Spaying or Neutering Your Rabbit

Spaying or neutering your rabbit is definitely something that you should consider.

Reasons to spay or neuter your rabbit.

Altered bunnies are more likely to live longer and healthier lives. If a female bunny is unspayed, there is a definite risk of her getting some sort of reproductive cancers like ovarian and uterine. Once a female bunny is spayed, the risk is virtually gone. Male bunnies will be less likely to fight with other animals since he will no longer have aggressive sexual habits.

Altered bunnies can make better pets. Rabbits who have had the surgery are often calmer and less likely to chew and dig. These bunnies are less aggressive and are much easier to litter train.

Altered bunnies will not add to the problem of overpopulation. Millions of animals are sent to animal shelters every year because of accidental births and shelters are unable to handle the amount of animals needing sanctuary. According to the American Humane Association, 9.6 million animals are euthanized each year. Unwanted bunnies are often left in fields where owners think they can live happily. However, these bunnies cannot live outdoors and often fall prey to other animals to traffic. Other rabbits are sold to pet stores who in turn sell rabbits to snake owners for live feed.

Altered bunnies can live with a friend. Bunnies love having other bunny buddies. If your bunny is not spayed or neutered, he cannot get along with his new friend (of either gender) because of sexual and aggressive behaviors that are triggered by hormones.

Surgery safety.

This surgery is relatively safe if you find a knowledgeable veterinarian who is familiar with rabbit surgery techniques. If you find a vet that only works with dogs and cats, the surgery becomes very dangerous. Make sure that the vet that you find knows how to anesthetize your rabbit as well!

Age that your rabbit should be spayed or neutered.

Female bunnies can be spayed when they are sexually mature and male bunnies should be neutered when their testicles descend. Most vets prefer to wait until bunnies are 6 months old because anesthetics can be risky for younger rabbits. If your rabbit is 2 years old or older, you should take him in for a full check-up to make sure he is healthy enough to have the surgery. When your rabbit turns 6 years old, anesthetics becomes increasingly risky.

Cost of the surgery.

The prices of the procedure is extremely varied. The low range of the surgery is $50 to $75. Depending on the type of vet you go to, the surgery can cost up to several hundred dollars.

Finding a good veterinarian.

To find a good vet, it's important to put in some time to research your options. I would call a couple local vet clinics and ask them to refer you to a couple of vets that are certified to work with bunnies. After getting these recommendations, call the vets and ask them the following questions and anything else you'd like to know.

How many bunnies are seen at the clinic each week?
How many bunnies are altered each year?
What is his success rate?
- His success rate should be greater than 90%, preferably 99%.
If any were lost, what was the cause?
For female bunnies, what does he remove?
- He should remove both the uterus and the ovaries.
Does he perform "open" or "closed" neuters?
- Closed neuters are preferable. Ask the difference between the two.
Is entry to the testicles through the scrotum or the abdomen?
- Scrotum. If entry is through the abdomen, it may cause unnecessary trauma.
Should food and water be withheld before surgery?
- No.
What anesthetics are used?
- Isoflourene. Others are used.
What antibiotics are given after surgery?
- NEVER amoxicillin, lincomycin, clindamycin or any other -cillin!
What should you do to prepare your rabbit for surgery?
What is the operation and post-operation procedure?

How to take care of a post-op bunny.

After the surgery, follow the vet's instructions carefully. Keep your bunny's environment very calm so that he doesn't get startled and hurt himself trying to get away. Allow your rabbit to move around freely as he pleases. He knows his own limits. Keep newly spayed females away from ALL males. If one mounts her, it could cause serious internal damage. Also, inspect the incision every morning and every night to see it's healing progress. After a male bunny is neutered, it is common for the scrotum to swell. A warm compress should help but it is not a huge concern. If you think you notice an infection, take your bunny into the vet IMMEDIATELY!

After most surgeries, male bunnies are looking for food. Make sure he has a pellets, a lot if water, and some good quality hay. If he is not interested in timothy hay, try some alfalfa hay. These accommodations should be made available to females also but most female bunnies will retreat to a safe corner of her condo to rest and will not be interested in eating. By the next day, your altered rabbit should be at least nibbling on something so that his digestive tract doesn't shut down. If he isn't try and tempt him with anything like fruits and treats. If he still isn't eating make some pellet mush (1 part pellets to 2 parts water, blended) and feed it to him using a feeding syringe through the side of the mouth.

Sometimes bunnies will pull out the surgery stitches. If this happens, take him into the vet and get him stitched up again. Then wrap a dish towel around his middle with an elastic bandage wrapped snugly around it. This will prevent him from scratching out the new stitches. Don't worry about the bandage being too tight if he is breathing normally.