Pregnancy Detection in Rabbits by Ultrasonography as Compared to Manual Palpation

The most common way of detecting pregnancy in rabbits is by manual palpation. Real-time ultrasonography may be an alternative to be used in rabbit production units in the future if it turns out to be practicable. There is a paucity of scientific knowledge on the suitability of real-time ultrasonography for pregnancy diagnosis in rabbits. In the present study pregnancy diagnosis by transabdominal ultrasonography was compared to manual abdominal palpation in 28 mated New Zealand rabbit does. Ultrasonography with the aid of a real-time scanner, equipped with five MHz linear-array transducer and manual palpation were executed by one individual daily, beginning at day five after mating. For ultrasound scanning, does were restrained in a dorsal recumbent position and, to establish firm skin contact, gel was applied to the clipped caudal abdomen. Manual abdominal palpation provided a reliable diagnosis by day 10.9 ± 0.3. By ultrasonography, uterine fluid was detected 6.2 ± 0.2 days after mating; fetal heartbeat by day 7.8 ± 0.1. In the 20 does that went to term (71%), the reliability of both ultrasonic pregnancy detection (based on the observation of heart beat) and manual palpation was 100%. No abortions or stillborn kits were recorded and the kits born were normal and viable. In conclusion, real-time ultrasonography, being accurate, rapid and safe, may be considered as a viable alternative for other means of early pregnancy diagnosis in rabbits.