Rescued an older Un-neutered Rabbit – Help!

[Gary'sMom]

I rescued a rabbit from an unhealthy environment, and I have no experience with rabbits in the past. I was told that he was about 6 years old, and have taken him to the vet and discovered that he has Snuffles and he was put on antibiotics.

After a week, he’s obviously feeling a little better, because he started displaying mating behavior toward me and my cats – circling, honking, mounting, nipping. He is IMPOSSIBLE to deal with – he only has ONE thing on his mind. I’ve successfully distracted him with a stuffed toy, but unless I constantly wave it in front of him, he goes straight for my arm or leg. Even treats will not deter him, nor will spraying him directly in the face with a squirt bottle. 

Has anyone else ever neutered such an old rabbit, and has this changed any of this behavior, or am I doomed to have my rabbit humping everyone who crosses his path??

[Whobott]

I don’t have much experience with this but this thread might help https://binkybunny.com/FORUM/tabid/54/aft/125217/Default.aspx

[Megabunny]

Hi GM and welcome! Sounds to me like you’re in a pickle with this guy. My thought is that, while it is riskier as far as anesthesia goes, I don’t know how you’re going to have any kind of kinship with this guy if he is a slave to his urges. HOWEVER, given the Snuffles, that worries me most as far as anesthesia. I’m not sure if they ever totally get over that, and if the airway is compromised that could be a real problem. I’m not even sure they can intubate a rabbit to help them breathe better, so that’s the biggest red flag I see.
Yes, you can do pre-op bloodwork, but it might cost you a small fortune, and if you’re feeling you really need to do this procedure anyway, well, you have to weigh all things involved and that’s a personal decision. While I did bloodwork before my rabbit had his $1000+ surgery, I didn’t have it done before his neuter. He was young for both procedures. But I didn’t want to go for a really expensive surgery if reasonably priced bloodwork could be done, as I would not have done the surgery if he had anything severely wrong with him.
I feel like I’m babbling and not making any sense, so I’ll stop and hope you get the gist of what I’m trying to say.
Oh, and if he’s also starting to spray around the house or something, well, another reason you may just have to take the chance.

[Gary'sMom]

Thanks Megabunny.

I spoke to Gary’s original vet and he wants to charge me over $400 to neuter him! He also said that he didn’t think neutering would change any of his behavior since he is so old, and that it would be a risky surgery on a bunny with snuffles.

I do think that I will have to go ahead with the neutering despite all the risks. I made an appointment to have him seen by another vet Thursday to evaluate the situation and give a second opinion. They only charge $100 for the surgery there. I know they will probably try to force me to do bloodwork first, but honestly, if they think he’s too unstable for the surgery, I don’t see what quality of life he would have, since he’d have to remain locked away from all of my cats and I can’t really bond with him if he’s so aggressively going after me all the time. Maybe they will let me sign some kind of waiver saying that I accept the risks of the surgery.

I was just curious to know if anyone thinks this will have a positive effect on his behavior, since the first vet wasn’t too hopeful that it would change.

[Megabunny]

Sounds like you’re being VERY reasonable. Love it!! Even if ultimately he has trouble and doesn’t make it through surgery or doesn’t improve his behavior…though I can’t believe he will still hump everything after a month or sooner, I agree it sounds like you have to try if this is to be a pet you’ll enjoy. And for $100 it’s worth a try though I’m sure they’ll charge an exam fee as well. But I would try and clear up the snuffles first

[Bam]

I agree with Megabunny =)

My Bam was not a young bunny when he was neutered, and his inappropriate sexual behavior stopped a few weeks after the surgery.

[Gary'sMom]

That’s comforting to hear, that your bunny stopped the behavior after neutering. I’m hopeful that it will work!
Gary is still on antibiotics for another 10 days. His breathing has cleared up significantly already. He’s not sneezing anymore and the nasal discharge has pretty much dried up. So, I hope he’ll be in good enough shape to have the surgery SOON!!

[Megabunny]

Me too for everyone’s sake!

[Toni]

They really truly are a SLAVE to their hormones! Before we got my rescued male neutered (and for a few weeks after), I seriously kept thinking he was going to give himself a bunny heart-attack with all his humping… we were incredulous (and amused) at his tenacity. I thought getting his frustrations out with the stuffed animal would help calm him…. but he was like a machine! He DID slowly and gradually settle down after… it gets a bit better every week. It’s just my opinion.. but I just can’t imagine that neutering will not improve behavior no matter how old the bun…. it’s the hormones that makes them do what they do and the neutering WILL affect that. Thanks for giving him a chance…… and I know it seems impossible now when you look at him, but I believe there really is good hope. Perhaps you might just have to be a bit more patient for improvements than a younger bun, but I can’t imagine you won’t see results. Good Luck!

[Megabunny]

I have to also think about the older bunnies here who have had major surgeries at older ages and neutering is so quick. Anesthesia is always a risk but I’m sure they will at least use a shorter acting one safer for older critters

[Elliriyanna]

If it makes you feel better they CAN intubate ? Is that the right term? Rabbits. A local vet included it as part of a routine neuter so it can be done you just have to ask if they do.

[kirstyol]

Posted By Elliriyanna on 5/13/2015 8:12 AM

If it makes you feel better they CAN intubate ? Is that the right term? Rabbits. A local vet included it as part of a routine neuter so it can be done you just have to ask if they do.

I would assume they would have to intubate rabbits, just like any other animal. I deal with humans, so I am not 100% sure but I do know that every human that has any procedure involving an anaesthetic must have their airway managed by being intubated, there are several ways to do it but the airway must be managed in some way because the patient is unconscious and has had muscle relaxing drugs as part of the anaesthetic so is unable to maintain their airway themselves. I assume animals are the same. I am imagining the procedure in my head and I cant imagine a reason for not intubating a bunny, unless it was a dental procedure and the tube would be in the way in which case I have no idea what they would do.

To answer the original question, I would neuter. I definitely think it will make a difference to your buns behaviour, although I agree with others that the change may be slower than it would be in a younger bun just because he has had time to get used to these behaviours. I think you need to look at his quality of life – neutering will give him such a better quality of life and he will no longer be frustrated by desires he cannot satisfy. I would perhaps wait until his health improves a little, but I would almost definitely go ahead unless the vet advised against it.

[Megabunny]

Cats are not routinely intubated. In the Dark Ages when I worked for a vet I never saw a bun intubated but glad to know they can

[kirstyol]

Posted By Megabunny on 5/13/2015 11:52 AM

Cats are not routinely intubated. In the Dark Ages when I worked for a vet I never saw a bun intubated but glad to know they can

This is one of the reasons why I love this place, I never knew that (ok I am a geek that loves learning new things). I honestly just assumed that most animals would be intubated routinely. I don’t mean to hijack this thread but I am curious, what do they do instead?

[Megabunny]

They CAN intubate cats of course but generally they give them an IM injection and they slowly go under the anesthesia. If they need to follow up with gas they put a mask over their face. Cats are hard to intubate. Of course for a more difficult surgery they would but for spay/ neuters they don’t

[Gary'sMom]

Well, good news… Gary saw the other vet today and he felt that Gary was a good candidate for the neutering! He said that the operation takes less than 10 minutes, and that he uses only gas to sedate the rabbit. Once the operation is finished, the bunny is up and alert within 2-3 minutes of turning off the gas. He didn’t feel that there were any significant risks, even given the respiratory infection. He said Gary was breathing well enough and that his infection seems limited to one side, which made him think that maybe it’s not Snuffles after all.

This vet has been practicing for over 40 years and works with all kinds of exotic animals as well as running a wildlife rescue, so I am very confident in his opinion. I scheduled the neutering for next Wednesday!! I will keep you all posted on how he does.

[Megabunny]

Fantastic!!

[LittlePuffyTail]

Best of luck to your bunny!!!! ((((Safe procedure Vibes)))

[Bam]

((((((Safe procedure vibes))))) from me too. Sounds like you’ve found a great vet!

[Beka27]

Glad you found a great vet! That sounds really good!

Hopefully this will help with some of these behaviors and you guys can start to develop a better relationship! Keep us posted on how everything goes!

[Gary'sMom]

Just an update, Gary was successfully neutered today! He did well through the surgery, and they sent him home with another 10 days worth of Baytril since he still has a tiny bit of nasal discharge.
He is resting now and I saw him nibbling on some hay. He seems to be laying kind of stretched out in a funny way… Which makes me think he’s uncomfortable
How did your rabbits react after surgery? Should I be worried? He doesn’t seem to want to come out of his cage at all.

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