Pregnate Doe

Question
Hi..again! I spoke to you three weeks ago about my 3 yr old Holland Lop (Champaine). Just to re-fresh your memory, she was pregnate with two sepprate litters and she had one baby on the 5th of April, and labor stoped. So we took her to the vet and the vet not only induced her labor she took x-rays of her stomach. Thats when we found out she was pregnate with a separate litter. The shot to induce her labor didnt do anything for her. And that leads us up to today...exactly 3 weeks after she had that first baby. Last I spoke to you, you sent me a web address that shows how to feel for pregnacy. I've been experimenting and have taught myself pritty well. As of this morning both kits are feeling plump. And I've noticed through the weeks that they've moved down. One is almost beween her back legs, like pelvic area, and the other one right on top of it. Ha! As far as Champaine goes, shes amazingly well. If anything her attitude has improved dramatically. She used to be a shy rabbit..now shes all to pieces. She now craves attetion, and loves to be petted, and scrached. She even grunts at you if you dont pay her any attetion and your around her cage. Its soo strange. It seems like she would be lazy and lathargec being pregnate but she really isn't. Her food intake is good, same thing with water. Her stool is looking really good. I don't really see why I should be worried about her, but I am. I know that rabbits can re-absorb there young, but if I'm able to feel them as well as I am will she still re-absorb them? Should I take her back to the vet? If I do take her back to the vet there going to tell me to do a c-section on her..is that safe? I read that if you feed a pregnate doe rasberry leaves before or during pregnacy then it will induce her labor. Is that safe or true? Another thing shes doing thats intresting, if I go to pet her and stop petting her and leave my arm on the side of her cage she will attemp to mount my arm?! Shes not being aggressive about it, but she's never done this before. Is she being territorial or is it her hormones messed up? By the info I've given do you believe we should take her back to the vet? Thanks for all your great advice
Casey

Answer
Hi Casey

It is obvious she is pregnant if they took an x-ray.  I can't remember if she lived with the buck right up until the first baby was born.  If she did then it may take up to 32 days from the date of conception to deliver.  I will give you my advice as a breeder.  Since it has been at least 21 days I would wait about another 10 days.  If she hasn't had them by then, then yes I would rush her off to the vet.  They will do c-sections on occasion but rabbits don't usually need them.  Yes they are safe but the lives of the babies are in jeopardy.  A mommy rabbit who has just had surgery may not want to let her kits suckle because she is in pain from the incision.

Keep an eye on her.  Doe's will usually go off food for a day or 2 before they kindle.  Other than that you really have no indication that they are pregnant.  Her hormones are messed up because it is that time of year and if she is pregnant that only makes it worse.  Sometimes I really hate spring time.  If she shows any signs of sickness, fever, lethargy, failure to eat or drink or diarrhea then rush her to the vet immediately.  I can't tell you much about raspberry leaves and honestly I wouldn't try it.  She will give birth when she is ready.  It sounds like she is getting close.

Make sure she has a nice warm nest box to kindle in and check it everyday.  If after 32 days have passed and you can still feel the babies and they haven't been delivered yet then yes she needs to go back to the vet to make sure they aren't stuck.

You are very lucky to have a rabbit that has a good attitude while she is pregnant.  Believe me it doesn't happen often.  

I guess the biggest thing is that you know her better than I do.  If you have a feeling or notice something that just isn't right then please take her back in for another exam.  I have a feeling that if it is kits you are feeling and they are that low and large enough to feel then they should arrive very soon.  Just make sure she is in a warm place.

One more thing I wanted to tell you, as I said before it is not uncommon for doe's to have double pregnancies but there is a smaller chance of survival of the babies.  So please keep that in the back of your mind.

I am very interested in knowing how she does so can you please keep me updated.

Thank you so much

Pam