Rabbits with lumps, tumors etc.

Question
Hi i have a 4 year old female flemish  rabbit. She had a litter about 9 weeks ago and the babies are all to good homes now. I just notice the other day when i picked her up that she has a mass the size of a golf ball on her left side of her underneth of her chest. Her nipple is off to the side of the lump. It doesn't seem to bother her and she is eating drinking ect. She didn't have it, and out of no where it appeared. Is this conected to having babies or something totally unrelated going on ,and if so what would be your best guess ?  

Answer
Dear Alana,

Without seeing the rabbit in person, I cannot diagnose this, but it is certainly not normal.  It could be mastitis (infection of a mammary gland) due to the nursing of her litter, or it could be an abscess unrelated to her mammary glands.  It could be a tumor.  Only a good rabbit vet will be able to tell with an in-person examination, which I would recommend you have done right away.  Rabbits are very stoic, and do not show signs of pain or illness until it might be too late.  You can read about this here:

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

and find a good rabbit vet here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

Please waste no time in getting this treated.  She is in pain, even if she's not showing it.  And please also read:

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

I hope this helps.

Dana