Spaying and Neutering in Rabbits
Why should I have my rabbit “fixed?”
- Spaying/neutering eliminates the risk of unwanted pregnancy. Rabbits can become pregnant immediately after giving birth. With a gestation period of about 30 days, one female can produce as many as 12 liters per year! Spaying also reduces the risk of false or pseudopregancy in females, which can cause undesirable behavior like nesting, digging, or aggression.
- Spaying reduces the risk of uterine cancer and other reproductive diseases. Adult, intact (or non-spayed) female rabbits are at high risk for uterine cancer. Depending on the breed, the incidence of uterine cancer can be as high as 60%.
- Spaying/neutering improves the overall behavior of your rabbit. When rabbits reach sexual maturity, they can become territorial, aggressive, and destructive. These changes make the pet rabbit harder to handle, harder to litter train, and male rabbits are also more likely to spray urine.
When should I have my rabbit spayed/neutered?
- Most rabbit breeds reach sexual maturity between 4 to 6 months of age. Having your pet rabbit spayed or neutered at 6 to 8 months will greatly reduce undesirable behaviors, making your rabbit a better companion
- Once they are transitioned to an adult diet, around 6-8 months of age, a rabbit can undergo anesthesia. An adult diet consists of mainly timothy hay, which is high in fiber and promotes good gut motility.
- The risk of uterine cancer increases greatly after 2 years; so all rabbits should be spayed before this time.
- Please schedule an exam with our exotic veterinarian so your pet can have a full physical exam to determine whether or not they are healthy enough to undergo anesthesia for surgery.
What are the risks with getting my rabbit spayed/neutered?
- Anesthesia in small mammals carries a higher risk of complications (approximately 10-15% of cases) compared to our dogs and cats (2% of cases). This is due to the unique anatomy of rabbits- they are much more difficult to intubate, they are obligate nasal breathers, and their GI tract slows down significantly during anesthesia.
- Because the GI tract of rabbits slows down during anesthesia, GI stasis (ileus) is a common post-operative complication. We try everything we can to prevent this problem, with IV fluids during the procedure, pain control during and after surgery, as well as giving a pro-kinetic medication to get the GI tract moving. We also have syringe feeding formulas that we can give the rabbit until they are eating normally on their own.
- Infection of the incision site is a possibility, especially if the rabbit licks at the surgical site excessively or is kept in a damp dirty environment. We use intradermal (under the skin), absorbable sutures that cannot be seen to try to prevent this. But if the rabbit tries to chew at the incision site while in hospital, an E-collar will be sent home with the pet to prevent self-mutilation.
What post-operative care will my rabbit need?
- Your rabbit will be sent home with a pain medication that you will need to administer for a few days after surgery.
- Your pet will need to be kept in a clean, quiet environment and you’ll need to try to minimize any running, jumping, or playing for a week.
- Feed your rabbit normally- your pet should be eating and drinking within hours of surgery. If they are not, we will show you how to give nutrients via syringe feeding.
- You will need to inspect and assess your rabbit’s incision each day and look for any redness, swelling, or discharge.
- You will also need to closely monitor your rabbit’s appetite, drinking, urination, and defecation habits and report any abnormalities to the veterinarian immediately.