Help!!!Does My Doe Have Mastitis

[Bandits Bunny Farm]

She seems to be in pain when shes nursing does she have mastitis? Her teats are a little bit red. I need help... she has 4 12 day old kits, how can I care for them if she does have it?

 

[Zass]

First check to see if any of her her teats are swollen and very firm feeling. Not just the tips, but at least one whole breast will usually be hot feeling and full of unexpressed milk.

At 12 days old, even if you lose her, I believe that the kits have OK chances of surviving with hand feeding and a good rabbit formula recipe.

If you fear she has mastitis, don't foster the kits to another doe. They might spread the infection to her.

 

[Bandits Bunny Farm]

Theyre not. Theyre just dark pink. I'm really scared though. But my doe isn't acting like shes in pain any other time... mymom was saying that maybe they already ate so my doe was like "nope. I already fed you"

 

[Zass]

It is normal for the tips of the nipples to look pink or red.
Kinda sounds like they are just coming out of the nestbox to harass her, and if that is the case, it's normal for the doe to refuse to nurse them.
She will nurse only when she's ready.

 

[Miss M]

What does she do that tells you she's in pain?

 

[Bandits Bunny Farm]

The dam is fairly disabled [she has a bone infection in 2 of her legs. The breeder I got her from didnt tell me she had sore hocks, which I discovered the night I bought her, and it got worse, so we took her to the vet and she said she has a bone infection, which probably originated from a broken bone or something that the breeder didnt take care of (the litter she had was an accidental breeding)], and we have a structure that we put my 4 does in, and the 2 bucks are on the outside. But the whole thing has cage around it so our dogs can't get to the rabbits. So I've been letting the doe run in the doe side of the structure, because it helps her feet, and I let her out in the morning when I get up and put her back in before I go to bed.

Last night we got home late and I forgot to check on the rabbits before I went to bed, and this morning I went out to feed/water the rabbits, and she was out, and I realized I forgot to put her away last night, and the bottom door of her hutch was open enough for little bunnies to get out. 3 out of 4 of them got out. Theyre still alive and doing good, but I was afraid they hadnt eaten so I took my doe and held her on her back and put the buns on her to nurse, and she was kicking them... not necessarily to hurt them, just like a "get off me" kick. They did get some milk, but I just was nervous that maybe she had mastitis

 

[Dood]

It is highly unlikely that mastitis would develop from one missed feeding. More likely she was just upset that she was flipped on her back and forced to nurse her kits. Missing one meal won't hurt them either and she probably fed the 3 that were loose with her.

If you believe she is in chronic pain from a bone infection in her hocks then I do hope you will end her suffering as soon as the kits are weaned.

 

[Bandits Bunny Farm]

Oh ok thank you... and no she isnt in pain from the infection

 

[Zass]

She wouldn't like being held upside down for nursing. Kicking isn't abnormal. It's a terribly unnatural position.
My favorite position for "forced nursing" is with the doe standing on my lap and the kits underneath her, in the space between my knees. It allows me to have both hands on the doe, and to keep all the kits safely out of harms way. It's also a more natural and comfortable position for her.

If the kits missed a feeding, your doe will likely be very happy to feed them ASAP when left on her own, since she would be full of milk and it would be very irritating to her.

 

[Bandits Bunny Farm]

Thank you. I'll keep that in mind. The buns will be 2 weeks old tomorrow, and theyre definitely starting to harass her lol