What kind of rabbits does "palpation" help assess?

Palpation is a veterinary technique used to examine the abdomen of rabbits to determine if a doe (female rabbit) is pregnant. This method involves gently feeling the abdomen through the skin to detect the presence of developing embryos. The skill is particularly effective in assessing pregnant does, as the embryos can typically be felt around 14 to 18 days post-breeding.

While palpation might be used in various contexts regarding rabbit health, its primary association is with confirming pregnancy in does. This specificity makes it distinct from assessing young rabbits or males. Young rabbits may be evaluated for health issues but not specifically for pregnancy, and while breeding bucks are important in the breeding process, they cannot undergo palpation for pregnancy assessment, as they do not carry offspring. Thus, the focus of palpation accurately aligns with its role in examining pregnant does.