Neutering vs Not neutering (MALES only)

[bunnnnnnie!]

So, I was hoping I could get some non-judgemental info and advice about the possibility of NOT neutering Zeus, or any male bun.  I ultimately want to do what’s best for HIM, and that’s why I am torn! 

Here’s the info:  Zeus is 2 years old, he’ll be 3 in February.  He’s currently intact.  He lives with me, and is a single bun.  He displays zero negative behaviors expected of male intact buns.  He is not territorial, or aggressive.  He’s never sprayed or marked anything.  He has impeccable litter habits, and was litter trained in 2 or 3 days.  He doesn’t smell, nor does his litterbox or cage.  He’s not overly destructive, yes he likes to chew and dig but not to the point where it’s a problem.  He does like to hump on occasion, but he has a fluffy rolled up handtowel to do that.  He never humps me, he only attempted it a few times and a few firm “nah-ah”s or “no”s and he got that it wasn’t allowed.  He tried to hump my fiance a few times, but same thing, once he figured out fiance also wouldn’t allow it, he doesn’t bother him, either.

I don’t expect to be getting another bun any time in the near or far future.  He’s always lived as a single bun, and gets lots of attention, so I don’t feel like he’s missing a lot by not having another rabbit companion.

I’ve thought really long and hard about neutering, but honestly, I can’t come up with many reasons to do it.  And yes, I’m sure he’s intact, I’ve seen his “goods”.   The only thing I’m concerned about is any risk of testicular cancer, but I cannot find any info on that.  All the sites and articles I’ve read said it’s a big risk in females (reproductive cancer), but I haven’t read anything about males.  Does this mean it’s not a big risk?  Or is there just not a lot of info done on males? .

So if I could get some experienced, educated input that is not judgemental about my possible decision to keep him intact, I would really, really appreciate it.  Like I said, I’m only trying to do what’s best for him.  Money or convenience isn’t an issue, I just think that if surgery CAN be avoided without detriment to the animal’s health, it should.  I mean, why should I risk a neuter.. when I can’t come up with many good reasons to do it in the first place?  I know neuters aren’t as risky as spays.. but ANY surgery does have risks.  I just worry that he’ll get to the age where it’ll be much riskier to neuter him (I know older buns have higher risks during neutering), and I’ll regret my decision or something in keeping him intact.  I’m so undecided! 

[Nibbles_NZ]

My male acted very much like Zues when he was intact. I was worried about the surgery myself and was undecided for a while. My male only sprayed once BUT he was smelling my other bun. Once they were in separate rooms he was okay. He wasn’t at all aggressive or territorial. He did hump me and other things (a stuffed animal and a towel). I would tell him no too. He got the point that I didn’t want him to do it to me and stopped but after a while he didn’t care if I wanted him too or not. He did it anyway lol. Mine may have been a little more hormonal than yours. Maybe because I had another bun in the house and he could smell that. Honestly, in my opinion, I would get it done. That’s just my opinion though. Your bun may not seem too hormonal or destructive right now but that doesn’t mean he won’t get that way. I have seen a huge change in my bun since he got his surgery. It isn’t hard on males. I would recommend getting blood work done though. That is what is going to protect him when he goes under anesthesia. It isn’t the surgery that is risky. It is the anesthesia. They can catch things with blood work so it wouldn’t be risky. My bun didn’t act any different when he came home the next day from surgery. He ate well and hopped around the same. I understand wanting to avoid surgery if it is unnecessary but like you said, you don’t want to wait until he is too old to have it done and regret not doing so. My vet highly recommended it be done. I think it makes the bun happier….again, that is my opinion. Do you have a regular exotics vet for Zues? You should ask your vet about the risks of not having it done.

[Nibbles_NZ]

I just found this on a website:
“Testicular cancer in unaltered males, although not nearly as common as uterine cancer in unspayed females, can and does happen. In fact, we’re starting to hear of more and more cases of testicular cancer in unaltered males.”
http://www.bunnybunch.org/spayneuter2.html

[Nibbles_NZ]

this site shows a picture of cancer in an unaltered male.
http://www.lbah.com/rabbits/rabbit_neuter.htm

[Otti]

Hi,

Well I don’t have exact statistics but I do have a personal experience. My brother’s rabbit that he got when I was a teenager was never neutered and he died of testicular cancer I thin when he was around 6/7 years old. I’m honestly not sure of how deadly testicular cancer is in rabbits, and maybe if the rabbit had been paid more attention to we could have caught it earlier and he could have survived. The only thing I know for sure is that he got it, he suffered due to it, and ultimately he passed away even after surgery and having to be hand fed.

My rabbit just got neutered. I also didn’t have that many reasons aside from health reasons to neuter him, even though he was just entering the hormonal phase so it definitely could have gotten worse. I just wanted to make sure I was doing all I could to prevent possible future health issues. So just like I make sure to feed him the right food, give him the right habitat, plenty of run time and any vet care he needs – to me really caring for him properly also means neutering because I know that not doing it could cause serious health problems.

His neuter went really well and he was back to normal, active and eating within hours. I had a small freak out about him licking his incision but that was really just my imagination and nothing wrong with him.

[Monkeybun]

I think the question I would ask is this: What are the benefits of keeping him intact versus altering him? I really can’t think of anything Personally, I’d get him neutered, no matter what the slim chances are of maybe or maybe not getting testicular cancer. The fact that he DOES try to hump things tells me he is still in wanting to make babies mode, even if he is a good boy and listens when you say No. He’d be more relaxed after getting altered.

My 2 cents

[Beka27]

Posted By bunnnnnnie! on 09/27/2010 05:54 PM

I just worry that he’ll get to the age where it’ll be much riskier to neuter him (I know older buns have higher risks during neutering), and I’ll regret my decision or something in keeping him intact.  I’m so undecided! 

I read your thread with interest.  This topic has come up many, many times regarding neutering of males.  There are the few males out there who are not destructive, smelly, and do not spray. 

I had an unaltered male who was PERFECT.  I knew very little about rabbit health at the time (this was pre-BB!), but he was amazing.  When he was a few years old, I decided to neuter him, but before the appt could be scheduled, he passed away unexpectedly.  I still don’t know why, but since I wasn’t aware of stasis and testicular cancer back then, it could have been anything. 

I stll feel guilty.  You just never know what will happen.  Some unaltered males live to be 12 years old, but some don’t.  Like with females, you want to give them the BEST POSSIBLE CHANCE of living a long, healthy, PAIN-FREE life.  Surgery to remove cancer will always be more extensive, more painful, more expensive than a simple, preventative procedure.

I quoted your ending remarks because I think you answered your own question.  As he gets older, the process of undergoing anesthesia will be riskier, and his ability to heal post-neuter may be compromised.  Many male rabbits are not neutered until 2-3 years old b/c that is when they end up in shelters.  So it can be done with a fantastic success rate. 

I would hate for you to lose such a sweet, amazing bunny within the next year or two b/c of something that could have been avoided.  Life takes twists and turns: Zues may not always be a single bunny.  It’s best to be prepared for anything.

[Karla]

I understand completely where you are coming from. There were no reasons to neuter Karl either as he never smelled, only left 5-6 poops outside his toilet box and was just such a sweet little guy. I am not convinced that the risk of cancer in males is decreased that much when you neuter anyhow, because the risk is not high anyway and there are so many other types of cancer.

So why did I do it? Because I don’t want him hormonally and instinctly yearning to reproduce. We keep our rabbits in unnatural conditions inside, we give them veggies and pellets all year round, so the bunnies can’t tell the seasons…and the consequence is that they are constantly in the mating season. This cannot be healthy and it must lead to stress, in my humble opinion.

If you told me that Zeus was an outdoor bunny who you looked after, but who was never going to be fed by you et.c so that his life was as natural as it could be, then surely I don’t think it would be necessary to neuter him for the above reason.

[Elrohwen]

I very much agree with both Monkeybun and Beka. I think he will be all around happier and less stressed (even if he seems happy now, he still has the mating urge that he can’t relieve). I also think anything that will prevent a possibly painful cancer in the future is the right way to go.

[nugget]

I have been asking myself this same question. Although my male if VERY young, I wondered if he would spray without any other rabbits around. His behavior so far is great, and I am hoping that won’t change.  I too, have always been told neuters are much less risky than spays. After spaying my first rabbit – I was almost possitive she wasn’t going to recover, it was scary for all of us. Which may be why I am a little hesitant. I do like Monkeybuns point…..what are the benefits of leaving him unaltered?  Assuming post-op recovery is nothing to be too anxious about, knowing that the risk of testicular cancer is eliminated. I am heavily leaning towards neutering Oliver at this point.

I hope you get the guidance you are looking for, and are able to make a decision you are happy with!

[bunnnnnnie!]

I really appreciate all the responses, and that everyone has been totally respectful of my indecision.

I’m not gonna reply with a ton right now, because I’m rereading and really thinking about everything that’s said.  I do think I will put a call in to the small exotics vet in my area, and perhaps ask for a phone consult with their most rabbit-savvy vet, and see what they say about testicular cancer/neutering.  Thanks to whoever made that suggestion!

Please keep it coming, I’m reading it ALL and taking it to heart.

[GrumpyBun]

I haven’t got a great deal to add, other than I can see the logic behind your indecision. Why would you operate if not necessary? We didn’t plan to get Oxo and Bisto done (we just never gave it a thought as new rabbit owners) but had to, and if we had another male, even single, rabbit I would have it done again. I have a good, thoroughly experienced vet who actually specialises in rabbits, so I am lucky, but he reassured me of the safety of anaesthesia for rabbits. It was a quick operation – they were dropped off at 8am and picked up at 4pm and to be honest I don’t think they even noticed losing anything!

I feel better knowing that they don’t have hormonal urges and that the chance of testicular cancer is now nil. But that is me, not you. If Zeus was a girl I would be saying you should get it done, but with a male I would do it but I don’t feel it’s a necessity. Just my tuppence worth.

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