Rabbit Labor? URGENT!

[Cspr]

So I woke up at four a.m. and went to check on my doe. She's in quarantine down in the basement. She came bred. It's cool down there and she has access to pellets, water, a nest box, hay, etc.

By seven, I could see contractions. I was excited. She was moving stuff around and nesting. She even got in the box, so I left.

I checked in a bit later and noted she was out of the box, gritting her teeth. She has been biting the wire since then. Now she's tossed her food and water and is lying flat, eyes mostly closed, and she's breathing heavy. If I get close, she grits her teeth. She seems to be having trouble getting her feet out from under her. :x It's ten now. I know rabbits can be in labor for hours upon hours, but she seems to be in distress.

She's my first doe giving birth. Before this, it's just been queens (female cats) and that has gone more or less smoothly, except for one mom abandoning one of the kits. I'm thinking I should head over to the vet?

I gave her calcium tablets, some nibbles, and wiped down her ears. I'm worried a kit might be stuck? Her rear is wet, but she hasn't birthed anything.

Anyone have some words of comfort or advice?

 

[MaggieJ]

Can you see if she is dilated? Sometimes you can see the kit and if it is stuck, you may have to assist. Wash your hands well, cut nails short, lubricate your fingers with something safe - KY jelly, mineral oil, even vegetable oil. (Please note that I have never had to do this!) Gently insert your fingers and try to get hold of the kit. Work with the contractions if possible and pull firmly but slowly and smoothly. Expect the kit to be dead. When one gets stuck (assuming that is the problem) it usually suffocates in the birth canal. Once the stuck kit is out, the others may follow more easily.

There are members that have far more experience than I do with rabbit labour problems. I hope they will chime in.

You certainly could take her to the vet. It is not an option for a lot of us raising meat rabbits. We do our best and if it becomes unbearable are more likely to euthanize than make the vet trip.

Edited to add: If you can get your hands on some lavender buds, fresh or dried, try to get her to take some. They will help to expel the contents of the uterus but I don't know the effect on the kits. At this point I would imagine the doe's life is foremost in your mind.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Maggie's advice is excellent, and is what I would do.

However, there are more things you can do to help her along that are outlined in this link:

http://www.thenaturetrail.com/rabbit-br ... kits-help/

I hope you can help her. :clover:

 

[MaggieJ]

There seems to be a problem with that link, MSD. But I think this is the one you were trying to post.
http://www.thenaturetrail.com/rabbit-br ... kits-help/

 

[Miss M]

Maggie and MSD seem to have it covered... I can't give any more advice than what you've already done and what they have given.

If you have a willow tree, you can see if she'll eat some twigs for pain.

Other than that, I hope she comes out on the other side of this okay! <br /><br />__________ Thu Jul 18, 2013 1:16 pm __________<br /><br />Anxiously awaiting an update!

 

[WildWolf]

I have no experience with it...sounds like Maggie, MSD, and Miss M gave good advice.
but I do know that if you take the rabbit to the vet, that may just stress her out even more. If you call the vet, ask for him/her to come to your rabbit instead.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

There seems to be a problem with that link, MSD. But I think this is the one you were trying to post.
http://www.thenaturetrail.com/rabbit-br ... kits-help/

Oops. Thank you Maggie.

 

[MaggieJ]

Update, please, Cspr!

 

[MamaSheepdog]

:yeahthat:

How is she doing? I hope all is well. :clover:

 

[Cspr]

Okay. Got good news and also a question.

We moved her to a different area where we thought she might feel safer. She's stopped gritting her teeth and she has not upended her food or water again or tried to attack her cage. She's not longer breathing heavily, either. She's having some trouble getting about, but not as much and she's no longer in obvious pain, thank goodness. The muscle contractions have moved lower, close to her hips, and she's started to line her nest with fur. I'm going to go out and check on her again. I think she might be okay, even if I'm a bit worried about the kits.

I'm also wondering if lavender extract oil in her water might be useful? I know she's doing better, but I just don't want her to start nosediving again. I've been babying her and it seems to have been helping, but it's been over a day now since she went into labor. o.o

 

[Cottie]

I'm speaking from human labor experience, not rabbits, but if she's in active labor you don't want to give her an ergot. Those are given to expel extraneous material such as a retained placenta or blood, to give the uterus a chance to properly reduce in size - when ergots are giving during a human labor, the uterus violently contracts around something solid (ie, the baby) and you run the risk of a rupture.

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, because this could be entirely incorrect when carried over to rabbits.

 

[Cspr]

:x

Okay, so that's a no go. Guess I must wait it out.

Oh, and I see no stuck kits.

 

[Kyle@theWintertime]

I've nothing useful to say, just...I hope she's okay.

 

[Miss M]

Glad she's doing better! After yesterday's scare, and with how long she's been in labor, I'd definitely be watching her closely. :clover:

 

[MaggieJ]

I would not use lavender essential oil for a rabbit. Essential oils are very powerful, even when diluted. Growing a lavender bush and harvesting the buds to dry is a good idea... never know when you might need them. If she is no longer in distress, I would not use lavender at all. It's one of those things that you try as a last resort, to the best of my knowledge. I have the lavender but have never had occasion to use it... Isn't that always the way?

 

[Kyle@theWintertime]

I have the lavender but have never had occasion to use it... Isn't that always the way?

I call it the Umbrella Theory. If you bring an umbrella, it won't rain. Leave the umbrella home, and it will pour.

Infinitely better to carry around an umbrella and never need it than get caught without it.

 

[Marinea]

No advice here, but...

*fingers crossed for healthy kits and mama*

 

[Cspr]

She's been in and out of the nest and has pulled enough fur for a sweater looks like. I gave her some hay and some more water. I'm going to give her a freshly frozen water bottle soon. There's blood on the wire and on her hind feet; couple of splotches. Normal? Good sign? She's also fairly dilated finally... Wondering if I should pull out some gloves and olive oil or something and make sure everything is okay up in her. -shrugs helplessly-

Wish I had a car today. If only. :/ Then she'd be at my lovely vet who at least would put my mind at ease. He doesn't charge except for action and medication. So just to look her over would be free. (He's a saint.)

 

[Miss M]

Wow, nice vet!

She sounds okay to me, as long as she doesn't appear distressed or desperate. I wouldn't probe any more unless she starts looking distressed again, just because of the chances of introducing bacteria. Just keep watching. She should have them really soon!

 

[SuburbanHomesteader]

Any update??