Post Spay Surgery Advice?

[Alisha]

Luna is going in for surgery exactly a week from now and I’m just wondering if anyone had any tips for care at home? I know she should be in a small space so she doesn’t move/hop around too much but do they just want to be alone while they heal? Or should I be trying to set up her healing space really close to me so I can give her a lot of attention? And any other pointers would be great as well. Thanks

[Doodler]

Hi there, my doe didn’t do much for about three days but then it was like a switch flipped and she was almost back to normal. Even for neuters my vet gives instructions to keep them in an area that is no more than 5 feet for 14 days.

I definitely recommend to be near her as much as possible so you can keep an eye on her and make sure she’s doing well and not messing with the incision. With that said you want to make sure she’s comfortable so I’m torn if I would move her to an unfamiliar area or out of the comfort of her usual home area. If you must to keep an eye on her then I would.

I would make sure you are given pain meds for when you bring her home. I got three days worth and it was the perfect amount of time for my bun but I know some recover slower than others. Some recommend having critical care on hand in case they don’t eat well. My doe didn’t eat the first night and would only nibble greens on the next day. Her appetite starting improving from there so I never needed it. I did start getting worried even though I knew it’s normal. I had two bucks neutered beforehand and obviously it was easier on them so it was a different experience. It’s hard when they don’t act themselves especially when we know how important it is to keep their gut moving.

Good luck with the spay! I hope everything goes smoothly.

[TheEstherBunny]

I second everything Doodles said!

For Esther’s spay 4 months back, I set up her recovery area right next to my bed so I could monitor her at all times. My apartment is laid out oddly, and it was the best option. She’s free range and has always been energetic, so I knew I would need to keep a constant eye on her to ensure she didn’t escape. I filled her area with blankets and toys she’d already chinned and laid around in to help make her more comfortable, and I really think it helped. I also set up a corner with a little half-curtain so she could have some alone time and didn’t feel too crowded by my constant presence. For the most part, though, she wanted constant pets, ear rubs, and affection. My vet suggested about 3 feet and a recovery period of at least 10 days, so it seems like there’s some variation- definitely confirm with yours what is right for Luna.

If you have an escape artist, consider rigging a lid/ceiling for the top of the recovery pen. Esther broke out Day 2 because I didn’t think she could make a 2.5′ vertical leap, and she proved me wrong. Luckily there was no tearing, but it was an eye-opener. I used some NIC grids as a ceiling, and they held out great.

I highly recommend using white paper litter instead of anything with color or just hay. If the stitches tear, you’ll be able to see drops on the white litter right away. I bought a litter box for an elderly or baby bun with a very low entry point so Esther wouldn’t run the risk of rubbing her tummy on the edge, and wouldn’t have to work too hard to get in. I started the recovery litter box off with some of her used litter so she understood this was her new bathroom spot. Worked out great.

Her body temp was really low the first three days, so during her long naps I would tuck a very thin, very soft fleece pet blanket under her ears and along her back to help her retain more heat.

For her medicine, the vet walked me through the burrito but I definitely didn’t get it right the first day and was scratched to pieces, so I tried just letting her lick it off the dispenser a drop at a time. That stuff must be delicious, because she went crazy for it!

For food, I started with hand feeding every hour as soon as we got home to encourage her, peppering in tiny bites of banana into a mix of her favorite greens & hays. She wasn’t eating anything but what I was hand feeding her on Day 1, and then started eating on her own on Day 2.

Best of luck to you & Luna! I’m sure she’ll do great!

[Alisha]

Thank you for your responses

Because she has started to dig a lot at the carpet and spray things (due to not being spayed yet haha) I built her a huge condo out of NIC grids and she’s just been in and out of that. She started out free roam from when she was 5 weeks old (yeah the breeder was giving away rabbits way too young) and it was great and I hope I can go back to that one day soon but I’m wondering if it’s best to block off a part of her condo and have her in there while she heals or create a new spot. The condo is fairly close to my bed but I’m wondering if I should have her closer.

The condo is 3 floors and shaped like an L. It has a lot of space so I’d have to put in a couple of NIC grids to block some openings so she’s just stuck on the top floor (or the bottom but I figured since she likes the top floor most, she’d prefer that) and put a temporary low-cut cardboard litter box while she heals. I’ve never been through this type of thing. I just want her to be comfortable. I wish I could just turn my bed into a giant cage and be in it with her hahaha I just worry about her so easily and I can’t wait until she can sleep in bed with me again. I haven’t been able to for months because of the hormones. She either gets into trouble at night digging and whatnot or she keeps jumping and sitting on me and doesn’t let me sleep. she’s very demanding for cuddles even if I’m trying to sleep at 3 am, she would get mad and dig at me or nibble my hands until I pet her. She didn’t used to be that way so I’m wondering if that’ll lessen after being fixed and we can go back to how things used to be haha

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