Bunny Care Guide: Should I Desex/Neuter/Spay My Rabbit?
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Yes. Yes you should. Double Yes if your rabbit is a female. Even though it is a good idea, and some might say entirely necessary for does, desexing rabbits is a relatively new trend, and in order to get the procedure done you should find a veterinarian who is familiar with rabbit physiology. Spaying a rabbit is more complicated than many other small animals due to the fact that rabbits have a great deal of intestines in the way.
However, those issues aside, here are the reasons to spay or neuter your rabbit:
Boy bunnies (or 'bucks' as they are known in the rabbit keeping world) benefit from neutering for much the same reason that dogs and cats and other animals do. They are less aggressive, more likely to snuggle, and less chronically obsessed with sex.
Girl bunnies (or 'does') should be desexed due to the fact that an intact doe will often develop cancer. The rates of cancer in unspayed females are ridiculously high. Some estimate that the rate may be 80% or more.
Both male and female rabbits may start the delightful process of spraying to mark their territory at around four months of age, when sexual maturity hits. Suddenly your tiny cuddle bunny turns into an aggressive monster, guarding his or her cage jealously, and marking your house for good measure too. It goes without saying that urine sprayed from your bunny onto your carpeting and walls does not smell spring fresh.
Spayed bunnies are generally more relaxed and calm than their intact friends. Sex drive in rabbits causes all sorts of mad behaviors, and you may very well find that having a bunny that just wants to go out and get busy with anything that moves soon becomes rather tiresome, especially when he or she misinterprets your foot as being a rival seeking to foil its romantic ardor.
Desexing your bunny is an excellent way to ensure that you never get any surprise litters.
Desexed rabbits are also far more likely to be welcoming towards a new companion. It is good for rabbits to have another rabbit to live with, but the process of getting bunnies to be friends can be difficult, even more so if the bunnies are intact and following nature's commands. Bonded rabbits are friends for life, and provide great joy and comfort. Rabbits are notoriously picky about who they bond with however, so make the task easier for yourself and get your bunny fixed.
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Comments
Roughly around 6 months I believe, probably a little earlier. Your vetinary surgeon will be able to better advise you with regards to your particular rabbit.
I checked with a vet, and the window for females is between 4 months, and two years.
My own rabbit was spayed at around one year of age and recovered quite well in spite of a minor complication. The argument for spaying early would be that ovarian cancer often starts developing at around 2 years, and sometimes earlier. Spaying early means that your rabbit's chances of cancer are lessened more.
If you have a male rabbit, any time over the age of 12 weeks is fine. Male rabbits do not have the cancer issue to contend with, so reasons for spaying tend to relate more to temperament and convenience.
I talked to the breeder I got my bunny from and she highly reccommended NOT spaying Milly because it is often fatal for bunnies. I guess I am a little torn for what to do.
Strange. If you don't spay her, she will almost certainly develop cancer and die in the next 3 or so years. That is almost a given. The vetinarian who performed the spay on my doe said that she has never lost a bunny. Perhaps instead of listening to the breeder (who does not sound well informed, though I am guessing she breeds her does, and so does not have the same cancer rates), you should talk to a vet and ask them what the fatality rate is. Find a good vet, and your bunny should be in safe hands.
Ok, thanks.
I have an appointment tfor Milly to be spayed today and I am VERY nervous! I have taken her to this vet before and she seems very knowledgeable, but I am afraid that I didn't do enough research and didn't ask enough questions before I scheduled the appoiintment. This morning I did some reading to find out what questions to ask before I hand her over and in one article I read it said that if the vet tells you fast your bunny, they may not be very knowledgable because in rabbits it doesn't matter because they cannot throw up. In fact, it highly reccommended not to fast the bunny because a bunny with a full digestive system is a healthier bunny. Any comments?
Well, I dropped Milly off at the vet about thirty minutes ago. I asked about why they didn't want her to have anything to eat after 6am and they said that it was because they wanted to make sure there wasn't any food in her mouth when they did the procedure, so that made me feel better. I also asked about the survival rate and the lady said she couldn't say for sure, but over the pas five years she had been working there, she could only remember a few instances where the rabbit did not survive. She also mentioned that there are two other vetrinarians who work in the clinic that also perform spay/neuter on rabbits. With that, my nerves were set more at ease, but I am still nervous/anxious! They vet said she will call me when the procedure is over and let me know if they want to keep her overnight or if I can pick her up later today.
How did the spay go Lyndsey?
Ok, not as good as I would have hoped. The vet called and said the procedure went well, but the following morning she didn't. She hadn't easten or drinkin anything, hadn't urinated or left any stool, and was huddled in the corner of her cage with a snotty nose. The vet asked to keep her another night. She ended up not having a stool until 2am the next morning (after the 2nd night), but only because they force fed her. She is doing better now, but she is still on antibiotics for her snotty nose and still is not big on eating, but urinates and stools frequently. She does not like me very much right now because I have to give her the antibiotics twice a day and another medication (can't remember what it is called or what it is for) three times a day. I take her back in next week to have a follow up appointment.
Just thought I would let you know that Milly is doing much better now! She is eating, drinking, pooping, and peeing on her own! She has even gone back to her same ole self as far as scratching and biting me when i refill her food or water dish, which is both relieving and irritating at the same time. At least I know that she is okay and made it through the bump in the road, but at the same time I feel a little let down because I was expecting that through the whole process her attitude would change due to the reduction of hormones running through her little body. I think I got my hopes up about her being friendlier towards me and her being better about potty training (from what I read, those were supposed to be additional benefits of the spay surgery). Neither happened, but in the end I still love my hunny bun whether she loves me back or not! =0)
Hehe.. you will have to wait several weeks before there is any real change in her behaviour. Wicket didn't calm down for quite a long time. Just give it time. Must have been quite a scary time with her getting an infection. Still, this is the one major operation she will ever need, and it means that she is much less likey to die before her time...
is it normal for a rabbit to be spraying/chin-rubbing after being spayed?
My bunny, Hans, is a baby of about 4 weeks old. But I chose a name to train him/her. I'm not sure if she/he is a boy or a girl. How do I distinguish?
And roughly, how much does it cost?
I have a 10 month old female rabbit, Dorothy, who has recently become really agressive and doesn't like ANY human interaction at all! Everytime I try to pick her up she growls and bites. I have read that you SHOULD get your female rabbits desexed because it stops them from being so hormonal, but then i've also read that it's very risky and sometimes does not work. I was just wondering who here has had their female rabbits desexed? And if it has stoped them from biting all the time?
I have made an appointment at the vet for her on Tuesday but after researching about it more I'm actually really re-thinking about getting it done... Any suggestions?
what do i expect after my 2 rabbits have been spayed and neutered cause they won't eat or stool or pee and i am worried because it has been a night after the operation
help me please
LyndseyLou says:
2 years ago
Is there a reccommended age when this should be done?