Rabbit Pregnancies

Re: Rabbit Pregnancies

james herriot lied — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:55:04 GMT

Fair point, but on the whole I think I'd rather go with the unlicensed medication: unlicensed isn't the same as unsafe, after all. A quick jab each, and no need for mass euthanasia.

Re: Rabbit Pregnancies

Michael Woodhouse — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 20:25:15 GMT

[quote user="james herriot lied"]Oooooooh, Michael. From over here on my sainted cloud it looks awfully like you're advocating bringing life into the world with the express intention of ending it. Care to expand?[/quote]

No. The OP said:

[quote user="Holly Dale"]one of her bucks had jumped in with about ten of the does[/quote]

What is the likelihood of the buck successfully impregnating 10 females? The OP doesn't say how long he was in for.

Rather than giving an unlicensed medication that may have side effects why not see if any of them produce kits and then deal with the problem.

I never bred the bunnies. I merely suggest dealing with the consequences IF it happens. Might be no bunnies born.

Re: Rabbit Pregnancies

james herriot lied — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 20:01:24 GMT

[quote user="Michael Woodhouse"]

The cheaper and safer option might be to see if any kits are born and then euthanase them? That's what I'd do.

[/quote]

Oooooooh, Michael. From over here on my sainted cloud it looks awfully like you're advocating bringing life into the world with the express intention of ending it. Care to expand?

But to your other comment, I'd second that rabbit spays aren't a major issue: the anatomy is pretty straightforward and well-presented, and ensuring haemostasis is comparable with cats. I never thought I had a problem with catgut, but have since switched to other materials on advice gleaned hereabouts.

Re: Rabbit Pregnancies

Michael Woodhouse — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 18:53:52 GMT

Holly, don't be frightened of spaying the bunnies. It's not especially difficult, especially in young bunnies. I have done a few older does and they can have a lot of fat in the ovarian ligament. Two cervix.

Do you not have anyone in your practice who can spay them?

Re: Rabbit Pregnancies

Holly Norman — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 18:11:34 GMT

Thank you everyone for the help.

Spoken to the owner with all the options and we are going to Alizin the five younger rabbits. I've found a more experienced vet nearby who is happy to spay the five older rabbits as owner would be considering spay at a later date anyway. I'm also heading over there is the hope of being taught how to spay a rabbit as a trade for all that lovely extra income!

Re: Rabbit Pregnancies

Alex Allen — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 15:57:38 GMT

Mention of induction of oestrus was due to the mention of "oestrogenic" and it's a common misunderstanding in the use of Alizin.

Wasn't me that gave anyone a red star as I was just clarifying Mark's comments rather than saying he was wrong - again we get a lot of confusion over the use of our repro drugs. This is an international forum and English colloquial phrases ("Scaled down") can be confusing.

Decaff???? It's Friday and I need caffeine!

Re: Rabbit Pregnancies

Bob Russell — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 15:45:36 GMT

[quote user="Mark Rowland"]

OK to clarify for the red star person, I have used the dog dose but scaled to the rabbits size accurately. If I use a different dose for any drug, those who know me know that I would give the dose I use.

Induction of oestrus? Where did this come from?

Split Oestrus? again a bit off topic!

Try the decaf.

[/quote]

I understood your first post clearly enough. Virbac seem to agree so why a red star? Thank you! I will file this away for the future.

Re: Rabbit Pregnancies

Mark Rowland — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 15:32:23 GMT

Induction of oestrus? Where did this come from?

Split Oestrus? again a bit off topic!

Try the decaf.

Re: Rabbit Pregnancies

Alex Allen — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 14:40:29 GMT

[quote user="Mark Rowland"]

I would probably use Alzin at a scaled down dog dose. Aglepristone belongs to oestrogenic steroid family, has both anti-glucocorticoid and anti-progesterone properties and terminates midterm pregnancy in rabbits. Aglepristone is related structurally to human abortifacients. Get them to sign a form though!!!

Goodluck

[/quote]

Doses of Alizin should not be reduced as the level of antagonism will become inadequate resulting in poorer efficacy.Various doses have been described for different diseases, species and can be obtained from our technical services department.

Aglepristone is a norsteroid with high affinity for the progesterone receptors but without elliciting any hormonal message or action. It is not oestrogenic directly but its use in later pregnancy (>day 35 in bitches) may shorten the existence of the corpus lutea via a feedback mechanism which will shorten the anoestrus period. This is not the same as prostaglandins which have a direct luteolytic function. Bitches (and some other species) that return to oestrus within a few weeks are likely experiencing a natural phenomenon called "split oestrus" and is not a result of the Aglepristone use.

There has been confusion in the past relating to the use of Alizin to induce oestrus in various species - this should NOT be done. There are drugs that can be used to induce oestrus - please contact us.

Re: Rabbit Pregnancies

Hannah Wynne Richards — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 14:05:05 GMT

What a horrible suggestion

Wynne

Re: Rabbit Pregnancies

Michael Woodhouse — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 13:20:05 GMT

The cheaper and safer option might be to see if any kits are born and then euthanase them? That's what I'd do.

Re: Rabbit Pregnancies

Alex Allen — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 13:10:15 GMT

MESALLIANCE IN RABBITS
Recent studies have shown Aglepristone to be effective at inducing abortion in early and mid pregnancy in does. Two articles have been published both demonstrating 100% efficacy when used at days 5 & 6 and 15 & 16.
Corpora lutea are the sole source of progesterone in rabbits during pregnancy with the CL reaching maximum size and production of progesterone around day 16 of pregnancy. Following administration of Aglepristone subcutaneously twice at 10mg/kg 24 hours apart abortion started within 1 to 5 days later. No side effects were noticed in first trimester abortions but a decrease in appetite was recorded in mid gestational abortions during the abortive period. Future fertility was unaffected although the mid gestation abortions did have a prolonged “non-receptive” interval after abortion.

DOSE: 10mg/kg injected subcutaneously, twice, 24 hours apart. It is advised that antibiotics are concomitantly used with close monitoring of does’ appetite.

References:
Özalp GR, Seyrek–İntaş K, Çalışkan Ç, Wehrend A: Mid-gestation pregnancy termination in rabbits by the progesterone antagonist aglepristone. Theriogenology 2008, 69, 1056–1060.
Özalp GR, Seyrek–İntaş K, Çalışkan Ç, Wehrend A: Effects of the progesterone receptor antagonist aglepristone on implantation administered on days 6 and 7 after mating in rabbits. Reproduction in Domestic Animals 2007, 42, (Suppl. 1), 1-38.

Re: Rabbit Pregnancies

Mark Rowland — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 17:33:51 GMT

Goodluck