Male rabbit has never sprayed

[Yilina]

Hi guys!

We have had Tambor for 2 months now (he is about 1 year and 4 months old) and he has not sprayed once. I was expecting him to do it sooner or later but, when he wants to mark something, usually the area of the room he wants to sign as “his” spot (the place he likes to lie in more), he just pees on it, that’s all. Is it normal? Do all bucks spray? He hasn’t mounted anything either.

I am pretty sure he is a male. We told the vet so and she didn’t correct us (his former owner told us so too). Also, I have seen his testicles next to his tail -his genital area looks exactly like the one in this website: http://www.pet-informed-veterinary-advice-online.com/sexing-rabbits.html.

 

Thank you!

[sarahthegemini]

My Peanut has never sprayed or gotten territorial over anything so no, whilst it’s common for bucks (and does!) to spray, not all do. My doe never did either

[Mikey]

When you put him on his back for a moment, are you able to see his testicles? Although rabbits can hide theirs, you should still be able to see the skin where they would be

Not all males act hormonal. Of the five male rabbits ive had in my life, only 2 have actually sprayed more than once

[Yilina]

Hi Sarah and Mikey,

I have never put him in his back, he gets super scared even when I try to hold him. Anyway, when I am patting him, I lift his tail and I can clearly see something that looks like rabbit testicles (the ones I see in the link I provided with my first message). They are like 2 straps of pink, “fluffy” skin with little fur on them (sorry if I sound funny, English is not my mother tongue).

It is a big relief if he turns out to be a non-spraying rabbit. I am pretty sure I will not be able to have him neutered (I live in a remote island with 0 rabbit vets and I couldn’t bear him dying during surgery). He doesn’t have any of the “typical” territorial/hormonal behaviours either, he practically doesn’t chew on anything, is 95% potty trained, doesn’t mount and is never, ever, aggressive or grunts.

 

Thank you guys!

 

 

[Mikey]

The link you provided says the URL is busted, so i cant see the picture on the page you linked. What you are describing does sound like testicles though. As long as he doesnt act hormonal and doesnt seem to have any health problems regarding his man area, you should be fine

[Bam]

My Bam never sprayed. I had him for a whole year before I had him neutered, and he was fully adult when I got him. Not even when he started courting my dog (the reason why I finally had to have him neutered) did he spray. He peed on the dogs favorite spot on the sofa, but just puddles, no spraying.

There’s very little you could mistake for bunny testicles in that area of the body (at least I can’t think of anything), so he most likely is a boy. And that’s great, because boys don’t have to be neutered for health reasons the way girl buns need to.

[Deleted User]

” boys don’t have to be neutered for health reasons the way girl buns need to.”

Is this really so?
My boy does not spray and is not mean and never grunts but I was planning to have him neutered next month.
Now I don’t know if I should or not. He is almost 2 yrs old. He is an only bun. Rescued in November.

[Boston's Mama]

For males it’s usually to either prevent behavioural issues or to bond him
I’m neutering my male to prevent any issues arising
But if yours is over 2 and not having behavioural issues and you do not intent to bond him ever – ontop of not having rabbit savvy vets then there probably isn’t any reason to do it

[Boston's Mama]

You said he is a rescue – is he rescued from a rabbit rescue centre? If so I would ring them and ask if he was neutered before adoption as most centres do that

[LittlePuffyTail]

I’ve had 3 male rabbits and none ever sprayed before they were neutered.

[Yilina]

Hi guys,

 

I’ve shorten the link I tried to give above for sexing rabbits: https://goo.gl/SDliVG.

 

As for the health benefits of neutering males, I have also heard it prevents urinal infections and sexual frustration -I am not sure about the first one, though. Anyone can confirm?

Hugs!

[Bam]

It also prevents tesicular cancer, a form of cancer that used to be thought of as very uncommon in bunnies. Just recently I watched a vet-tv-show where they said the incidence of testicular cancer in rabbits is rising. The reason given was that the average life-span of rabbits is much longer today than it used to be, it’s mostly really old rabbits that get testicular cancer.

I have no idea about UTIs, but it certainly stops sexual frustration, and for some buns (=my Bam was an excellent example) sexual frustration can get really bad. But it’s sth you can’t help but notice, if it happens to your bun. Sexual frustration can be a true obsession, the bun gets no rest but engages in courting rituals all day long. And half the night.

[Author]

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