Parents not agreeing to neutering my rabbit!

[Donut]

First of all, its my first post here so I hope I’m putting this in the right category. 

Well, I have a 2 months old bunny, of course I’m not going to neuter it now but I talked about it with my family and they didn’t agree. They said it wasn’t necessary even when I told them all the risks the rabbit can get into! This is the first rabbit I had for a long time, I had them as a kid and I didn’t care much for them… but now, I researched and decided to get one, so this is the first time I ever talked about neutering a rabbit & they thought it was a stupid thought or like I was the first person who ever thought of neutering a pet. Also, I asked my aunties & everyone else in the family about this too but they all disagreed to it. 

Another problem is, I live in Middle east, Qatar. It’s a really small country & I don’t think many vets are professionals in neutering rabbits. The money wouldn’t even be a problem because I saved a lot & I’m still saving for it! I really don’t know what to do.. 

I know it’s too early to think about this but I can’t help but worry, I’m trying to recover from depression & since I love animals so much I decided to get a rabbit so I don’t want any harm to happen to it. 

EDIT: I actually asked one of the rescue centers here about a vet that’s rabbit savvy, and I found one. Alot of you were a big help, since I’m intending to keep Donut solo, I wouldn’t neuter it if it turned out to be a male. But, one thing I’m afraid of is that it might be a female because that’s what I think it is. I’m taking it to the vet soon to get it checked up and all, I will also ask for Donut’s gender. 

[Sarita]

I think first you should just start calling around to vets in your area and see if they can neuter your rabbit or can recommend a vet that can do it. Otherwise you may just be worrying for nothing if you cannot find an experienced vet to do the procedure.

[CheriB603]

I’m very sorry your family does not understand. Did you discuss this BEFORE you got the bunny? It’s always a good idea to talk about all of the needs and costs of a pet and whether you will need help with these things before you get the pet so you don’t have these problems.
Now that you DO have this bunny, can you explain that spaying and neutering will not only help the bunny, but after neutering your bun will be happier, less mean and won’t smell as bad. And a bun who is fixed is more likely to use the litterbox and not pee and poop all over the house.

[Donut]

Yes, I was thinking of doing that before I worry about getting my parents convinced. Thanks for your help! 

[Donut]

Posted By CheriB603 on 01/20/2014 08:19 AM

I’m very sorry your family does not understand. Did you discuss this BEFORE you got the bunny? It’s always a good idea to talk about all of the needs and costs of a pet and whether you will need help with these things before you get the pet so you don’t have these problems.
Now that you DO have this bunny, can you explain that spaying and neutering will not only help the bunny, but after neutering your bun will be happier, less mean and won’t smell as bad. And a bun who is fixed is more likely to use the litterbox and not pee and poop all over the house.

In fact, I did discuss about that but I think they took it lightly or thought I was joking.  And, now since I mentioned it again, they understood I wasn’t joking about that all. I will try my best to do that, especially since my mother doesn’t want the house to smell bad, thanks for that point.  

[Beka27]

Neutering isn’t medically necessary for makes rabbits, but it does make them easier to deal with in terms of destructive behavior, aggression, smell, and cleanliness (some rabbits spray urine which is obviously unpleasant).

[Elrohwen]

I agree that neutering isn’t totally necessary for single male rabbits. Some unfixed boys have great litter habits and don’t smell, and neutering is really a personal choice in that case. It’s much more important for females.

I agree that you should call around and see if there are any vets who can do it and what they charge, and go from there.

[LBJ10]

I agree with Beka and Elrohwen. It isn’t essential to have a single male rabbit neutered. It is mostly to help with hormonal behaviors and cleanliness. Just make sure that he is indeed a boy. If he is really a she, then spaying is a must for health reasons (not just behavioral reasons).

[Deleted User]

“IF” your boy starts to spray you, your furniture, your walls, your pets, your etc., your parents will be ‘telling you’ to “get that dam rabbit neutered”! ha ha hah! When I first got Henry, I never gave it a second thought (being a lone bun) till I literally couldn’t deal with the spraying anymore. I rang the vet that day and he was booked in the next! Best investment I ever made – for Henry too, we ‘love’ him again!!!!

[Roberta]

Before Piglet was done he could spray to a height of 4 feet up the sunroom wall, Pepper not to be outdone would pirouhette on her front paws with her bottom in the air and spray in a full circle… This is why I thought they were both boys to begin with…

[Stickerbunny]

Haha wow, I am so glad my buns never did that, Roberta!

As the others have said, your boy may not need neutered. If he begins to have bad behaviors (spraying, aggressive, etc) then you may be able to talk your parents into it just because it will stop those behaviors! But, if he doesn’t, there is no medical reason to neuter a solo male bunny. Powder was just fine until I wanted to bond him, then we got him done so that he could live with Stickers. But, if he had stayed solo, I probably wouldn’t have neutered him. The vet said it was an unneeded risk given he was well behaved and solo.

[Monkeybun]

Agreed, if your bun is a single male, it may not need to be done.

HOWEVER. At 2 months old, definitely make sure that your bun is indeed a boy. Often breeders mis-identify the gender of the bunny, so yours could be a girl. In which case, spaying is a necessity due to uterine cancer.

[Deleted User]

Roberta – my Henry wins (is that a good thing? duh!) over Piglet and Pepper, he hit the corner of the ceiling once (admittedly from the bed) ha ha hah!
YUCK! Lol! – show this forum to your parents Donut, and ‘your parents’ will be making the call!!!!!! A year ago and I’d thought no way could a cute sweet bunny be so disgusting? Now – I just shrug my shoulders and say, “whatever”……

[Donut]

Posted By AndHenry on 01/21/2014 02:21 AM

Roberta – my Henry wins (is that a good thing? duh!) over Piglet and Pepper, he hit the corner of the ceiling once (admittedly from the bed) ha ha hah!
YUCK! Lol! – show this forum to your parents Donut, and ‘your parents’ will be making the call!!!!!! A year ago and I’d thought no way could a cute sweet bunny be so disgusting? Now – I just shrug my shoulders and say, “whatever”……

I actually have a feeling if Donut is a male and starts spraying at everything then my mom, herself, will get it neutered! lol. 

[inoofy]

Hello Donut,

I am Qatari and live in Qatar too. I am thinking of getting a rabbit and I want to potty train him. Except I’m hesitant because of the spraying and aggressiveness part. You said you found a vet that neuters rabbits in Qatar. Can you please give me a number? Also I want to get a pet but I’m stuck between ducklings or bunnies?

[Sarita]

Hi Inoofy, thank you for your post – I am going to ask that you start a new post – if you need help with this, please PM a forum leader to help you. The post you answered is from January 2014 and answering a post this old confuses members and also piggybacking a question on another post is not a good idea.

[Author]

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