Many rabbit owners ask themselves whether they should have their rattle (male rabbit) neutered or their nurse (female rabbit) sterilized. It goes without saying that this is necessary if you are keeping several rabbits together. But the view that this is only necessary if you have two or more rabbits is now outdated. Did you know that female rabbits that are not sterilized have an 80 percent chance of developing uterine cancer? And that’s not the only reason your rabbit’s surgery is a must. We list all the pros and cons, determine the risk and give you tips on how to take care of your rabbit as well as possible when you return home after the operation.
- Benefits for rattles
- The benefits for does
- Benefits for both rattles and does
- The risk of surgery on a rabbit
- How Much Does Neutering or Spaying a Rabbit Cost?
- When should the rabbit surgery be done?
- How to care for your rabbit after surgery
- In summary: what you should definitely remember
Benefits for rattles
Reduce hormonal behavior and aggression
In males, castration is mainly necessary to avoid hormonal and aggressive behavior in adulthood. A rattle that has not been operated on can become frustrated and cool its aggression on furniture or wallpaper. In addition, non-neutered rattles often spray urine to mark their territory. For the rabbit this is natural and normal behavior, but it goes without saying that this is not fun for the owners. A neutered male can also spray urine, but this usually happens less often.
Reduce the risk of cancer
The risk of developing testicular cancer later in life also disappears when your male rabbit has been neutered.
The benefits for does
Avoiding certain cancers
Nurses who have not been sterilized have an 80 percent chance of developing uterine cancer by the age of five. Having your female rabbit spayed eliminates this risk.
Preventing aggressive behavior
Also in females aggressive behavior in adulthood decreases sharply after surgery.
Benefits for both rattles and does
House training the rabbit
You can teach rabbits that have undergone surgery to relieve themselves only in a specific container or only in the cage. Untreated rabbits rarely manage to teach them this.
Mating with another rabbit
After the rabbit has been operated on, it is also possible to pair it with another rabbit, with little risk of a fight or fight. But beware: a male that has been neutered will remain able to conceive young for three weeks to one month after surgery. After the operation, you must therefore keep the animals separate for at least four weeks.
Quieter character
Many owners also find that their rabbit becomes a calmer and gentler animal after surgery. Undesirable behavior such as chewing on furniture or walking in circles around the owner almost completely disappears.
The risk of surgery on a rabbit
Spaying or neutering a rabbit is routine today. The condition is that this is done by a veterinarian who understands rabbits. Unfortunately, there are still quite a few veterinarians who are well versed in treating dogs and cats but don’t know much about rabbits. Before this operation, your rabbit will need to be anesthetized, either through classic gas narcosis with isoflurane or by administering a drug such as “Dexdomitor”. This is a very small risk for a young and healthy rabbit and no more risky for a veterinarian familiar with rabbits than for a dog or a cat. The risk of anesthesia does increase in older rabbits over the age of six, but here too this risk is minimal with a good veterinarian and he will rarely lose a rabbit.
Also, a good vet will never fast a rabbit before surgery. A rabbit cannot vomit, so fasting is unnecessary. After the operation, a good veterinarian will keep the rabbit warm and the animal will be given a drug such as “Antisedan” or “Revertor”. administered to get out of the anesthetic more quickly so that it stays as short as possible. Removing the rabbit from anesthesia soon after surgery significantly reduces the risk.
How Much Does Neutering or Spaying a Rabbit Cost?
The prices differ from one vet to another, of course, but you should still count on an amount between fifty to one hundred euros. The vet uses expensive equipment to monitor the rabbit’s heart rate and condition during surgery, and also keeps an eye on your rabbit after surgery. Don’t let cost determine the vet’s choice. His experience and expertise in rabbits is worth money.
When should the rabbit surgery be done?
Most vets recommend having the surgery when your rabbit is about six months old. With males this can possibly be a little earlier, but because anesthesia would entail a slightly higher risk in very young animals, you can wait a little longer.
Neutering or sterilization is also possible when your rabbit is already a certain age. It is true that the risk increases as the rabbit gets older. This does not mean that it is irresponsible to do so: a rabbit specialist will very rarely lose an elderly rabbit during anesthesia.
How to care for your rabbit after surgery
After surgery, the rabbit will take a pain reliever such as “Metacam”. for the first days. The most important thing is for the rabbit to start eating again as soon as possible after returning home. Try to get the rabbit back to eat in the evening. If necessary, give a small piece of fruit (many rabbits love bananas) to encourage the rabbit to eat something. Fruit should not be a regular part of the diet, but can help to stimulate the animal’s appetite after surgery. Males are generally more hungry when they return home than females, who are more likely to quietly retreat to a corner of the cage the day after surgery.
The rabbit should eat a little more the next morning at the latest. This is normal if the rabbit is not yet eating large amounts. The important thing is that he definitely eats something, anything, so that the digestive system keeps moving. If he still doesn’t eat the next morning, you should switch to force-feeding.
Fill a container with water and regularly check if your rabbit wants to drink. Many rabbits are more thirsty than usual in the evening after surgery and want to drink water.
The rabbit may still be a bit disoriented and groggy for the first hours after returning home. This will improve on its own after a few hours. Many vets also keep a rabbit overnight after surgery to keep an eye on them and make sure they eat again before they go home.
In summary: what you should definitely remember
- Every rabbit, even those that do not live with other rabbits, must be operated on
- A female rabbit must be sterilized because otherwise she has a very high risk of cancer
- A male rabbit must be neutered to prevent aggressive, hormonal behavior and testicular cancer
- It is important to call on a good veterinarian in Flanders or the Netherlands for the operation