False Pregnancy: Is she really pregnant?

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 22sd replies, 9 voices, and was last updated 16 years, 8 months ago by SirThumpsey.

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- 07/11/2009 at 8:06 AM
  SirThumpsey
  Participant
  539 posts
  Alright, I mentioned somethign about this in another thread but I figure it might just be more helpful to start another. (in case people need info on this as well)
  
  I got Bunnie on or around the 10th of June. She is not yet spayed and I’m not sure if her “companion” from her last home was M or F. It’s quite possible that she could be pregnant. She has been acting strange and collecting nesting materiels. She was carrying around hay earlier this week in her mouth and then frantically went searching for somewhere to hide it.
  
  My friend Maggie said on Monday (when I told her) that I’m gonna be a bunny grandma. She said to expect them in 72 hours. It’s now been *counts in head* much longer than that. She hasn’t been nesting as much. Maggie had said that a sure fire sign to see if she was a faker is that her milk ducts wouldn’t swell. If they had swollen up she was really pregnant…Maggie has experience with Buns and has seen Bunnie and interacted with her and had said “Rub her chest to check, She’ll growl at you but if it’s flabby then she is pregnant” She is a growler but she has never bit. (Sir Thumps a Lot is the nippy one)
  
  Do I just wait a little longer and if she doesn’t have any kits schedule her to get spayed? Would her milk ducts really only swell up if she was pregnant? I’m so confused.
  
  I would like to one day experience the joy of raising baby rabbits. Maybe I’ll see if there are any shelters around here that need help while I’m home. I don’t think too many of them get rabbits though.
- 07/11/2009 at 8:33 AM
  bunnytowne
  Participant
  7538 posts
  Rabbits give birth 30 days after impregnation. Hope that helps. I would think their stomache would be firmer if she was pregnant too. The milk things makes sense.
  
  Now there are false pregnancies as you know. A rabbit will build a nest. Then after a while the false pregnancy goes away. She could be hormonal sometimes they get that way and causes false pregnancy.
  
  Has it been 30 days since you have her?
- 07/12/2009 at 6:56 AM
  Beka27
  Participant
  16016 posts
  So, it’s been 32 days then since you have had her? If she isn’t showing anymore nesting/fur-pulling behaviors, my guess is that she was faking it. I don’t think bunnies can go very long “overdue” in their pregnancies like humans can.
  
  This is actually a GOOD thing! It’s very hard to find good homes for baby bunnies. You might be able to find someone to take them, but getting a “responsible” home that will spay/neuter, house indoors, feed the right diet, etc. is much more difficult. What happens is people get blind-sided by the cute little 8-week-old baby. Once those hormonal behaviors kick in, they realize that buns require so much more than a few pellets and a petstore cage. This is when the poor bunny gets caught up in the endless cycle of being “rehomed”.
  
  Another member here had something similar happen to her. She adopted an unspayed rabbit, only to find out a couple weeks later, she was pregnant and had 7 BABIES! I commend her for what she did, she raised the babies, had ALL of them spay/neutered, including mama, and then kept them all! She’s had them for well over a year, and last I heard she was looking to adopt some out, but she’s very picky on who her babies are going to go too.
  
  If you are interested in raising babies, I would try to hook up with a shelter to foster a pregnant bunny or mama and babies. You can enjoy the cute little baby stage, watch them grow, but then the rescue will be in charge of spay/neutering and finding them suitable homes.
- 07/12/2009 at 6:29 PM
  MooBunnay
  Participant
  3087 posts
  It sounds like you are probably in the clear *sigh of relief* – even though its nice to play with a cute baby bunny, its much easier when you can play with them without the extreme stress of finding them a good home. In the springtime, and lots of other times I’m sure that rescues get in loads of baby buns. Some of them may not be teeny tiny, but just a couple months old and they are still super sweet at that time I personally have more of an affection for the senior citizen buns, I love how they just sit and hang out.
- 07/13/2009 at 10:22 AM
  SirThumpsey
  Participant
  539 posts
  It certainly sounds like it. Phew!
  
  I’ll be honest, I would have enjoyed the experience. I was quite scared since she is an older rabbit. You never know what could happen.
  
  I’m pretty sure that the other rabbit she was shacked up with was a Chinchilla rabbit. As I understand they get a little larger than Holland lops and could have caused problems. (Also turns out that their “female” chinchilla has testicles…Close call there)
  
  Turns out, she wasn’t pulling her hair out…she was just shedding! (I am so glad that both of my rabbits didn’t start shedding at once…I can’t even imagine the amount of fur!)
  
  Bunnie actually broke out of her cage last night somehow. Luckily, Sir Thumps a lot didn’t find a way to get out. I’m going to examine her cage and see if I can figure out how she managed to escape. I would have expected this from a hamster (world renowned escape artists) but I really have no idea how she could have gotten out. Guess it’s a new cage for her!
- 07/13/2009 at 5:00 PM
  SirThumpsey
  Participant
  539 posts
  Turns out she wasn’t faking it. She had one lil’ bun. He is quite adorable. I unfortunatly wasn’t home when this happened and she hemoraged and bled out. Rachel (my dad’s wife) called me at work and I came home and found her in a permanent bunny flop. I picked a nice spot for her in the yard and buried her there.
  
  Can I save the baby? I think I would probably just keep the little guy/girl since it’s the last thing I have of her.
  
  The only thing that comforts me in the time of grief is that knowledge that she was finally truly happy.
  
  R.I.P Bunnie
- 07/13/2009 at 10:43 PM
  Deb'sBuns
  Participant
  160 posts
  I’m so sorry to hear about poor Bunnie. I hope you can save the baby.
- 07/14/2009 at 5:53 AM
  SirThumpsey
  Participant
  539 posts
  I got this crazy idea that just may work. I’m trying to find a momma bun to foster the little guy or girl. It’s better than KMR.
  
  I’m checking at the SPCA but also looking around with breeders. I know some people have problems with the whole idea, but I think this give him a great chance. If any of you know of ANY breeders near my area (York,Pa) I would be eternally grateful if you could give me some information on that. I am willing to travel and imagine that I may have to pay for this service. What ever it takes, I’m willing to do it.
- 07/14/2009 at 6:26 AM
  Sarita
  Participant
  18851 posts
  I hope you can find someone!
- 07/14/2009 at 6:26 AM
  Sarita
  Participant
  18851 posts
  Maybe even a momma cat – I’ve seen that on the internet with a baby rabbit and a momma cat.
- 07/14/2009 at 2:26 PM
  SirThumpsey
  Participant
  539 posts
  I had thought about the mom cat. There is actually a stray cat in the alley behind my house who has kittens about 5 weeks (maybe?) old. I think that would be too old to foster a baby bun. I’d be worried that she’d eat him. Also, she is obviously feral. Scared of people and whatnot. I’ve been feeding her until I got the chance to actually call the SPCA. Turns out they are no longer taking cats. They are booked on kittens….which just gave me an idea.
  
  Rachel (dad’s wife) put up an inquery on Craigslist to see if anyone in this area has any nursing buns. It was her idea, and I’m willing to give it a try. She found someone who raises “pure bred” rabbits and she has two buns due on Friday.
  
  Hopefully, the little guy/girl can make it till then.
  
  I’m just gonna pick a gender for the baby and stop calling her an it. I may get proved wrong later but I’m sure she’ll understand…
- 07/14/2009 at 2:30 PM
  Sarita
  Participant
  18851 posts
  Yes, I don’t think a feral cat would be a good idea.
  
  Did you find some goat’s milk? I understand that is closest to rabbit’s milk and that is what wildlife rehabbers use. It would be great if you could get her to the breeder when her rabbit’s have babies.
  
  Keeping your baby bunny in my thoughts.
- 07/14/2009 at 2:52 PM
  SirThumpsey
  Participant
  539 posts
  I read online that goat milk is great for wild rabbits, but KMR is better for domesticated baby buns.
  
  We’re trying to find out where she is exactly and how long of a drive it might be. And I’m not sure how much she would charge for the service. I know personally I’d would just do it and refuse payment but I don’t mind giving her some money.
  
  Thank you for the healthy baby bunny thoughts.
- 07/14/2009 at 6:24 PM
  MooBunnay
  Participant
  3087 posts
  If it were me I’d also do that for free – but you never know, so it would probably be good to just be prepared in case she asks for money. I really hope it works out!
- 07/14/2009 at 9:22 PM
  SirThumpsey
  Participant
  539 posts
  She’s also a vet tech. She isn’t asking for any money, she just wants to help. Since both of her rabbits are Holland lops it should be easy to tell apart.
  
  She lives in Dover which is really close. I hope that the mom gives birth today (since it’s technically wednesday)
  
  So far this has worked out so well. I like to think that her mom is watching out for her. When I fed her earlier she was moving around so much. She really wants to live. I’m so glad I gave her a fighting chance.
  
  I had someone tell me to put her in a corner and let her die…Like I could really do that! I don’t think that anyone in this forum could have. I knew I had to try and I’m really glad I did.
  
  She’s staying warm, eating well and peeing/pooing. Bunnie hadn’t gotten the placenta off so I had to get that off. I’m figuring that she didn’t even get a chance to actually nurse from her mom. She actually mistook my lips for nipples, it was kind of cute.
  
  If she makes it, I’m going to name her Lucky or Milagro (which is spanish for Miracle) Any other ideas for names are appreciated. I still have to keep it in my head that she might not make it for some reason. So I’m not picking a name until she is a little older. But, I’m determined for her to make it.
  
  Please keep her in your thoughts/prayers.
  
  It’s really nice to have a group of people who understand in a sense what I’m going through. Few are understanding about the death of a rabbit.
- 07/15/2009 at 3:04 AM
  jerseygirl
  Moderator
  22356 posts
  1/2 way thru reading your last post I was thinking “this baby is a miracle” So funny you’re thinking to name her such – I think they’re great name ideas. Just amazing if she can pull thru and be adopted by a nursing doe. (((miracle kit)))
- 07/15/2009 at 7:24 AM
  SirThumpsey
  Participant
  539 posts
  I’m really hoping that she pulls through.
  
  In a way, I’m almost glad there was only one. I don’t know if I could still work if there were more. Then I wouldn’t worry as much about keeping her warm. Lucky for her, my dad doesn’t believe in central air.
  
  I’m thinking that she probably knows how to get mom to adopt her as one of her own.
  
  Since she doesn’t want any money for doing this, I want to get her something really special. Any ideas? I could always get her supplies but I want to do something really special for her.
- 07/15/2009 at 7:33 AM
  Sarita
  Participant
  18851 posts
  I’m still keeping baby in my thoughts – so far so good! I hope the other momma’s give birth soon too so she can start nursing on a momma.
  
  I’m sure once you meet and speak with her and see her rabbits an idea on what to get her for doing this will come to you.
- 07/15/2009 at 7:42 AM
  Beka27
  Participant
  16016 posts
  I hope this works out! Please keep us posted! I’m really hopeful that this sweet, little miracle baby will pull through. (((Baby!)))
- 07/15/2009 at 8:56 AM
  SirThumpsey
  Participant
  539 posts
  Sarita, you are probably right. The perfect idea will probably come to me.
  
  Thank you guys for all of your support. It really helps me keep my head together, when some days that can be so hard.
- 07/15/2009 at 4:20 PM
  RabbitPam
  Moderator
  11002 posts
  I’m really pulling for this baby to pull through. Angel came to mind as a name too, but I like miracle better.
  
  Bunny supplies are always welcome, or you could give a gift certificate for an order from an online bunny store so she can pick out whatever she wants.
- 07/16/2009 at 12:21 AM
  achun
  Participant
  28 posts
  how about Mira, short for miracle? i know it’s a command for “look” in spanish, but maybe you could pronounce it with the long “i.” or it’s kinda funny that it’s “look” for spanish. or maybe JK for “just kidding” since it’s like just-kidding-i-really-am-pregnant baby. haha.
- 07/16/2009 at 6:54 PM
  SirThumpsey
  Participant
  539 posts
  Earlier today, she stopped breathing several times. I recesitated her and rushed to the Emergency vet. It didn’t look good.
  
  I think she may have been born with some kind of complication that caused difficulty breathing.
  
  I decided than have her suffer to euthanize her. She is buried next to her mom wrapped in her favorite sock.
  
  She lived much longer than anyone expected her to. She seemed pretty happy and it was obvious that she loved me. I think that she knows that I loved her too.
  
  I’ll miss you, my little Miracle.
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