Bunny’s Hormones going Wacky

[Deleted User]

My rabbit is going to be 9 months old in December. The Pet Store said that she was a girl and I’m almost certain myself (although I’m not an expert at sexing) because I looked when she was lying down. She has started to show signs of puberty lately and has been circling me and my sister and honking when we pick her up. She has tried to bite only two times but I hope that it won’t go further with aggression. 

I’m not going to spay her because the surgery is stressful on rabbits and not absolutely necessary for them to live a happy life. But I was wondering if there are any herbs or supplements to help with her hormones? She has also started to smell a bit skunky and I’ve been thinking about giving her a light sponge bath. Is that safe? She’s still very friendly, and I don’t want her to become too aggressive. Thanks!

[Wick & Fable]

A lot of people will debate with you hat spaying is necessary for a domestic female rabbit to have a happy life. By being spayed, she will not become frustrated by her sexual desires and territorial instincts, neither of which will be fulfilled by being a house pet. Additionally, female rabbits who are not spayed have upwards of 80% chance of getting cancer nearing 4-5 years old I believe.

Did you speak to a rabbit vet about the spay operation? Experienced rabbit vets who’ve done spays will tell you that the operation and post op recovery process is not as life threatening as some make it seem. It’s quite common practice to spay your rabbit.

Since they’re natural hormones being secreted regularly by her glands, there’s really no way to manage them naturally.

Do not give her a sponge bath please. Rabbits should not be bathed with special exception to those who cannot groom themselves. If she smells, please assess her litter box environment, her bottom, and her droppings to ensure everything looks healthy and clean.

Can you tell everyone a bit about your rabbit’s diet, routine, and your care routine?

The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.

[sarahthegemini]

Posted By ColorfulBun on 11/17/2017 6:23 AM

My rabbit is going to be 9 months old in December. The Pet Store said that she was a girl and I’m almost certain myself (although I’m not an expert at sexing) because I looked when she was lying down. She has started to show signs of puberty lately and has been circling me and my sister and honking when we pick her up. She has tried to bite only two times but I hope that it won’t go further with aggression. 

I’m not going to spay her because the surgery is stressful on rabbits and not absolutely necessary for them to live a happy life. But I was wondering if there are any herbs or supplements to help with her hormones? She has also started to smell a bit skunky and I’ve been thinking about giving her a light sponge bath. Is that safe? She’s still very friendly, and I don’t want her to become too aggressive. Thanks!

Actually, it is. Left unspayed, she has a very high chance of developing cancer. 

[Deleted User]

An expert rabbit owner told me that she had a female rabbit live to be 13 without being spayed or getting cancer. I just don’t think it’s necessary. Plus I can’t afford to get her spayed, at least not right now.

My routine with her: She has a constant supply of timothy hay with a half kid’s yogurt cup full of pellets a day. I wash and refill her food and water bowls daily and clean her litterbox regularly. She lives in a large dog crate with a cat litterbox in the back. I let her out as soon as I wake up (6:30 AM) and let her roam my room all day long. My room is mostly bunny proof although I’d like to block off my bed so she can’t go underneath it and tear up my carpet! At the moment I need a brush to groom her with and some cat nail clippers but next time I go to the dollar store I’ll pick some up.

I didn’t speak to a vet, mainly because in the beginning I was planning on getting a male rabbit and they don’t need to be neutered. If she becomes more aggressive and cranky I might ask my parents if I can take her to the vet to be spayed. How much does it normally cost in the US? 

[Wick & Fable]

It’s great to hear about a rabbit doing so well and living so long, but try your best not to use one or a few special cases make statistics less valid. There’s a far, far greater chance that your unspayed rabbit will develop cancer than not, and while again, the cases where this doesn’t happen are great, the gamble is not worth it, because by the time symptoms of cancer are present, you need to jump into procedures to remove it right away.

And also, male rabbits need to be neutered for the same reasons a female needs to be spayed, minus the cancer risks. Frustrations from inability to reproduce with a female, and territorial drives are still quite present. Wick was a spraying machine the 3 days approaching his neuter, and his neuter was when he was 9 months old, so it took a very long time for those behaviors to present themselves, but they did.

In terms of pricing of spays, I’m not sure. Wick’s neuter was $268, and I know my vet is on the slightly-pricey end. You can ask any rabbit rescues near you about spaying, because many of them have partners or vets which do low-cost neuters/spays, and that’s really preferable because you know those vets are very experienced with the procedure.

The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.

[sarahthegemini]

One rabbit living a long life without being spayed doesn’t negate the scientific facts that females have a very high chance of developing cancer. It’s very irresponsible to leave a doe unspayed. If money is an issue, cancer treatment costs a lot more…

[ponyobunny]

My recent spay was under $100, a lot of vets like to prevent unwanted baby buns so they try to make rabbit spays/neuters affordable. (I’m asking my parents for a neuter for Christmas, thats one idea)

[Deleted User]

Posted By ponyobunny on 11/17/2017 12:10 PM
My recent spay was under $100, a lot of vets like to prevent unwanted baby buns so they try to make rabbit spays/neuters affordable. (I’m asking my parents for a neuter for Christmas, thats one idea)

This is such a great idea to ask for a neuter as a xmas gift. That’s a very responsible thing to do. This is definitely something people who can’t afford it at the time or are too young to fund themselves should consider doing. Great advice

[Author]

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