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pregnancy...

Jessie21

Jessie21

Warren Scout
How early can you tell if a rabbit is pregnant and what are the signs? How would it affect the bunnies if the mum and dad were siblings? (possible accidental litter).
 
You wont be able to tell until she makes a nest at about 28 days...even then it could be a phanton pregnancy. I hope she isn't though because brother and sister is a no no really. The babies could be born with birth defects. How old are they?
 
They can show behavioural signs after just a few days but these can end either around day 18 with the nest-building of a false-pregnancy or day 31'ish following delivery. It's also possible to palpate the uterus and feel or even count kits from about day 18.

Breeding brother-sister is not advisable because it increases the risk of genetic defects and can produce weak, unhealthy kits. If you think there's been a brother-sister accident then I would advise the prospective mum is spayed.
 
I think in the thread you started yesterday you said you were texting the vet. Just wondered what the outcome was?
 
klw said:
They can show behavioural signs after just a few days but these can end either around day 18 with the nest-building of a false-pregnancy or day 31'ish following delivery. It's also possible to palpate the uterus and feel or even count kits from about day 18.

Breeding brother-sister is not advisable because it increases the risk of genetic defects and can produce weak, unhealthy kits. If you think there's been a brother-sister accident then I would advise the prospective mum is spayed.
Click to expand...

This.
 
Babsie said:
I think in the thread you started yesterday you said you were texting the vet. Just wondered what the outcome was?
Click to expand...

Hi. The vet said if she has babies there could be possible problems but she's not sure exactly what the outcome would be. She said to take them to their neutering ops and let the surgeon know there's a possibility she is pregnant and will advise me. She's really nice but i don't think she's had much experience with rabbits
 
Lady Logamorph said:
You wont be able to tell until she makes a nest at about 28 days...even then it could be a phanton pregnancy. I hope she isn't though because brother and sister is a no no really. The babies could be born with birth defects. How old are they?
Click to expand...

Oh no :( what kind of defects?? Belle & bean are 4 and a half months old and booked in to be neutered in 3 weeks time.

*sorry 2 weeks time just checked my calender
 
Last edited:
klw said:
They can show behavioural signs after just a few days but these can end either around day 18 with the nest-building of a false-pregnancy or day 31'ish following delivery. It's also possible to palpate the uterus and feel or even count kits from about day 18.

Breeding brother-sister is not advisable because it increases the risk of genetic defects and can produce weak, unhealthy kits. If you think there's been a brother-sister accident then I would advise the prospective mum is spayed.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice. Sorry if i'm sounding dumb here but literally cause an abortion? Is that the better option rather than her having babies that could be in pain? I don't know anything about and it really was a genuine accident - they are 4 and a half months old but been separated since 3 to avoid this so i never did my research into this side of keeping rabbits! They are booked in for neutering 3rd october so if she was pregnant that would make her 2 and a half weeks pregnant.
 
Could you bring the spay forward at all, or would she be too young? If a rabbit pregnancy is only 28-days, she would likely have given birth by the time her op date comes round. The longer she's pregnant for, the more difficult her spay, I would have thought?
 
Well one of my friends had two guinea pigs that were brother and sister, they mated and had babies and the babies had an extra toe each that turned black and fell off! There are all sorts of defects that can happen and its more likely in parents that are siblings. Apparently mother and son is ok and Father and daughter but brother and sister pose the most risks for defects. Can you get your female in any sooner to be spayed? If you speak to your vet and explain they may spay her earlier.
 
Furries said:
Could you bring the spay forward at all, or would she be too young? If a rabbit pregnancy is only 28-days, she would likely have given birth by the time her op date comes round. The longer she's pregnant for, the more difficult her spay, I would have thought?
Click to expand...

Right ok. No she will be just old enough her spay is due 3rd october so she would only be 2 and a half weeks pregnant so won't have given birth by then. My vet is looking into it for me but there isn't many exotic pet vets here i have to take them to a specialist in a city nearby and he is all booked up by the looks of things, fingers crossed though.
 
Jessie21 said:
Thanks for the advice. Sorry if i'm sounding dumb here but literally cause an abortion? Is that the better option rather than her having babies that could be in pain? I don't know anything about and it really was a genuine accident - they are 4 and a half months old but been separated since 3 to avoid this so i never did my research into this side of keeping rabbits! They are booked in for neutering 3rd october so if she was pregnant that would make her 2 and a half weeks pregnant.
Click to expand...

Yes, it would effectively be an abortion.

Extremely young rabbits are able to conceive but their bodies aren't built for it, they may be too big for her to push out safely, so you need to think of what's best for her too. Another risk if she has a litter is that she may reject them when they arrive because she's so young and doesn't know how to look after them. It's sad but I would personally have her spayed as an emergency, it's just not worth it.
 
Lady Logamorph said:
Well one of my friends had two guinea pigs that were brother and sister, they mated and had babies and the babies had an extra toe each that turned black and fell off! There are all sorts of defects that can happen and its more likely in parents that are siblings. Apparently mother and son is ok and Father and daughter but brother and sister pose the most risks for defects. Can you get your female in any sooner to be spayed? If you speak to your vet and explain they may spay her earlier.
Click to expand...

Trying to get her in earlier but doesn't look good
 
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