Understanding the Rabbit False Pregnancy Phenomenon

Part 1: Why Do Female Rabbits Experience PseudoPregnancy?

1. External Causes: This condition can arise due to factors such as the infertility of the male rabbit, continuous sexual stimulation, or due to diseases like uterine or vaginal inflammation.

2. Internal Causes: After ovulation, the corpus luteum in the female rabbit's body releases progesterone, which activates her mammary glands. This leads to breast enlargement and the manifestation of pseudopregnancy symptoms.

Part 2: The Dangers of PseudoPregnancy in Female Rabbits

Most cases of pseudopregnancy in female rabbits last for about 6 to 8 days. This significantly extends the interval between births, reducing the breeding efficiency of the rabbits and causing financial losses to the rabbit farming industry.

Part 3: How to Prevent and Treat PseudoPregnancy in Female Rabbits

1. Optimal Breeding Management: Carefully manage the breeding male rabbits and employ techniques like repeated or double breeding to prevent the female rabbits from ovulating without successful fertilization during mating.

2. Enhanced Care for Breeding Females: Keep the females in single cages to prevent them from being mounted by other rabbits. Additionally, avoid unnecessary handling and petting to minimize humaninduced stress.

3. PreMating Disinfection: Before mating, thoroughly inspect the female rabbit's reproductive system for any inflammation. If present, treat promptly with antibiotics or, for external inflammation, use a 0.5% solution of Lysol to clean the affected area, and only allow mating once the rabbit has fully recovered.

4. Breeding Selection: Strictly avoid inbreeding, mating of underdeveloped rabbits, and breeding during the rabbit's estrus peak or adverse weather conditions.

5. Careful Breeding Techniques: Breeding farms can opt for repeated breeding, where the same male rabbit is allowed to mate with the female again within 56 hours after the first mating. Commercial farms may find it more suitable to use double breeding, where the female is mated with a different male 15 minutes after the first mating.

6. Improved Management: Increase the exercise of the breeding rabbits to prevent obesity, avoid unnecessary handling, and keep the females in separate cages to prevent mounting by other rabbits.

7. Timely Rebreeding: Conduct a pregnancy check on the female rabbit 1012 days after mating. If she is found to be infertile, arrange for a repeat mating promptly.

8. Prompt Treatment of PseudoPregnancy Symptoms: If pseudopregnancy is detected early, placing the female rabbit back with a male rabbit for remating can often lead to successful fertilization.

This concludes the overview of pseudopregnancy in female rabbits by Oxygen Pet Doctor. If breeders notice signs of pseudopregnancy, it is crucial to conduct a thorough examination of the rabbit to identify the cause and devise the best course of action.