Found out some interesting stuff at the vet yesterday, now I need some advice. And soon!

[Auburnie]

Harlow had her first vet appointment yesterday to find out if she was a) healthy and b) old enough to be spayed. 
When we first got her, the 25th of last month, she was in with other bunnies and sold to me as a “male”. After picking up a few of her behaviors and checking myself, I found out that she was actually a female.  I had told the person ahead of time that I wanted a boy. Because they were selling what they had left from their “breeding stock” I have no idea if they really thought she was a girl, or if they just wanted me to take her home. from what i could tell, they didn’t separate based on sex but breed. The had harlequins, lionheads, and another group of lionheads all of which were white so I’m assuming they weren’t in the same litter Harlow was. 

After Harlow started pulling out her fur 2 weeks after getting her, you guys quickly helped me understand that this was a sign of false or actual pregnancies. She has not pulled out a lot, a few tufts here and there, but it was enough to make me worry. 

The vet gave her the okay to be spayed, and then told me that there was a possibility she could be pregnant. I haven’t had her a full month, and she was informed about the fur, so when she checked she said it was hard to tell but she felt something move so there is a pretty good chance that she could be pregnant. And if I don’t want the babies then she could get spayed to “fix the problem”.
She said because i haven’t had her a full month, if she is pregnant, she would be having babies within the next week/ week and a half. 
if she isn’t, hair pulling could be a result of stress. 

Heres my dilemma!
I’m not sure what to do. if she is pregnant, i would have a huge guilt for killing her babies as they are innocent lives that could go to amazing homes and live happy bunbun lives. 
i’m also inexperienced, only owning my first bunny for 3 weeks.
But i would have the money to properly care for them. 
There would be enough room as i’m ordering her C&C cage parts this week online, and she will be out of the pet store cage she is currently in. 
my moms boyfriend (we live in his house) would be unbelievably mad. 

And the biggest one is death. There is a chance that she could pass during or after being spayed. Because this would be her first litter, if i am correct i believe there is a chance that she or her babies could pass with the birth. if i get her spayed and she dies, then i wouldn’t be giving life a chance. if i let her have the babies, at least i’d feel comfort knowing that i did the best i could for the babies and Harlow.

im sorry this is so long, i’m just really worried and i have to make such a big decision so soon. 

[Asutt]

How old was Harlow when you got her? Baby rabbits can breed from a very young age but depends on breed (small rabbits 5 months but should wait til 6). They should have ideally been separated by sex not breed. Perhaps the breeder was inexperienced hence didn’t sex properly or the babies were too young (unless you’re experienced it can be hard to tell under 6 weeks).

As your rabbit is a lionhead she is part of the dwarf family who struggle to give birth to live young and almost always lose their first litter. If the father is a harlequin this would be very problematic due to the size difference, she may struggle to pass them. Do you know if she is a true or false dwarf? False dwarfs are generally speaking larger and don’t struggle with kits as much.

I would contact a local breeder of lionheads (failing that, a local breeder of dwarf breeds) and ask for their advice on the matter. If they’re really close and she doesn’t get stressed out by travelling, you could take her to them and they could even check to see if she is definitely pregnant by palpitating her stomach. Even if you do go ahead with the litter you may need to contact a breeder anyway if she rejects them so you can foster out the babies.

[BlacknWhite]

I would definitely not spay her. I seriously doubt she is pregnant, but to be on the safe side, I wouldn’t. In my experience, when the doe pulls fur early, (more than 5 days in advance) it is likely to be false. How old was she when you got her? I’m not saying everybody should start breeding bunnies, but it shouldn’t be that hard to raise baby rabbits if you have no other choice. The moms usually manage on there own for the most part. Hope this helps a little!

[Vienna Blue in France]

Why “mad mom’s boyfriend?
“Mad” he’ll get over it – or”mad” crazy dangerous mad??

Don’t tell him unless babies arrived and then bunnymom will look after them by herself.
It’s not like they’ll take up huge amount of room in the first month….. they will stay with their Mum.
I don’t think you should spay if you will feel forever guilty or put bunnymom’s life in danger.
If any of the babies die naturally or during birth then that unfortunately is life… and it won’t be your fault.

I’ll have to leave it to the pros on here to answer more medically.

[Bam]

This is a tough one. The BB forums don’t have a lot of members that are experienced with bunny pregnancy and birth and the risks involved. You could ask on the forum Rabbitsonline in their “rabbitry and show room” section. I can’t link from my phone but you’ll find it if you google.
The biggest risk I think is for the kits from a first time mom. She will need a little help from you because she’s likely to be a little bewildered by what’s going on. She’ll need a nest box and a little more food both now and as long as she’s nursing.

[drwil]

Vet told me not to spay the rabbit in the later part of pregnancy. Two week thing tells me false pregnancy or an early failed pregnancy. This could have been from a brother mounting her or simply being around other rabbits.

If she is pregnant just hope it was not with one of her siblings. Line pregnancies are not optimal (father to daughter, mother to son) but not a disaster.

If it was with a sibling just hope the babies are ok.

A real pregnancy you should see digging for 5-8 days (starting day 22), then nest building as progesterone drops (straw collecting and the like), then fur pulling, usually 1-2 days before birth as prolactin levels rise. If this is not the sequence you see, it is a false pregnancy if fur pulling occurs at days 14 to about 21.

If this sequence is not followed and it is past about day 22 you need to take her to a vet as something could be wrong (especially if she bred with a brother).

Hope this helps.

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