Oh no...not a Phantom

[Iloverabbits]

Hi All,

I am looking for a bit of advise about phantom pregnancies. I think my 11 month old Lily may be having one and was wondering if they are harmful to the rabbit.

My partner let the buns out this morning and their house was covered with Lily's fur. Initially we thought her pal Dexter had been doing it but Lily has since collected all the fur and some hay and is walking around with it in her mouth as if she is going to make a nest. I have been hearing more grunting from her than usual - not with myself but with Dexter and when they are in bed.

There is no risk she can actually be pregnant as Dexter was nuetered over a month before we got her and if there was a chance she would have been pregnant by now. I think it's possibly a phantom but i know little about them.

Any advise?

[Sasami]

I take it she isn't spayed? Because even though the male is neutered she doesn't know that and probably thinks she's pregnant anyways. It's not really harmful but it can be stressful on them constantly preparing for babies that never come .

Keep in mind that she's stressed right now so don't bother her too much...she could get nippy. And after it's over I would get her fixed if you don't already plan to have it done .

[Iloverabbits]

She isnt spayed yet no, was going to wait a bit longer because she is so Tiny i wanted her to be a bit bigger.

She isnt vicious and seems ok at the moment but will def. be getting her spayed before Christmas. I hate the thought of her thinking she is expecting only for nothing to come.

Thanks Sasami - always a reliable source.

[Vanilla_Rat]

How is she doing????

[Iloverabbits]

Quote: Originally Posted by Vanilla_Rat How is she doing????

Hi Vanilla,

Well I woke up this morning and there wasnt fur anywhere so she hasnt been pulling it out but she has been garthering large mouthfuls of hay this morning and carrying it around with her. I think she is looking for a suitable place to nest.

Im worried because I dont know how long this is likely to go on for?? How will i know when it's over???

I have took some pictures of her. She does look sweet, like a little dog but she's not letting it go!!

[Fane81]

awww hehe i'm sorry i can't offer you any helpful advice- but Lily sure does look cute with that hay in her mouth... what a precious little girl you've got there!

[kathydip]

She looks so adorable!
I don't mean to worry you but I have read that a male could get female pregnant up to 6 weeks after he is neutered. It's very unlikely though. Just keep an eye on her.

[Vanilla_Rat]

Oh she is beautiful!

I know almost nothing about bunnies...so I dunno how long that will go on.I did have a mouse who went thru a fake pregnancy and she even went into a phantom labor.I didn't have a male mouse at the time and don't have wild mice,so I knew it was a fake pregnancy.She was 2 yrs old and suddenly gained alot of weight,was showing all the pregnancy symptoms and like I said went into a false labor.So maybe your bun will go that far too????

[Iloverabbits]

She is a cutie thats for sure, just wish i knew more about it. Gonna have to do some reading i think.

Dexter has been neutered for about 6 months now so it;s not really possible but after looking at Zoe's new addititons I did all excited at the thought that she may be. Have to keep telling myself she isnt, im quite disappointed.



Lily has been doing any building this morning, so maybe she is doing to keep warm. She is a girl after all.

Thanks all

[andreaS15]

Those pictures are just to cute!

My Ani did this a few times here, I was so worried b/c she was found outside abandoned (AKA dumped), but once she was spayed we didn't see any more phontom pregnancies. She also stoped marking everything with urine which she did before, little piddles everywhere, not fun.

[Iloverabbits]

Im not entirely sure if it is phantom to be honest. Other than the gathering hay and pulling her fur there are no other signs. Maybe they will come or perhaps she isnt.

She will have her op soon i think. I have to stop worrying about her and think about her needs and get her spayed. I just get worried.

She sprays also, but only in one particular part. It has unfortunately meant my older bun thinks it's ok to pee on the same spot and stop using his tray! Hopefully this will all be resolved when Lily is spayed!! Finger's crossed!

[purplebumble]

Our first house bun had a major one..when she was 4 months old..she was a dwarf lop..and a feisty madam!
We had 3 cats when she came to live with us as a baby bunny..a female and her daughter and snuggles the most alid back affectionate cat ive ever had the pleasure of knowing..everybody loved snuggles..and unfortunatley so did our bun!
Thats right..she thought he was mr hunky bunny!! And she became very possesive over him to the point we werent allowed in the same room..its true!!
Our bunny had a favourite toy..a red bodied bright pink toy cow from a charity shop..
we saw her gathering straw and fur bedding and she got very moody eventually..she made the fur bed and nestled her toy cow into it!
I couldnt watch anymore and she needed a dental anyway ( she had a dodgy jaw from being attacked we think before she ended up in the pet shop) and the vet was stunned..she was def having a phantom pregnancy and she thought mr cow was another bay theyd had..poor snuggles! The vet was even more shocked to tell me her little body was absolutely full of milk ready for her babies..which were never going to be!
She was 4 months old and the vet said she was the youngest shed had with that!

i didnt know she was full of milk..the vet examined her and told me..what about seeing the vet as the blocked mammary glands can be very painful..without them showing it.

I must admit she does look absolutely adorable so cute..please keep us updated!

[Toky-Ohki]

Those pictures are so adorable , a mouth full of hay.

= ^ _ ^ =

Toky-Ohki often pulls her hair out , although she has not done it recently , she tugged a bit out from between her thigs a couple of months back , probably a good indication that the autumn was coming.

A couple of times in the past we have noticed Toky-Ohki mysteriously gain extra weight but she is at least 5 yrs old now and usualy when she pulls fur out it is a good reliable sign on her part that we will get a cold snap in the weather.

barbara used to have an old chest freezer that leaked some of it's cold and ice would build up on the outside of the lid and we would have to break it off with a knife to be able to open the freezer up , Toky-Ohki done it twice , she pulled her fur out when we hyad a cold snap and the frezer began to leak.

So I could be a winter bedding thing too , bunny just wants to stay warm.

= ^ _ ^ =

[ZoeH]

Oh Kimberley! Poor Lily - it must be very distressing to want babies and not have them come. She does, however, look very sweet with that hay. Eloise did that too - she would even try to eat with it in her mouth!

Perhaps you could call the vet for some advice about how long the phantom pregnancy will last? That might provide some reassurance for you and help you to comfort Lily if she'll let you?

Zoe

[Iloverabbits]

Quote: Originally Posted by ZoeH Oh Kimberley! Poor Lily - it must be very distressing to want babies and not have them come. She does, however, look very sweet with that hay. Eloise did that too - she would even try to eat with it in her mouth! Perhaps you could call the vet for some advice about how long the phantom pregnancy will last? That might provide some reassurance for you and help you to comfort Lily if she'll let you? Zoe

I havent seen anymore signs so think were ok for now. She isnt getting any more agressive so maybe she was just gathering to keep warm but i dont think this is likely in a centrally heated house!!

I dont know, she is a strange little bun anyway so think she was having a funny five.

Hope your little ones are doing well!!