false pregnancy?

[leti2pets]

How commen are false pregnancies and how do you deal with them? My girl, Pepper, has not been around any males except Bandit, who was nutered in november and she has decided that she needs to build a nest. She has also gained some weight, but I think that is just because she has been eating more than usual. Should I take the nest away from her or will she just make another one? Should I continue to let her run around with Bandit, or will that cause her to keep thinking she is going to have babies? Any information on this will be helpful.

[Scarlet_Rose]

She may build another nest if you take it away. I would leave it for a day or two, then remove it. The females usually build a nest just before they give birth. It should stop, but is she spayed? If not, this behavior will probably continue.

[Gravehearted]

In a false pregnancy, the rabbit will act just like a pregnant rabbit and probably even thinks she is actually pregnant. It is caused by increased hormone levels. This can be triggered by being around a male. Some rabbits also are just prone to false pregnancies.

Yes, I’d agree with Scarlet Rose, that if she is not spayed it is very important that you get her spayed if she’s old enough. Although false pregnancies are not usually medically dangerous they can be extremely stressful which can lead to serious medical problems. False pregnant females will normally go through the same activities as if pregnant – like milk production, nest building and aggression towards you and other rabbits and/or pets.

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