Heat?

Question
My female rabbit has been releasing strange liquids from her vaginal area, and its starting to worry me. Its a yellowish runny substance and she has been doing it where my last male rabbit was kept for extended periods of time. Does this mean she can smell him and is going into heat? Or does it mean that shes sick, or even signs of pregnancy? Please answer quick, I worry for my little Doe's saftey.

Answer
Dear Kenzie,

Yellowish discharge is not normal in a healthy female rabbit.  They do not go into heat; they are induced ovulators who ovulate when they mate.  Discharge from the vulva could indicate a serious uterine infection that should be treated with appropriate antibiotics even before you consider a spay.  But a good rabbit vet will be the best bet for figuring out what's wrong, and what to do:

www.rabbit.org/vets

Rabbits also can suffer from urinary tract problems:

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

so please have a look at the above article so you'll know what to ask the vet.

I hope this helps.  Please also see:

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

and

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

Good luck!

Dana