Why You Should Neuter Your RabbitAs a rabbit guardian, it is your duty to ensure you're providing the best possible life for your fluffy little friend. One of the best ways to ensure your rabbit lives a long and healthy life, is by having them neutered. There are many health and behavioral improvements that come along with neutering your rabbit, but there are some risks as well. It is important you do research to ensure it is your best option. Terminology:
When should you spay or neuter your rabbit: It is recommend to castrate males when they are at least five months old, and to spay females when they are at least six months old. Rabbits can be neutered at any age afterwards, and it usually doesn't become more risky until they are over the age of six, but that doesn't mean it can't be done. Simply consult your veterinarian regarding your senior rabbit's health and circumstances, and opt for pre-surgical blood work. Here are the top reasons why you should neuter your rabbit:
Risks you should know about: Less than 2% of rabbits may die while under sedation. This is a lower percentage, but higher than dogs and cats. Inexperienced veterinarians, reaction to anesthetic, underlying health issues (especially heart and lung), and age may all be factors in this percentage. Female rabbits who are also in the late term of their pregnancy may experience complications when spayed as well, such as high blood loss. Preparing for surgery and finding the right vet: It is important to find a rabbit-savvy veterinarian who is very familiar with a rabbit's unique anatomy and physiology, and who has had a great deal of experience and success with rabbit anesthesia and surgery. This link will help you find a good rabbit veterinarian. Ask your vet what medications your rabbit will receive after surgery. If the clinic does not provide you with several days of pain medication, you may want to find another vet before you schedule the surgery. Your veterinarian should perform a pre-anesthetic exam to ensure the rabbit is healthy before proceeding with surgery; ensuring the heart sounds normal and the lungs sound clear are important factors. You could also ask for an x-ray and blood work for extra reassurance if you have any concerns. Unlike dogs and cats, rabbits cannot vomit. This makes any sort of pre-surgical fasting unnecessary. Your rabbit should have full access to food and water both before and after their surgery. Eating before surgery will help your rabbit recover faster. What to expect after surgery: Your vet may recommend that your rabbit spends at least one night in hospital for recovery. If you are a new rabbit owner, this may be best (as long as your clinic offers 24-hr care). It will be very important that your rabbit can eat on their own, otherwise they will need to be hand fed critical care to ensure they don't experience any gastrointestinal complications. Your rabbit may be in pain or have discomfort after their surgery, and may not feel like eating. In addition to pain medication (melocicam/metacam for 3-5 days), you could also ask your veterinarian for G.I. support medications. This may be more relevant to female rabbits than males, as (hysterectomies) spays are a bigger and more complicated than neuters (castration), and take longer to recover from. If your rabbit hasn't eaten on their own within 24 hours after surgery, you should contact your vet. When you take your rabbit home, it is important that they have limited movement (no running, jumping) and are kept quiet for about seven days. You may use a large rabbit cage or small xpen during this time to help restrict their living space. This will allow the surgery area to have time to heal. Your rabbit will start to noticeably perk up by the second day of surgery. Male rabbits are usually ready for dinner when they get home from surgery, and will usually be back to normal within a few days. Female rabbits usually want to be left alone when they get back, and are often not interested in eating at all. Let her be for 24-hours, but contact your vet if she hasn't eaten within that time. Monitor your rabbit daily for any signs of infection (redness, swelling, oozing). Contact your vet if you have any concerns about the way the incision is healing. If you notice that your male rabbit's testicles are bruised or swollen, you can apply warm compresses to their scrotum to help reduce the swelling. Occasionally female rabbits will pull at their stitches, contact your vet and see if they can provide you with a plastic cone. Note: males may have viable sperm for several weeks post-neuter. Do not place your male with an intact female until a minimum of 6 weeks.
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