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Forum DIET & CARE What to do for 2 mos until spaying???

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    • RubyRain
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        We’ve only had the rabbits 6 days and I think I know why they were put up for adoption…..spraying!

        I’ve called 6 vets in the area and only 2 spay rabbits. Both wait until 6 mos to spay. My rabbits are 4 mos but already  spraying (just discovered this weekend) and mounting each other.

        What should I do for 2 mos to help with the spraying?? There haven’t been any fights so far that I’ve seen so I think they are getting a long fine. But that can change at any time.

        My husband wants to put them outside in a hutch because of the spraying but I hate to resort to that! Any ideas!?

        thanks


      • tobyluv
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          If your rabbits are spraying, they must be males.  I don’t believe that females do that.  So that means you would be taking them in to be neutered. 

          According to the House Rabbit Society, males can be neutered as soon as their testicles descend, which is usually around 3 1/2 months old.  They also say that some vets prefer to wait until the male rabbits are 5 months old.  Have you examined your rabbits to see if their testicles have descended?  If they are both males (are both of them spraying?) you need to keep a close watch on them because unneutered males wil likely fight and could injure each other.


        • Monkeybun
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            Females can indeed spray.

            I would separate them, bunnies are often misgendered, and it would be safer to separate them to avoid unwanted litters.


          • RubyRain
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              Yes, females can spray-my first house rabbit did and that’s when we had her spayed.

              I just got a much larger cage (Xpen) today so I can separate them if needed but one will be in a big cage and one in a small cage which is a bummer.

              I’m wondering if the larger cage might help the issues a bit? Not such a small space to claim their territory in? I’ll have it all ready tonight so we’ll see what happens over the next week.


            • LoveChaCha
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                Ah, please tell your husband that rabbits don’t belong outside! It is just a temporary thing until both can be spayed.

                Do you have the dimensions of the x-pen?

                I don’t think that cage room will help with the spraying. I would suggest keeping the two rabbits in seperate x-pens of a good size.

                My bunny was (a girl) spraying up a storm around 5 months. It wasn’t too nice on the carpet.


              • jerseygirl
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                  Ditto some of the points raised…
                  Separate ASAP, firstly to prevent fighting as this can get bad quickly and also expensive. Secondly, in case the sexes were wrongly determined.

                  quote] I just got a much larger cage (Xpen) today so I can separate them if needed but one will be in a big cage and one in a small cage which is a bummer
                  What about swapping them daily between cage and pen? That way no bunny is less likely to become territorial over a space and it will help if they need to be bonded after they are fixed.

                  You could put a tarpaulin or something similar down under the pen and cage so pee doesn’t get into your flooring. Also some old towels or sheets of cardboard around the sides to catch any spray.

                  You have in your profile that you are in Iowa but the HRS rabbit vets listings for this State is a bit lacking. Any other BB members able to give any recommendations?

                  Last question; : ) how certain are you on their age?


                • RubyRain
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                    Unfortunately, I am not certain of their ages. I was told 4 mos but this was from the person adopting them out, not the original owner.
                    I also asked 3x about the sexes and was assured they were both female-sisters. They had barking dogs around and the rabbits were thumping and mad so would not let us pick them up at the time……

                    Guess what…yes, we have a male and a female! I was able to confirm the male today-little balls don’t lie. LOL

                    I couldn’t pick up the other, she cries and really freaks and tries to bite. I “think” she’s female because she stands up against the cage to be petted and we’ve checked for testicles but can’t see any when she’s standing. Not a perfect test, I know. From her behavior I wonder if she’s pregnant now?

                    They are separated now though!

                    GGGGRRRRR! Dumb mistake, I should have found a way to check and know that that the workers rarely know what to look for-but how could they miss the testicles??

                    What”s done is done. Now we wait and see I guess and try to find homes for the babies if there are any.

                    I will DEFINITELY get the male neutered ASAP!


                  • tobyluv
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                      I wasn’t aware that females sprayed. I’ve never noticed that with any of my females and I don’t remember reading about that in any of the books I have.

                      It’s a good thing that you have separated them now, not only to prevent fighting, but to prevent pregnancy (hopefully it’s not too late for that).

                      Can you contact the original owner and find out exactly how old the rabbits are? If you see testicles, then the male is probably old enough to be neutered. Regarding the female, if you think she is old enough to be spayed, you can go ahead and have that done. You will need to tell the vet that there is a possibility she is pregnant.

                      Good luck with everything. I hope that they will bond well after their surgeries.


                    • DawnT
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                        Yes put the husband in the hutch for the next two months


                      • RubyRain
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                          The male is already separated (from the moment I discovered she was a “he”) and the cages are a few feet apart.


                        • RabbitPam
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                            Their exact age does not effect the willingness of the vet to do the procedure, so you really are stuck with doing it whenever the vet believes it is safe to perform it. It’s a more complicated operation for the female than the male, but also more necessary due to possible cancer later on. You are doing the right thing by going to a rabbit savvy vet. Make their appointments now, and even mention to the vet that one is now definitely a male, in case that can be done first and much sooner. It’s the comfort zone for the vet, more than the rabbit, for a good outcome of the surgery.

                            That said, watch the female to see if she starts pulling out her fur and making a nest. You may have a pregnant doe, but it’s possible it hasn’t happened. Be certain to keep them far away for the 2 months, leaving at least 3″ between their pens or cages (changing to a new set up with 2). A hutch is not a good solution outdoors, and is expensive and difficult to move in later, so a much simpler, cheaper way is just a second xpen.

                            If the female does start to nest, tell the vet.

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                        Forum DIET & CARE What to do for 2 mos until spaying???