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Is my rabbit in heat or pregnant?

22 11:18:44

Question
My rabbit is around 3 or 4 years old. The past week she has been pulling fur out of her chest, so I figured she was pregnant, so I put her in a cage. And she is lining it around the edge of her cage. Yesterday I went out to see her, and she was breathing very heavily, she had her tail up and she was kind of standing with her legs spread apart. I would like to know if she is in heat or if she is pregnant. If she's in heat, I would like to put her back in with the male rabbit.

Answer
Dear Cassandra,

Please read these two articles immediately:

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

DO NOT NOT NOT put her in with the male.  If she is about to give birth, then he can impregnate her again within minutes of her having the babies. That means her first litter won't even be weaned by the time she gives birth again, which is bad for the health of both mother and all babies.

Please also read:

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

If she is showing signs of distress for more than a few hours, and is not giving birth, please go here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

to find a good rabbit vet who can help in case of an emergency.

Dana