unspayed female

[Megabunny]

I have had a  2yr old fuzzy lop for about two weeks. She needed some shaving at the vet’s and some follow-up baths due to irritated skin (from before I got her).

She looks cleaner, but is still urine-stained. She’s currently in a wire bottom cage (I know, I know) with a blanket to sit on.  I’d like to get her in a solid-bottom enclosure, but she isn’t spayed and does her business in 2 main spots and then all over, so she’s already hard to keep clean.

Do unspayed females smell bad when they are intact, then improve after spaying?

Not sure I want to spay her yet. Former owner said she was told not to try and litter train until Gracie was spayed, which she never did.

What do you think?

M.B.

[Sarita]

Unspayed rabbits have a 50 to 80% chance of contracting uterine cancer which is reason enough to spay her.

[Megabunny]

I’ve read that to avoid cancer, they need to be spayed before they are two years old, so I worry about putting her through surgery if it’s past the helpful time frame.

[Beka27]

Sadly, female bunnies are like little ticking time bombs when it comes to cancer. There is a big chance that she is already beginning to develop pre-cancerous cells. Fortunately, if they are developing, everything should still be neatly contained within the uterus and a simple spay procedure can eliminate that risk of the cells taking hold.

What is your hesitation with spaying? At 2 years old, she isn’t too old to undergo the procedure safely, as long as your vet is very rabbit-savvy.

[Beka27]

Posted By Megabunny on 11/11/2013 08:54 AM

I’ve read that to avoid cancer, they need to be spayed before they are two years old, so I worry about putting her through surgery if it’s past the helpful time frame.

I replied at the same time as you and didn’t see this…

ABSOLUTELY NOT!  There is NO upper age limit (for a healthy rabbit) on when they can be spayed!  Rescues get abandoned rabbits at 5, 6, 7 years old and they are successfully spayed and go on to live for several more years!

At 2 years old, it’s even more important that she undergo the procedure.

[Megabunny]

Oh. Thanks. She’s just so tiny compared to my Giant Chinchilla that it’s like sending a baby off for surgery.

[Beka27]

I know… it can be super scary when they’re sooo little! It helps to remember that experienced exotic vets routinely perform delicate surgeries on animals MUCH smaller. There are some dwarf breeds that are barely over a pound full-grown, and they can make it through successfully.

[LongEaredLions]

Bella made it through her spay flawlessly and ate immediately after, and she is not even two pounds. Bella was two when she was spayed as well.
I have guinea pigs and rats as well and many have needed surgery, and they all have been fine, even though the don’t weigh much.
As long as she is otherwise healthy and the vet is rabbit savvy, her age and weight don’t matter.

[Author]

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