the pictures (lol I can't believe I took pictures of my boys genitals), but if you gently push on the vent area you will know for sure.  Unless the dwarf has a rare genetic disorder called a split penis, which it may since it ended up in a pet store.. anyhow split penis' sometimes make them look like doe's but testicles are unmistakable.

If you want to take a look at the pictures let me know by private message.  I don't generally like to give my e-mail address out on a public forum.

Thanks so much and good look (kisses to Sophie/Peter)

Pam