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The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet.  It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

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Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Neutering

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    • BRabbit
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        Hi everyone, 

        I posted over in the intro area but it hasn’t been approved yet. I’ve been lurking for a few weeks, thanks to the search feature I haven’t really needed to post but decided to come out of hiding  I scheduled our bunny for his neuter for April 24, a day before he turns 4 months and I’m feeling pretty anxious about it. I couldn’t find any local recommended vets on HRS, but did find one on another site. She’s the only vet in the clinic who does rabbit surgeries so I called and talked to her. There was 1 review on the other site, the person had some spay/neuters done and head tilt treated.

        Her guidelines follow along with HRS guidelines for the procedure (closed neuter, through the scrotum, don’t withhold food, etc..she mentioned isofluorene I THINK, but also mentioned something that started with a C for the anesthesia..I need to call again and double check) BUT she doesn’t recommend spay/neuter unless you have more than one rabbit because it can be risky. I didn’t tell her how many we had, but it made me nervous. She’s lost one rabbit after surgery, none during I’m pretty sure that’s what she said. B-Rabbit is super sweet, really coming out of his shell but MAN he started spraying this week. First the dog and then the cat and I’m sure me or the kids will be next. He loves the dog, cat, and kids and they love him (we never leave any of them together unsupervised though), but I think he’s just doing that territorial thing. I don’t want to have to lock up the other animals to let him run around, especially since they all seem to enjoy each other, and if he starts spraying us I think I’ll lose my mind lol. And we MIGHT eventually want to get another bunny, so I’d rather just get this over with now.

        I’ve been reading all the posts about neutering, it seems like everyone is pretty nervous about it so I guess I don’t feel like such a wackadoo posting that in here. He’s just so little, and I’ll feel so guilty putting him through something elective and losing him. Ah must think positive thoughts. I have to drop him off at 8am and the vet will be there at 9am, not sure why I have to drop him off a hour before she gets there..anyway. I might just call her again and risk sounding like a crazy person, but I’m not sure what to even ask because she covered it all. Or maybe I’ll wait the hour and talk to her the day of. 

        From all the posts I’ve read some vets will give pain meds and some won’t, and some give antibiotics after and some don’t..right? Should I ask for either of those? While calling around for info/prices one vet did give antibiotics after. I didn’t pick them because the girl had no idea and had to put me on hold for 5 minutes to go find out if they spay/neuter rabbits..shouldn’t the front desk know that stuff? 

        Sorry to ramble, I’ve been reading on here for days. Someone just tell me to hush and it will be okay 


      • Sarita
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          That drop off time – it’s pretty standard procedure at vet clinics…not really anything to question :~)

          There is no need for antibiotics after a neuter – it wouldn’t hurt to have some pain meds – I find that males usually recover pretty quickly after their neuters – they do give some heavy duty pain meds for the neuter procedure too.

          I find that Front Desk staff doesn’t always know about rabbits especially if they are new – I always tell them if it’s wrong information (like fasting) and they seem fine with being corrected – as long as the doctor knows what to do then I’m okay.


        • Bam
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            I agree with Sarita, the drop-off time is standard procedure. Both my boys were dropped off around 8 but the procedure wasn’t due until noon or so. I don’t know why exactly, but it went fine both times.

            Antibiotics is most often not necessary for a standard neuter, but if there’s infection later, it can be added. Long-duration pain-killers may be given by the vet or/and you’ll get a prescription for extra metacam that you can fill if your bunny should need it.

            Of course you worry. I’d say that’s perfectly normal. What kind of bunny-mommy wouldn’t worry when her little one is going under the knife? =) There are always risks with any surgery. I had terrible qualms when my first bunny was done, I felt so cruel and selfish – but he was fine and his behavioral problems (pee and poop everywhere, sexual harassment of my dog) went away like magic like 2 weeks after. Then when my other bunny had the same procedure, I wasn’t quite as worried.

            I wish you the best of luck!


          • BRabbit
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              Thank you both for the reassurance and info about pain meds and antibiotics!


            • BRabbit
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                We did it, I almost cancelled about a dozen times. He’s home and resting, not eating yet. The vet called around 11:30 to say everything went well so I’m guessing he hasn’t eaten since then. I have his favorite veggies, pellets and fresh water in there now and just leaving him alone. When should I start to worry about the eating? She sent us home with antibiotics as well, I wasn’t expecting that and not sure how to give them and also worried about diarrhea. They glued, not stitched him. Is that normal, depending on the vet? I haven’t been able to see anything and I don’t want to mess with him. Hopefully the next few days goes well and he starts eating soon.


              • Roberta
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                  Most won’t eat straight away…. Best idea if he is dozy is to give him lots of peace and quiet for the rest of the day and just keep fresh food and water in easy reach… It may be a full day before you see him eat or drink with any significance, anything longer than that you might want to syringe some water to get things going or tickle his nose with his favourite wet herbs..
                  Glueing is very normal and I prefer it…..


                • BRabbit
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                    Thank you! He had a small nibble of dill and another of green leaf lettuce, not much but it’s something. I’ve been reading and antibiotics aren’t super common after spay/neuter, I have them in the fridge but haven’t given them to him yet. I kind of want to skip it and not risk the diarrhea, the vet didn’t say anything about complications but she wasn’t super talkative or informative either. I could keep an eye on his incision and start the antibiotics if it starts to look infected? Wasted $25 but would rather not risk upsetting his belly either.


                  • BRabbit
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                      Thank you! He had a small nibble of dill and another of green leaf lettuce, not much but it’s something. I’ve been reading and antibiotics aren’t super common after spay/neuter, I have them in the fridge but haven’t given them to him yet. I kind of want to skip it and not risk the diarrhea, the vet didn’t say anything about complications but she wasn’t super talkative or informative either. I could keep an eye on his incision and start the antibiotics if it starts to look infected? Wasted $25 but would rather not risk upsetting his belly either.


                    • Roberta
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                        Sorry I can’t advise on the antibiotics, mine always give a slow release injection as a preventative post surgery…..


                      • calipa_st
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                          Just so you know, they will swell…does not mean he needs antibiotics but I remember my one rabbits sac swelled up, I read it was normal so I just kept an eye on it. Vet said it is just blood and it’ll go away, which it did. it shrinks back up into them.
                          I’m about to have another rabbit neutered, so is so so much smaller than Rodan was when neutered so I’m nervous. She calmed me down about it, saying her success rate but did warn me it can be risky. I’m scared but mine is also spraying (the walls! he’s secluded until neutered, and I feel bad but he’s flipping my other rabbits out) So he’s getting done tuesday!


                        • BRabbit
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                            I still haven’t given him the antibiotics, too afraid to mess his belly up. Once the kids go to bed I’m going to check him, haven’t had a good look yet (know I’m supposed to be checking 2x/day but man he hates being handled!). I tried the trick with getting him up on his hind legs and using a mirror but I really couldn’t see much at all. He’s acting fine, eating great, pooping normal, and hasn’t been messing with anything down there so hopefully it all looks good minus some swelling if that.
                            Aw calipa, I hope everything goes well! Ours is 4 months old and a Holland lop so pretty tiny, his small size and having everything done scared me a lot too (plus it’s the first time I’ve taken a rabbit in to be fixed). Good luck on Tuesday, I’ll be watching for an update!


                          • BRabbit
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                              I still haven’t given him the antibiotics, too afraid to mess his belly up. Once the kids go to bed I’m going to check him, haven’t had a good look yet (know I’m supposed to be checking 2x/day but man he hates being handled!). I tried the trick with getting him up on his hind legs and using a mirror but I really couldn’t see much at all. He’s acting fine, eating great, pooping normal, and hasn’t been messing with anything down there so hopefully it all looks good minus some swelling if that.
                              Aw calipa, I hope everything goes well! Ours is 4 months old and a Holland lop so pretty tiny, his small size and having everything done scared me a lot too (plus it’s the first time I’ve taken a rabbit in to be fixed). Good luck on Tuesday, I’ll be watching for an update!


                            • Chestnut's Mom
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                                Our little Holland Lop was neutered around 4 months old too. He did very well and stopped the spraying and naughty behavior afterwards. He’s a much sweeter little guy now. Loves cuddles and attention and uses his litter box regularly!

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                            Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Neutering