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Forum DIET & CARE spay/neuter question

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    • NaptownBoys
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        We have a boy and girl bunny.  I was told they were 10 weeks old but when I picked them up she said the birthdate was 2/21 making them now 14 weeks old.  The spay clinic says they need to be 6 mos old before we spay and neuter them.  

        If we can only afford to do one should it be the male first?  He has been trying to mount her.  They are bonded and groom each other and cuddle.  should we separate them until they are spayed, can she get pregnant before 6 mos old?  thank you!


      • MoveDiagonally
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          If you only spay/neuter one rabbit is should be the female. She has an 50-80% of developing uterine cancer by the age of 4 if she stays intact. She can get pregnant as early as 3 months but usually around 5-6 is when females hit puberty.

          Honestly, I would separate them now to avoid any accidental litters. The issue you’re going to face is that they may not be able to and really shouldn’t be re-bonded until both are neutered/spayed. This means there is a very real possibility that they will need to be housed separately until you can afford to neuter the second rabbit. :/


        • LBJ10
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            I agree with MD. Spaying the girl is a must for health reasons. If you wish for them to be bonded though, then both will need to be done.


          • Kokaneeandkahlua
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              If you can only afford one period-do the girl.
              If you are spacing it out until you get the other one done, either is fine.

              But the girl needs to be done no matter what-incidence of cancer is astronomical in unspayed females. I would obviously (having a houseful of fixed animals!) recommend fixing them both, but it’s only urgent that you do one now.
              They must be separated right away-you don’t want 4-10 more to spay/neuter!

              Welcome!


            • NaptownBoys
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                oh yes, definitely spaying both! Just one now, one later. They won’t get along if only he is spayed now? I’m pretty certain they are bonded, they move around the room together and groom each other. Isn’t that what bonded means? We will do what is best for them from here. If it is necessary to have them both spay/neutered at the same time we can figure it out.
                Wouldn’t it be worse for them to keep them apart?


              • LBJ10
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                  Boys hit puberty before girls. So in theory, you could have him done first. The problem would be if she hit puberty before 4 to 5 weeks have passed since his neuter. That is how long sperm can survive in their ducts post-neuter. Most vets want to wait until 5 or 6 months for girls, but boys can be done much sooner. So if he was neutered, they would still need to be separated because once her hormones kick in she will likely attack him and they will fight. You don’t want to risk a nasty fight because it could cause permanent grudges to be formed and make rebonding impossible.

                  Right now they have a baby bond. Baby buns love each other. When hormones kick in though, it is like a switch is flipped and they will not like each other anymore.


                • Beka27
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                    Yes, like said the female definitely will need to be spayed bit it sounds like this is the plan.

                    In your situation, I would neuter the male first. Males can be fixed as soon as the testicles descend around 4 months. But like LBJ10 said, he will retain viable sperm for 4-6 weeks following the procedure, so regardless, they will need to be separated. The only surgery that absolutely eliminates the risk of pregnancy is the female spay.

                    At her age, she can potentially get pregnant, so I would separate them ASAP.

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                Forum DIET & CARE spay/neuter question