Accepted Answer

Hello again, and thanks for your reply.

I'm glad you plan to have them neutered, as that would be best for their health. In addition, keep the male separated from the female and kits at this time, because she could become pregnant again, right away, if they mate; however, keep the male nearby and able to see and nuzzle his mate through a physical barrier, if possible. Rabbits form very strong bonds with their mates, and separation can not only create unwanted stress and sadness for the rabbits, but also make it difficult to reintroduce the parents once they are spayed/neutered. Be sure mom and dad are able to interact, though they must not be allowed to mate again. It would be a good idea to have your male neutered as soon as possible, but be aware that even after the neutering, there is a residual of viable sperm in his system for about 3 weeks, so continue to not let them be together without a barrier, to prevent mating, for at least 3 weeks after the neuter surgery.

Please be aware that the doe will nurse only once or twice a day, and then seem to 'ignore' the babies; this doesn't mean that she has abandoned them, she is only being guided by instinct to stay away from the nest to avoid drawing the attention of predators. The doe and kits need a good 'nesting box', and you can use a cardboard box with sides high enough to not allow the kits to crawl out, but not so high that the doe has trouble hopping in and out. A new, unused, covered cat litterbox makes a nice nesting box, and you can line it with soft towels (nothing with loose threads or holes) covered with a layer of soft hay or straw. The babies in their nest should be placed on top of the hay. Make sure mom sees where her babies are, and then let her choose what to do. You can read more about this, and much more, here:
http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/surpriselitter.html

Also, try to keep her activities restricted, as this will help slow the bleeding. If she's eating and drinking normally, that's good.

If the bleeding is not very heavy, does not contain clots, and is tapering, as you mentioned, that's encouraging, but I still recommend having your doe and kits evaluated by a vet experienced in treating rabbits, to make sure they're healthy, and she may need treatment to stop the bleeding.

Cher

Edited by Jessesmom on 10/8/2009 at 10:10 PM

Expert:	Jessesmom
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Answered:	10/8/2009

Pet Caregiver 40+ yrs

Pet Caregiver over 40 yrs. Specialist in pet behavior and health concerns.