Adopting an Older Unaltered Rabbit?

[Hokankai]

 There’s a rabbit available in my area that is not spayed and she is 4 years old. I’m a little torn as to whether or not I want her just because I’m afraid she’s going to get uterine cancer and I can’t handle something like that

What do you guys think?

[Stickerbunny]

Is she through a rescue or shelter? Often they give coupons to have animals spayed/neutered when they are adopted, or can give them health exams – you could discuss it with them. If she hasn’t developed it already, you can have her spayed and prevent the cancer, then it is no problem. Four is not too old for the surgery.

[Hokankai]

She’s from neither. There’s someone in the area trying to relocate her. She’s a previous show rabbit and this person has only had her for a year . I feel bad for her being passed around!

 

Hmm…she looks like a fuzzy lop though and I don’t really want one of those. I don’t want to deal with the grooming -_-

[Stickerbunny]

Ah. You could have her checked, but it would be out of your own money since she’s not through a group. Alternatively, you could maybe find a nice rescue that has room and suggest to the person they would take her in, have her spayed and find her a nice forever home if they are in a rush to get rid of her… all you can do is suggest it politely if you are unable to take the care of her yourself. And you can’t feel bad about not being able to rescue them all, no one can and there are animals every day I see who I want to save but we can only do what is within our financial/emotional means.

[Elrohwen]

You could certainly get her spayed at that age assuming she doesn’t have any other health conditions that would prevent it – shelters spay at that age all the time. She’s very cute!

[Hokankai]

She’s so cute but that haaaaair. hahaha I just don’t want a high maintenance rabbit.

I know I can’t rescue them all…it sucks! I’m taking my foster back to the shelter to find her forever home though so maybe that’ll just have to be enough

[KytKattin]

From what I read about rabbit uterine cancer, spaying prevents and cures it. That is, even if it has started to develop, as long as it is early in development, removing the uterus and the cancer does not result in it spreading normally. This is not true for dogs, which is why I assumed it would be the same for rabbits. Every time a dog goes into heat it increases her risk of developing it later on. But rabbits have a completely different reproductive cycle than dogs or humans. Unfortunately I don’t remember where I read that tidbit, so you might want to call your vet. But if it is true, you would likely be saving this bunny from developing it.

[Hokankai]

Well, she managed to find a home!

[Beka27]

Oh good! I’m glad she found a home!

I don’t blame you on passing on a higher maintenance rabbit. I usually end up having to force myself to groom my short-haired bunnies; they don’t like, I don’t like it, so I just try to do it and get it done. I definitely would not want a longer-haired bunny. Don’t get me wrong, I think they’re simply adorable, but just not for me.

[Sarita]

She’s cute but I agree about high maintenance. I’ve only had a few experience with the long haired rabbits and it takes patience to groom them especially because they usually hate being groomed.

The one fuzzy lop I had fostered had super fine silky fur and it matted like crazy. Very frustrating.

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