In rabbits, as in other pets such as cats or turtles, it can be difficult to distinguish males from females, especially when they are kittens. It is very important to know their sex, especially if you have a couple of rabbits, since they are animals with a great capacity for reproduction and you could have a very large offspring in a short time.
The most effective way to find out is by assessing the ano-genital distance (the distance between the anus and the genitals) which, as we will see below, is less in females than in males. In a HOWTO we describe in more detail how to tell if a rabbit is male or female with this method.
How can you tell the sex of a rabbit
The first step to know if your rabbit is male or female consists of placing it face up to be able to comfortably inspect the genital area.
It is very important that take the rabbit very carefully because they are quite fearful animals and prone to stress and when they feel uncomfortable or scared, for example if they are placed in this position and they feel vulnerable, they can start kicking to find support for their feet and jump to run away. When they make these rough gestures to flee, they can hurt their legs and back.
You have to catch them by holding the lower part of the sword and a little the back legs while with the other hand you take them by the part of the cross or the shoulders to put them face up. Therefore, sexing a rabbit safely for him is a process that is best done between two people, unless you already have some experience in handling these small animals.
When can I tell if my rabbit is male or female
When they are newborn baby rabbits or rabbits it is practically impossible to discern the sex of the little animal. In the case of these small rodent mammals, it is best to wait until they have 8 weeks or 2 months to know if a rabbit is female or male. Of course, the more time that passes the easier it will be to differentiate the sex of the animal by observing its genital area. Therefore, some people wait for the rabbit to have between 3 and 4 months to see if it is a rabbit or a doe.
How to tell if a rabbit is female
Once it is on its back, you should look at the genital and anal area to try to recognize the opening of the anus and the genitals.
In the female rabbitIn the rear part (almost on the tail), we can see an orifice that is the anus and, followed by it, more towards the belly but almost without separation, an oval orifice, which corresponds to the vulva. The image that we attach here below symbolizes a female rabbit. As we can see, the holes are very close together and the part of the vulva is a more elongated hole than the anal hole.
How to tell if a rabbit is male
In the male rabbitsWhen placing them in the same position described above, we can see that the anus can also be seen, approximately in the same location as in females, but, unlike what happens in rabbits, the next opening closest to the belly ( which is where the penis is externalized) is further from the anus, that is, there is an obvious separation. In addition, the hole is more circular than in the case of females, which is usually rather oval or somewhat elongated. The diagram below represents a male rabbit and you can see two rounder and spaced holes than in the case of rabbits.
Another option to know for sure if a rabbit is male or female is externalize the penis. This is achieved by applying gentle pressure with your fingers on the edges of the hole to pull it out. This way you can know for sure if it is a rabbit or a rabbit, but this is an option that is not recommended at all for people without experience in handling these animals, since if it is not done well, they could be hurt unintentionally.
If despite the above you still have doubts, we recommend that take the rabbit to a vet, if possible a specialist in exotic animals, to tell you for sure if it is male or female.
How to care for a rabbit – basic care tips
It is important that you have some basic notions about caring for a domestic rabbitThis way you will get your little companion to be healthy. First of all, it is important that you contact a veterinarian who specializes in small mammals to take your pet’s medical record. Then, keep in mind that the essential care a rabbit needs are:
- Have at your disposal objects that can gnaw to file teeth: pieces of wood, special toys for rabbits, and so on.
- You shall brush her hair frequently to prevent hairballs from forming on the stomach and knots in the fur.
- You should never bathe him by putting him in water, as he could get stressed and suffer some kind of illness. It is better to wash it with a damp cloth and bathe it dry.
- It is important that you do exercise: always take it out of the cage for a while during the day so that your rabbit can exercise and play with himl.
- Feed your rabbit with the essential ingredients in a rabbit’s diet: water, hay, vegetables and feed. Here you can learn much more about what rabbits eat.
In this other oneHOWTO article we give you more information so that you know how to take care of a domestic rabbit.
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