Can’t neuter bunny

[hanni]

So my bunny is basically 8 months and has started wanting to hump me and my sister’s legs. I’ve done my research and its said that it’s better to neuter him, but the problem is that I don’t really trust the vets here. I’ve been all over asking and most vets aren’t bunny-savy and the one that is, is not very experienced (I once had her treat my bunny with a problem he had on his eye and she was basically useless – bunny hasn’t healed completely) So I don’t trust her to neuter him or any of the other vets as they do not have any experience. I was thinking about taking him outside of the state but travel with pets is very expensive and he doesn’t take travelling too well. He does spray and sometimes he does pee outside of the litter box, so I was wondering if not neutering him was going to be a problem and if that was going to make him suffer in any way. Also, if it’s 100% necessary.

[Azerane]

Neutering males isn’t as important as spaying females is. The rate of reproductive cancers is much higher in females than it is in males. While I will always recommend it, with your rabbit it will be more about whether the behavioural issues that result from it bother you or not. Spraying urine, not always using his litter tray, there’s the possibility he’ll be more territorial about his cage but plenty of people have un-neutered male rabbits that are complete sweethearts. It’s ultimately your decision, you could always find a rabbit-savvy vet that’s not local and get them to communicate with your local vet to advise them on the procedure etc.

[Bam]

Not neutering him will primarily lead to problems for you. You have already metioned them: humping your legs, spraying, peeing outside box. He might also start to poop-mark.

For your bunny, not being neutered won’t lead to any health problems unless he gets extremely stressed out by trying to find a mate (so he never gets any rest). The reason why we neuter boy bunnies is not health-related, it’s about behavior (and to enable bonding and prevent pregnancy if the bunny is to have a friend). Sometimes a boy bunny’s behavior gets so difficult and bothersome for his humans to handle that the bun gets confined to his cage most of the time, and that’s of course not good for the bun. But there are no direct illnesses that come from not neutering a boy. It’s different with girl bunnies, they need to be spayed to prevent uterine cancer.

[Author]

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