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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.

BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

Forum BEHAVIOR Why do I have to wait to neuter?

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    • Hanz
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        Hi everybody! So glad I found this forum. I am the proud owner of a 4 month old flemish giant named Hanz. He is amazing and beautiful. I have had him for a month now and recently it seems like he has become mature. He is persuing the cat, dropping poops near the cat ( he is litterbox trained otherwise). Leaving his nice odor for the cat too. Are these not signs of a bunny that is mature? We have 2 small animal vets here in wny and both told me they neuter at 6 months. Why? I would love to put an end to Hanz having this love affair with the poor cat asap.

        Thanks, Valerie


      • Krayl
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        23 posts Send Private Message

          I believe it’s because rabbits that are 6 months old have a better chance of surviving the surgery than younger bunnies. Even if the testicles have descended, some vets won’t perform the operation on a young bunny because of the risk that they’ll go home and get GI stasis from the stress and pass away. 

          For female bunnies, getting them spayed will prevent a huge number of health problems. But for males, the reasons to get them spayed are mostly (but not entirely) behavioral. Intact males will likely begin to spray your walls with urine and lay droppings everywhere to mark their territory. And what’s worse, they might soon become hostile and aggressive towards you as their hormones take over. 


        • Limit
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            I believe 6 months for a giant is still too little. They don’t stop growing by that age like the smaller rabbit breeds. In theory I’d wait until about 9-10 months, this would be around the time they slow down on growth.


          • Hanz
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              Yikes, I was hoping to get him neutered sooner rather than later. I will just have to follow him around and make sure he behaves himself until we can get him neutered. Thank you for the input!


            • WRXFamily
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              111 posts Send Private Message

                I was told 5 months old by my breeder as well as my exotic animal hospital of choice. I plan to do this shortly after they are of age so I can update you on how they do. I will be taking in my Male Flemish and my Female Flemish ?


              • Limit
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                  Posted By Hanz on 4/18/2017 7:21 PM
                  Yikes, I was hoping to get him neutered sooner rather than later. I will just have to follow him around and make sure he behaves himself until we can get him neutered. Thank you for the input!

                  No problem! It’s just what I’ve learned about the breed but if it’s troublesome then you can have them done sooner – usually with no problems but again they’ve not fully developed at 6 months due to their size x


                • BanditCamp
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                    The only limitation is if the testes have descended. Talk to your vet and they can tell if he is ready, what I’ve been told by my vet cause I asked was because if the testes are removed prematurely the rabbit will not grow as sturdy as could be as testosterone helps with bone and muscle growth. She also told be that very rarely rabbits would be stuck in “child mode” and misbehave slit as their older habits wouldn’t kick in. But those are her opinions as each vet is different.


                  • Mikey
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                      For male bunnies, once their testicles make their appearance, you can get your bunny neutered. If your vet(s) say otherwise, you might have to look into finding a new rabbit certified vet


                    • LBJ10
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                        You don’t have to wait until 6 months (or 9 months). Once the testicles have descended, there is no reason they can’t go bye-bye. However, there are benefits to waiting until bunny is no longer growing. Testosterone aids in bone growth and development in any young animal. With a larger breed, especially, I can see why a vet would say to wait. That being said, young bunnies are spayed and neutered all the time. Many shelters will even do it ASAP if it means getting a bunny adopted out.


                      • Hanz
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                          His testicles are there! I checked you can see them. We have 2 vet clinics here for exotics. I am assuming the vet I use for my dog and cat probably won’t neuter a rabbit. I at least can call in a couple weeks and schedule him in for the day he turns 6 months? He is so big and sweet and I don’t want him to change with horomones.


                        • BanditCamp
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                            Just ensure you ask how many rabbits your vet sees a year. If he sees at least 3-5 that’s roughly ok from what I gather around the net. Confidence is key and talk to the doctor not the vet techs as they will just say yes. These is also a small post hormonal craze after the procedure, bandit suffered this for a few days but returned to normal


                          • Hazel
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                              I agree with Limit, for a giant breed it’s important to give them enough time to grow before neutering. Small breeds mature faster and are pretty much done growing at 6 months, so neutering at that point won’t effect their growth negatively. The hormones that start to get released as the bun hits puberty are what signals the growth plates to start closing. If you withhold that flush of hormones with an early neuter, the growth plates won’t close when they’re supposed to and the bones will keep growing. This can lead to skeletal abnormalities which can cause issues later in life, like hip problems or fractures. This goes especially for heavy breeds like Flemmies, because of their weight and because they mature much slower. I would wait until he’s 9-12 months old, or until you start to see hormonal behaviors. Keep an eye on his weight, once the weight gain starts to slow down and he’s close to reaching his adult size, it will be safe to neuter.

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                          Forum BEHAVIOR Why do I have to wait to neuter?