Should I spay my 6 year old?

[DianaEvelyn08]

I’m considering spaying Asia, my female, but I’m trying to decide if it’s worth doing. She’s supposedly around 6 years old (I got her from a rescue and they weren’t even sure of her age, she has quite a history with a lot of unknowns), and except for allergy problems, she’s in overall good health. The vet I go to charges $150 for spaying, and said it was even possible that she was already spayed and that there’s no scar. But I’m about to move to an area where I could get vouchers to greatly reduce the cost of spaying, so I’m seriously considering it.

[LongLiveLoyalBuns]

I would still consider! She is 6 and at a GREAT risk of uterine cancer! She might have it already…I would go to a vet and check.. It could be mighty expensive though… I would consider the vouchers too!! Im always in for a better deal Im not all that experienced though because i have male he isnt neutered yet.. (But he will be tomorrow! FINALLY) Someone more experienced will come along Good luck!

[NewBunnyOwner123]

I think blood work should be done first and if everything comes back ok I would probably do it.

[KytKattin]

You should definitely consider doing it. In rabbits, uterine cancer is just so common (like over 85% after 5 years), that LongLiveLoyalBuns is right, she probably already has it if she isn’t spayed. The great news though is that unlike uterine cancer in cats and dogs, as long as it is still maintained within the uterus she should not experience any further risk of uterine cancer. With dogs and cats, with each “heat” cycle they go through the chance of cancer increases even if they are later spayed (though it is still reduced by spaying!). So unless there are other medical issues, it is always a good idea to spay a bunny!

NewBunnyOwner123 is also right, in that bloodwork would be a very good idea!

I am so glad that vets are now more likely to tattoo pets that have been spayed or neutered so there is no longer a question as to if the procedure has been done!

[NewBunnyOwner123]

Oh yeah all three of mine tattooed. And so is my dog! Like I’m sure people can tell if a male dog has been neutered but I guess they wanted to play it safe lol

[RabbitPam]

I agree with the caution of checking her out thoroughly at the new location with your new vet beforehand, but otherwise I think it would be possible to prevent cancer.

[KytKattin]

Posted By NewBunnyOwner123 on 5/13/2014 11:15 PM

Oh yeah all three of mine tattooed. And so is my dog! Like I’m sure people can tell if a male dog has been neutered but I guess they wanted to play it safe lol

I think it is to make it obvious things were taken care of and the dog (cat, rabbit, etc) does not have undescended testis. A long time ago I had a rabbit that I was worried about neutering because of this very reason. Unfortunately he passed away before I could find a vet that would do what was more invasive surgery that a typical neuter. 

I didn’t have Eclipse spayed, but the lady I got her from said she was. Her other rabbit was going to her mother, who was a part of the Sacramento HRS, so I do trust that Eclipse is actually spayed, though I wish I had asked which vet she used so I could verify. That was over 5 years ago now, and I have moved and no longer have the information of the woman I adopted her from. I definitely plan on adopting from a shelter or such in the future that does spay/neuter so I don’t have to wonder.

[LittlePuffyTail]

I think if a vet okays the procedure, after a thorough health check and blood work, I would go ahead with it. The dangers of leaving a bun unspayed are just too high.

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