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Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Noodle’s spay appointment/could not be spayed

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    • Cheddar33
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        Today was Noodle’s spay appointment. She is six months old and 2.7 lbs. My boyfriend brought her to the appointment and said that the vet tech could not tell if Noodle was a girl or boy and could not say if they could perform the surgery. So he had to leave her there until the vet could take a look. 

        Hours later, he gets a call and it turns out that Noodle is a girl. They put her under anesthesia and made the incision for the surgery, but they could not find her uterus!!! He said that three vets tried and they couldn’t find it, but she’s definitely a girl. So they didn’t move forward with the procedure and just closed the incision.

        How common is that for vets not to be able to find a bun’s uterus??? Could there be something wrong with her? She is six months old, so definitely old enough for spaying. Any advice?

        Poor Noodle. Went through all that and couldn’t even get spayed. I’m going to pick her up later…


      • Stickerbunny
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          Was it a respected rabbit vet? I wonder if maybe “she” is a “he” and the testicles are just retracted into the abdomen, which can happen sometimes. Otherwise, are you sure she isn’t spayed already? (some places spay buns really, really early)


        • FrankieFlash
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            Poor Noodle (healing vibes)
            I have no clue if this can happen to rabbits but maybe she was born without one? I’ve read somewhere about that happening with humans and I think dogs too.


          • MimzMum
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              Where did you get her from? Shelter? Pet store? Sometimes if they are already spayed there’s a dot or a set of dots tattooed in the ear. But there should be some kind of previous incision line too they might have seen.
              Perhaps a different vet should see her. If it takes three vets just to do this much that would speak to me of a lack of experience with exotics.
              Speedy healing vibes to little Noodle. Poor baby. (((((((((((Vibes)))))))))))


            • Malp_15
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                Mimz – if you opened up an animal to find no uterus and couldn’t see testicles wouldn’t you get some other people to look and make sure you weren’t losing your mind

                I would hope that they had done some serious palpating to look for testicles once they couldn’t find a uterus.


              • Cheddar33
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                  I got Noodle from a breeder and she wanted to breed her, but she was too small. I got Cheddy and Poopy from the same breeder, so I don’t think that’s an issue.

                  I’ve also gone to this clinic to neuter Meatball, and there were no issues. They said that she may be developing late, but she is definitely a doe. They said wait two months and then come back as she should be mature by then. I just don’t know. She is already six months old, so she is mature enough to be spayed.


                • Nova
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                    No way Jose. I would find a vet who was into rabbits (exotic pet vet, basically).


                  • Kokaneeandkahlua
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                      I would ditto looking around, though yes, I have heard of something similar-they could only find and remove one ovary…and never removed the uterus (usually they remove ovaries and uterus, but some vets just remove ovaries)-so the bun did get ovarian cancer even though she was spayed. But not finding it at all…that seems strange…some shelters spay/neuter 6-8 week old animals so I really don’t think it’s a matter of development…I mean it’s not like they appear at sexual maturity they are always there….hmmmmm maybe even try phoning another clinic to speak to another vet about this-just to even bend a medical professional’s ear and hear that yes this happens or no it shouldn’t.


                    • bunnyfriend
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                        Hmm I know with humans sometimes organs can be a little out of place than what’s normally seen, but the uterus and ovaries should be there from the beginning (unless for some reason she was born without them, I know that can happen in humans). I would maybe talk to another vet to see what they think.

                        Poor Noodle!


                      • MimzMum
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                          I wasn’t criticizing the vets calling in their associates, just want to be sure they know what to look for and I assume a rabbits’ reproductive organs may be a bit different than your basic dog or cat. Not like they haven’t been missed before even by a qualified vet on the rare occasion, I’m sure.
                          I just feel so sorry for Noodle and for her mum. What an ordeal!


                        • Sarita
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                            And the vet and the breeder are positive she is a female? She does look very tiny to be six months old – perhaps she is younger.

                            Also I’ve known of some males who have had encapsulated testicles so they don’t descend and you have to sex the rabbit properly and not rely on the testicles appearance to sex the rabbit.

                            I would just contact the breeder with your concerns about this…


                          • Cheddar33
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                              I contacted the breeder and she thought it was crazy. She said that a bunny either has a uterus or does not have one and was sure that Noodle is a girl. The breeder is going to call the vet…or said that she would.


                            • Sarita
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                                Let us know if you get any more information…


                              • BinkyBunny
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                                  Yes, keep us updated on this — very curious to know what in the world is really going on. She might just be a rare gal who is born without it. You’d think at least one of the three would be able to locate it regardless if they were very experienced with rabbits or not.  I mean I know everything is not color coordinated and all in a neat and nice location in reality, but I’d imagine someone would be able to at least locate it.  

                                  I know there is a bit of time crunch too with anethesia and rabbits, and so they may have all been trying to hurry up and find it, and ??????

                                  This is quite the mystery.


                                • Cheddar33
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                                    Alright, so the breeder called the vet who performed the procedure. The vet said that Noodle is slow to mature because she did not have a visible uterus. When they are mature, their uterus comes to the front, where it is viewable. Vet said come back in two months and she should be mature. The breeder agreed (or learned something new).

                                    Noodle is six months old though! I don’t know. I have to put her through another spay appointment. Poor Noodle.


                                  • Cheddar33
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                                      Maybe she is younger than the breeder said..


                                    • kinggoblin
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                                        Wow.. that is weird. Maybe when noodle is feeling better try a different vet for a second opinion? Maybe she just doesn’t have a uterus =S


                                      • Stickerbunny
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                                          Cheddar, I would really call a few different exotics vets and get a second/third opinion. If a bun that isn’t fully mature can be spayed by a shelter (which happens), I find the explanation of the vet rather odd.


                                        • Sarita
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                                            I am kind of perturbed that the breeder would say she either has a uterus or she doesn’t…what does that mean LOL. I think your vet would know a uterus if he/she saw one and would wait a few months and see what happens. I just don’t see how getting more opinions is going to get you an answer…that is my opinion…


                                          • MimzMum
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                                              Cheddar, I don’t want to sound alarmist, but I just read of an underdeveloped/undernourished doe having spay surgery where they had difficulty locating/removing the uterus and due to her being opened up and poked around in so long she succumbed to internal adhesions (scar tissue that attaches to internal organs) on her intestines and cecum. Sadly she went into a very bad GI stasis related to the surgery and did not survive. I can’t seem to find out how often this occurs, but even a rare case is troublesome if it were to happen to your own bun. This might be something else you might want to read up on and discuss with your vet. At the very least it might necessitate setting her spay back or require some ultrasound imaging to locate this elusive womb of hers.
                                              How is Noodle doing, btw?


                                            • Cheddar33
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                                                I am going to go back to the same vet as he does many rabbit neuter/spays each day.

                                                MimzMum, thanks for your comment. I will read up and discuss with the vet.

                                                Noodle is doing really good. She was up and about in like two days. She seems back to normal and eats a lot when I feed her. Now that I’ve thought about it, Noodle does seem a bit young to be six months. She is very small, 2.7 lbs, and also does not show any desire to try to hump or dominate Meatball. It’s like she hasn’t matured yet and isn’t in that teenager faze. She also seems very oblivious to Poopy’s attacks through the gate liike she has no idea that Poopy wants to dominate her.


                                              • Kokaneeandkahlua
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                                                  Good thoughts Mimz-it is invasive and to do it twice…so close together…I agree I would discuss with the vet possibly waiting even a bit longer.

                                                  Glad to hear Noodle is doing really good!


                                                • Cheddar33
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                                                    Thanks!

                                                    On another note, Noodle has been sneezing. I noticed that her nose is constantly matted/wet. She prob has an upper respiratory disease. Have to go to vet for that too.


                                                  • emkvet
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                                                      It might be an idea to do an ultrasound, xrays, or a different kind of scan to visualize the internal organs. They could even possibly utilize a contrast dye, too. It would be less invasive and very quick, most likely. Although I’m saying that with the spoiled thoughts of a vet student with a 30% discount at my university’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital. It may not be a financial option for you, but just something to think about!

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                                                  Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Noodle’s spay appointment/could not be spayed