Use of cones on post-speuter bunnies?

[bunnnnnnie!]

Can someone tell me more about this?  On one hand I hear this stories on how bunnies hate the cones, are afraid of them, can’t eat, etc.  But then on the other hand I hear horror stories about bunnies chewing open their incision sights and needing to go back under anesthesia and get resewn up. .

So for Zeus’s neuter, will he be wearing a cone at the vet right after his surgery?  Will he need to wear one for an extended period of time afterwards, when I bring him home?  I don’t want him to bother the incision sight, but I’m afraid he’ll be scared of wearing the cone and not eat with it on or something.

[Sarita]

I have never had a rabbit come home wearing a cone for a spay or a neuter. I have also never had a rabbit bother his incision.

Did your vet mention if she does this? What type of stitches does she use?

[bunnnnnnie!]

Posted By Sarita on 01/11/2012 08:07 AM
I have never had a rabbit come home wearing a cone for a spay or a neuter. I have also never had a rabbit bother his incision.

Did your vet mention if she does this? What type of stitches does she use?

 

He’s coming home with a cone, but the vet said he may not tolerate it, so wearing it is kind of an as needed basis.

She uses dissolving internal stitches, and glue for the external incision.  I’m supposed to have a confirmation call tomorrow with the vet (neuter is Fri), so I’ll ask if they’ll be making him wear the cone or not.

[Monkeybun]

It depends on the bunny if they need it or not. None of mine did. But, at OHS there have been a couple buns that have bothered their incisions. So, if Zeus leaves it alone he should be fine without it. Ask the vet when you pick him up if he bothered it at all after waking up. And if he does come home wearing one, maybe take it off to see what he does. You may have to put it back on after, depending.

[bunnnnnnie!]

Posted By Monkeybun on 01/11/2012 08:15 AM
It depends on the bunny if they need it or not. None of mine did. But, at OHS there have been a couple buns that have bothered their incisions. So, if Zeus leaves it alone he should be fine without it. Ask the vet when you pick him up if he bothered it at all after waking up. And if he does come home wearing one, maybe take it off to see what he does. You may have to put it back on after, depending.

I hope Zeus doesn’t need it!  That would make me feel tons better.  I’ll ask the vet, definitely.
 

[Elrohwen]

I think they’re unnecessary and a hindrance on rabbits. I could see using one for a rabbit that just would not stop pulling stitches out, but they’re not needed for the average rabbit.

[Stickerbunny]

Neither of my buns came home with a cone, my vet uses internal dissolving stitches cause external ones the rabbits tend to pull out – so he feels it is just more stress that bunnies don’t need to have them wear a cone. Neither of mine bothered their incisions, but if he nibbles at it would be better to have the cone than let him chew.

[bunnnnnnie!]

Thanks for all the input guys, it’s really helpful!

I’ll just tell the vet not to put on the cone unless it actually becomes an issue.

[mzsunshine]

O__O. My buns both came home with cone of shames on their heads, but that didn’t last long. Lola managed to squirm out of hers, and Busters looked more like a skirt…which eventually came off.

I tried to put it back on, but Lola seemed more distraught and catching her to wear it was not worth the stress on her so I just kept them off.

Their incision sites were a little irritated from licking said the vet, but other than that they had a good recovery, sans the cones.

[kinggoblin]

Mine didn’t come home with a cone, he also didn’t bother his incision and everything was healed up good at his 1 week checkup

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

We had a cone with Kahlua and she needed it for the first two days or so, she was able to eat (same as dogs or cats can) because it’s short enough that they can eat. My cousin had her rabbit come home from neuter without a cone and they had to make one-he wouldn’t leave his incision alone. Just depends on the bunny-I woulld get one just in case and see how he does. It’s really not common for bunnies to get them; however…it’s not common for not-great-rabbit-vets to give pain meds either…I feel a cone and meds are part of the parcel and you can see if you don’t need them, but better safe then sorry.

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