Pregnancy-related problems

Pregnancy-related problems

Mastitis: Does can acquire mastitis, or an infection of the mammary glands, while producing milk. The glands become swollen, hot, reddened, or bluish, and milk production may cease. 

Bacteria enter the mammary glands and invade the tissues. 

The most common bacteria causing mastitis is Staphylococcus aureus, a bacterium found in the nasal passages of all rabbits.

 The affected doe usually stops eating and may refuse to nurse her kits.

 The kits also can get the disease through drinking infected milk.

Treatment is through use of antibiotics and good nursing care.

 The kits born of a doe with mastitis should be hand-fed. 

Do not foster them to another doe as this can spread the disease to the doe and her young.

False pregnancy: Does can sometimes exhibit a false pregnancy. 

This can occur due to mating with a buck that does not result in pregnancy or by being mounted by another doe. 

Even though the doe does not conceive, she will go through all the pregnancy-related hormonal changes. 

The false pregnancy will last 16 to 18 days. 

At the end, the doe may build a nest and may even produce milk.

 She eventually will return to normal and be able to breed again.

Pregnancy toxemia: Does in the last few days of pregnancy or during the first few days after birth are susceptible to this condition. It is common, but little is known about how it occurs.

 Does stop eating, become depressed and weak, miscarry the kits, and can die. 

The liver becomes infiltrated with fat and enlarges.

 This stops the normal functioning of the liver. 

One major function of the liver is to remove toxins from the blood. 

Treatment consists of force-feeding the doe and using steroids, which are only available from a veterinarian. 

Obese does or does with hairballs from nest building are most susceptible to pregnancy toxemia.