I can't tell if my rabbit is pregnant - 2

by Kate


This was my first question I asked on 10/27/11


I have a Holland Lop rabbit. She was bred a day prior to getting her. At day 22 she began nesting in a blanket in her cage and pulling out her fur. We removed the blanket and replaced it with a nesting box, hay, and her fur. For the next week she continued to dig in her box, drank more, slept more, looked heavier, and was even a little grumpier at times. She never delivered so we had her bred again a few days after her due date. We assumed she had a false-pregnancy.

She is now at day 25 but is showing no signs of pregnancy. Is it possible she is pregnant and has not shown signs? Thanks!!

This is my UPDATE and new question: She began pulling her fur out at day 26. I put her nesting box in...but she did not deliver. She is now at what would be day 47 and started pulling out her fur again. (Her nest box has been removed because she didn't deliver). She has not been bred again. Is she just wanting to be pregnant? Thanks Again!!

****Karen Sez****
Hmm, two breedings, two failures. There are a couple possible scenarios:
--Rabbit is too fat. In which case it failed to conceive, however the breeding did trigger a false pregnancy syndrome.

--The nutrition is inadequate to support a pregnancy. Guidelines by animal rights organizations (these organizations are not expert in animal care) such as the House Rabbit Society used to result in obese rabbits. So they changed it up, and now rabbits tend to not get enough nourishment. Rabbits whose nutrition does not support a pregnancy will conceive, and then they resorb the babies half-way through the pregnancy, leaving you feeling empty-handed.

One last question - is this rabbit already spayed, unbeknownst to you or the prior owner?? Heheh, guess I had to ask, *g* ... I tend to suspect the first option. Your very VERY cute little bunny does look a bit, um, round... however, they're s'posed to look round!

Try putting her on a diet for a few weeks - 1/4 cup pellets a day and all the grass hay she wants, and no treats at all. Normal weight for Hollands is not over 4 pounds. If yours is not show quality, chances are a normal weight would be more like 4 1/2 or 4 3/4 pounds if the doe is what they call a "big ugly" - no offense! (The original breeder should be able to let you know for sure if she's not a 'true' dwarf.) So you could weigh her and see how she compares. Now you have a target weight to aim for.

Good luck!

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