I think baby rabbit is pregnant

[LuckyBunny]

I just rescued two baby rabbits from a hoarder who was willing to downsize. The babies are about 8-11 weeks old and all siblings, male and female, and mother were housed together. I took a male and female and have been keeping them separate however the next day I took out the female and she felt like she had a baseball inside her. The male doesn’t feel like this. It’s like she’s fat but her stomach is hard. I read that you should not palpate a rabbit if you don’t know what you’re doing so I haven’t… But I’m not sure if this rabbit is fat or pregnant
It has been about 5 days and she still feels the same way. Both rabbits appear healthy and eat and drink like horses. Bonus question: their feet and nails are absolutely disgusting from being in that situation and I want to wash them, but read you should not wash a rabbit. Can I just sit them in inch deep water to soak the feces from their nails or what? Thank you everybunny!!

[sarahthegemini]

I think at this point you should get her checked out, I don’t know how a pregnant doe’s tummy should feel but it would be best to see if she is pregnant or if something else is going on. If she is pregnant, she’s far too young and might not survive

[vanessa]

The belly should feel doughy, not hard. A pregnant belly feels like grapes on the side(s) of the centerline. Grapes in the middle r poop balls. Completely hard is a gi issue. U can soak her in an inch of warm water, or u can do a sponge bath. Try sitting her in a towel and sponge her feet. She does need to see a vet if her belly is feeling hard. Is she eating and pooping? To palpate, use your fingers and press in a quarter inch at a time. On such a small animal that should b enough to feel without hurting her. If her belly is chubby, press a quarter inch more. U can also rub in circles to confirm the grape shape.

[LuckyBunny]

Yeah she is pooping fine, they look good too. Everything just seems normal except the huge belly. Like I said eating drinking fine also. I will palpate and see what I can feel

[LuckyBunny]

I palpated just now. Her belly isn’t hard like a rock but just sort of firm, but it also felt more squishy than firm if that all makes sense. I did not feel any grapes, but feeling her sides felt like… I don’t know how to say this, like gently pushing in was making my finger move around, rather than in. I laid her gently on her back so I could feel everything without her getting all tense. What is the grape feeling, sacks? Do they feel larger as the pregnancy goes on? How long is a rabbit gestation? I’m sorry for all the questions, I was just trying to help this lady and the rabbits out. I didn’t want more than two believe me!

[vanessa]

No worries. The grapes are the babies if you feel them on the sides. They are poops if you feel them in the middle. They do get larger as the pregnancy progresses. They can be felt from 10-14 days into the pregnancy. Gestation lasts 28 days. If your finger moves around not in – it could be sliding off the “grape”. The term “grape” is just a layman’s term for describing the fetus because they feel like round blobs. Huge belly is suspicious, as is the fingers moving around instead of in. If she is pregnant – you’ll see her mood change, she’ll likely get super cranky, start digging wherever she is kept, and a few days before the kits are born, she’ll pluck out some fur to line the nest.

[LuckyBunny]

Well I guess I will just wait. I really don’t have the funds for a vet visit right now. I know I shouldn’t have taken them unprepared like this but the condition they were in was awful. Is there a good way to see how old a bunny is? I know vets age dogs by their teeth conditions. I am just hoping she’s a bit older so if she does have babies she will survive

[vanessa]

I’m glad you were able to rescue them. Rabbits aren’t all that easy to age. We can tell that they are babies, juveniles, adults, or seniors – based on their behavior, and overall appearance. Unfortunately – it doesn’t get more accurate than that. Babies are somewhat easy as we know how old they are when their eyes open, when they start to move around the nest, etc. Could you post a picture of her? Perhaps members with the same breed will be able to tell how old she looks based on their own experience.
She won’t necessarily die either – but she is at risk is she is indeed pregnant – this young. Her and her offspring’s growth may be stunted. In the mean time – what is she eating? You want to feed her unlimited pellets, aim for 15% or 16% protein, unlimited hay, and include alfalfa hay in her diet.

•http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/surpriselitter.html
•http://www.rabbit.org/care/babies.html
•http://www.rabbit.org/care/newborn.html
•http://www.mybunny.org/info/newborn.htm

Here are some websites you can go to for more information.

[LuckyBunny]

She’s been eating pellets (the lady gave them to me in a Ziploc but theyre small and thin so I think they’re oxbow but not sure if for babies or adult) and meadow hay. I’m buying a bale tomorrow, should it be alfalfa hay then? Or is there another type she should have more of?
Thank you also so much for helping me. I’ve only ever had one rabbit so my experience is limited. I will post pics of her in the next post when/if I figure out how

[jerseygirl]

If she is in fact as young as that, I highly doubt she is pregnant.

Is she thin looking but just with rounded belly?

[vanessa]

Use alfalfa hay with some timothy. Pregnant or not, she does need an apropriate baby diet.

[LuckyBunny]

Pictures of Dust Bunny. She isn’t really thin looking but you can easily feel ribs and hips, but not grossly. I will buy a bale of alfalfa and a bag of Timothy then. Thank you guys so much! Any idea if I can give them greens yet? I’m sure they would love some, but I really don’t have an exact age on them and have no idea what their mother ate. And her brother looks like a pure lionhead so she must be at least half lionhead, half I have no idea what but she has a grey otter color

[vanessa]

Lovely pics. I can’t tell if she is pregnant though. She may just have a lovely thick coat. The most widely held opinion is to hold off of greens until the bunny is between 6-12 months. Personally, the 36 kits that I saw, ate greens from 2 weeks. However – since you don’t know this rabbit’s health history, it would be a good idea to stay away from greens until you are familiar with her digestive habits. I’d be interested to hear what others think about their breed/age. What made you think 8-11 weeks?

[LuckyBunny]

The woman said they were 8 weeks but I kind of didn’t believe her since the rabbits are kind of big for 8 weeks. Also I did have them out together one time (I read they are not sexually mature until 12 wks so I figured under my supervision…) But he was sniffing her and attempted a mount but I took him away before he even hopped on lol
So if he’s her brother and already attempting that then I don’t think he is only 8 weeks. I feel bad they have to be separated even for play time but i don’t think I should spay anyone right now

[vanessa]

Yeah they kinda have a 3-month look to me. Thats the youngest i would put them at. Best time to neuter/spay is 6 months. In the mean time, keep them separate but still let them see eachother, just no play dates. U will b able to start bonding them a month after the surguries.

[LuckyBunny]

Thank you so much for your help! And thanks especially for the links about baby rabbits. I’ll keep everyone updated, hopefully she’s not pregnant but we will find out shortly regardless.

[vanessa]

Indeed! 🙂

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