Neutering rabbits

Re: Neutering rabbits

fiona eldridge — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 13:57:34 GMT

Just out of interest... can anyone tell me more or less the price for Rabbit neutering these days in the UK? For a spay and castrate? There aren't many rabbits as pets here in Spain but only today have been asked to castrate a bunny..... we have no idea what to charge!!!!

Re: Neutering rabbits

Gemma Burden RVN — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 22:18:18 GMT

For rabbits that are living on their own we generally wait until they are about six months unless there are problems (although we don't really have any set age, it depends on the individual case), but for mixed sex pairs we are getting them in as soon as possible, usually at around 14-16 weeks. They have all done really well and seem to cope well with the surgery.

Re: Neutering rabbits

Julie-Anne Wilson — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 20:05:40 GMT

I think our general rule is 6 months but if they start becoming a little rambunctious or aggressive, we have done them as young as 4 months. Depends on the individual case.

Re: Neutering rabbits

Becci Faulkner — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 17:18:27 GMT

i have two mini lops (sisters). they started humping each other so i had them done at about 4 1/2 weeks. they recovered perfectly & GA & op was smooth. good luck

Re: Neutering rabbits

Tinky — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 14:54:02 GMT

I've always had my bunnies done at 4 months old - no problems.

One of my girls was in the early stages of pregnancy at this age too - so I'm glad I didn't wait any longer! Dirty little minx...

Re: Neutering rabbits

Maisy — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 11:30:07 GMT

Cute! Glad they seem to be generally getting on okay. At her age a lot of these behaviours are play but they can carry on as the rabbit gets older, and if the partner bun isn't appreciative with them it can affect the bonding. Rabbits who are reaching maturity do often get up to mischief without knowing when to stop, but neutering will help with any hormonal bad behaviour.

Re: Neutering rabbits

Anonymous — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 11:23:46 GMT

Thanks guys. She's just over 4 months old. She's ever so lovely - just extremely lively and confident (total opposite to how my boy was when he was a baby... he was lovely - just very timid and shy).

We tried introducing them a bit and they got on famously to begin with but now she kind of goes for him. I can't tell if it's an aggression thing or her playing but it does look a bit much (I think the first time it happen food was around). So I don't let them actually out together now. I thought I would wait until she's neutered. Also, we're moving in a week or two so it will be total neutral territory as the boy has the run of the whole house and she is in a large cage in the lounge where we are now (we let her run around the lounge with the door shut and let her explore the house a bit when he's in his hutch). When he's out he sits outside her cage pretty much all the time. He adores her. I often catch him and her with their noses touching through the bars! So I'm hoping they'll be some love later down the line. Maybe the big move will bring them together too as they already know each other so it might help them? I specifically got her so he would have a companion and now I just feel really guilty that it's stressing them both out

Re: Neutering rabbits

Maisy — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 11:09:18 GMT

Button, females will often become a bit calmer after spaying just like males do. How old is your bunny? The behaviour changes are often of use if the live with another rabbit, as well as the obvious health benefits of reducing/removing cancer risks which are high in females.

Re: Neutering rabbits

claire Speight — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 11:07:04 GMT

We say to leave bucks for 6 weeks post surgery before putting them with a entire doe as there has been the odd case of bucks making does pregnant 6 weeks after castration.

Does generally do calm down after spaying - if you do it at a young age before the aggression has become more of a learnt behaviour rather than it will mostly calm them down and make them much nicer pets.

Claire

Re: Neutering rabbits

Anonymous — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 19:01:43 GMT

Hi, we say bucks 6mths and does 4mths.

Does anyone know if the females calm down after neutering? My boy chilled right out and he's the most gentle sweet little thing now. I have a little baby girl and will get have neutered when she's old enough. Thing is, she's crazy! In a nice way. She's really hyper - and goes for my boy quite keen/aggressively. My boy was shy and scared when we first got him but as he got to know me used to sit on my lap whereas my girl has had total confidence and independence since day one. I'm hoping that she also calms down after neutering. Does anyone have any knowledge on this?

Re: Neutering rabbits

Hannah25uk — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 16:52:42 GMT

We usually say from 6 months but will neuter Does from 4 months and Bucks whenever their testicles have descended.

Its worth bearing in mind though that the buck will still have live sperm in the remaining reproductive tract for upto 3 weeks post surgery. Obviously not a problem if they are both done together but an issue if they aren't planning on getting the female done at the same time.

Re: Neutering rabbits

claire Speight — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 16:13:34 GMT

I had my contienental giant doe neutered at 3 1/2 months and she was fine - we normally say 5-6 months for does and 4 months for bucks.

Claire

Re: Neutering rabbits

Carrie Apps RVN A1 CertExVN GradDipVN CSQP — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 15:52:25 GMT

We usually say after 20 weeks, but I had my 2 girls done at 16 weeks (which is the youngest I have ever had any of mine neutered) and they recovered really well too.