Neutering is generally referred to as ‘castration’ in male rabbits and ‘spay’ in female rabbits. ALL rabbits under our care are neutered, the exception to that has been one female where the spay had to be halted because of severe internal scarring from endometriosis.

 

Since we established the rescue in 2013, we have had almost 1,000 rabbits neutered and, in that time, have lost three under anaesthetic; all three sadly had unrelated serious health issues that were not known prior to operating.

 

We know many people are put off getting their rabbits neutered due to stories of rabbits not making it through surgery but generally this is because of either an underlying condition that had NOT been picked up prior to surgery, or the vet not having sufficient experience with rabbits. This is why we always use exotic / rabbit savvy vets for any surgical procedure.  It is so important to use the right vet. We know some vets have 100% success rate when neutering.

 

With all anaesthetics there is a slight risk, be it dog, human, or rabbit but using an exotic / rabbit savvy vet who carry out rabbit neutering routinely means that those risks are greatly reduced. Anaesthesia protocol for rabbits is regularly being looked at and altered to give the rabbit the best outcome from surgery. Sadly, we do know some vets are using old techniques. Older rabbits or those with ongoing health issues may carry a greater anaesthetic risk and blood tests taken before surgery can help spot issues beforehand.

Neutering doesn’t only stop rabbits from being able to reproduce but also prevents hormonal behaviour issues, has health advantages for both males and females (prevents reproductive cancers) and reduces the strain on rescue centres by helping to prevent multiple litters being born.

 

Unneutered female rabbits have an 80% risk of developing uterine cancer (cancer of the womb); unneutered male rabbits are also at risk of testicular cancer.

Many of the older females we have had neutered have had cancerous changes to their wombs.

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Rabbits can normally be neutered from the age of four months. With a male the testes will need to be visible, your exotic / rabbit savvy vet will be able to advise you on the right time for your particular rabbits. Rarely one or both testes are retained, vets will advise to give them a little more growing time to see if they will appear but if not, it is extremely important these are removed as the risk of cancer is greater for them. This will be more of an invasive operation similar to a female spay as the vet will need go in abdominally to remove them.

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The earlier a rabbit is neutered the better, they recover much easier and this stops hormones before they have a chance to come in.

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To prevent mating, if not already neutered, rabbits should be split into single sex groups if or when they are showing signs of hormonal behaviour. Please note many vets get sexing wrong, another reason to ensure your vet is rabbit savvy.

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Should I get my rabbit neutered?

Absolutely! Neutering both male and female rabbits has many advantages:

• Allows bonding with other rabbits which is essential to their welfare

• No unplanned litters

• Removes the risk of testicular / uterine cancers

• Reduces the risk of prostate disease in male rabbits

• Prevents pyometra (infection of the womb) which can be life-threatening

• Prevents phantom (false) pregnancies, which are incredibly distressing and stressful for the rabbit, and associated behavioural issues such as nesting

• Makes litter training easier and reduces urine smell

• Reduces sex-driven behaviours such as mounting

• May reduce aggression and territorial behaviour

 

What questions should I ask when looking to book my rabbit in?

• Do you neuter a lot of rabbits?

• Do you intubate (breathing tube not mask) rabbits for surgery?

• Do you have an exotic vet in your team?

• Do you send them home with pain relief?

• Do you offer a telephone postop consultation? This is twofold, one is that the vet may not be that confident and will want to physically see the rabbit, secondly travelling unnecessarily is stressful for rabbits (this can lead to GI Stasis, lowered immune system and slower recovery), so if they DON’T need to be seen physically this is the better option

 

The answer to all the above questions should be yes!

 

What happens when my rabbit is neutered?

You will be given an appointment to take your rabbit in for neutering, usually early morning. One of the veterinary team will talk you through what will happen and ask you to sign a consent form. They normally will do a physical health check at this time unless this has already been done at a recent visit.

If they are already part of a bonded pair, their partner should go with them; this gives them a feeling of security, familiarity and comfort. If your vet suggests otherwise – find another vet.

 

Please take a few of their nuggets, treats or favourite forage for them to nibble on before and after their operation.

Unlike humans, rabbits need to continue to eat and drink right up to the time they are anaesthetised. It is very important that rabbits always have continuous access to food to support their digestive tract’s normal function. They cannot vomit like cats and dogs, so do not need to have an empty stomach for their anaesthetic. If your vet tells you to ‘starve them’ prior to taking them in find another vet!

 

Your rabbit(s) will always be given a general anaesthetic for this surgery.

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Your rabbit may have a clipped patch on one or both of their ears from where the veterinary team has accessed their veins to give the drugs they need.

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Male rabbits may have a small amount of hair removed from around the surgical site. Depending on the method of the surgery preferred by the vet, the cuts are then closed by using tiny stitches and/or applying a small amount of surgical skin glue.

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When female rabbits are neutered, they will have a clipped patch on the underside of their tummy. A small cut is made through the skin and muscle to remove the ovaries and womb (ovariohysterectomy). The wound is then closed with stitches and most times skin glue.

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Pain relief is given before the operation so that it will already be working when the anaesthetic has worn off and your rabbit is coming round.

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A veterinary nurse will monitor your rabbit after surgery whilst they wake up and, once ready, will offer them some food. Almost all rabbits will be allowed home the same day.

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When you collect your rabbit, you should be advised on what pain relief they have had and need, what you should feed them, for how long they need to rest and when they need to have a follow-up appointment. This is the time to ask any questions you may feel appropriate for your rabbits care postop. Don’t forget you will need to keep them in a restricted space to prevent too much jumping around as that can cause wounds to reopen.

Rabbits struggle to regulate their body temperature after anaesthetic so you should make them a cosy, quiet area indoors to keep them warm for a minimum 48 hours. Please use blankets or towels as pet bedding (shredded paper, wood shavings) can get stuck to and irritate the wound and / or lead to an infected wound.

How long will it take my rabbit to recover after being neutered?

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When your rabbit comes home he/she may be a little drowsy and subdued. Get them settled and leave them in a quiet space to recover, try not to disturb or handle them unless absolutely necessary; whilst still keeping an eye on them.

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The most important thing after an anaesthetic is to get your rabbit back to eating normally as soon as possible. ........ See below

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Most rabbits feel back to themselves within a few days, especially males as it’s not as much of an invasive operation. We find males bounce back slightly quicker than females.

 

It can take up to six weeks after castration for male rabbits to become sterile so they should be kept apart from any unneutered (unspayed) females until this time. If bonded, allow contact with a mesh or cage between them to maintain the bond.

 

If you are concerned about your rabbit’s recovery, you should speak to your veterinary team.

What complications might my rabbit experience during recovery?

Most rabbits recover well after being neutered; for the few that don’t, look out for:

• Loss of appetite / not eating – it is important that your rabbit starts to eat normally as soon as possible after their surgery. Pain relief and offering lots of tempting food that they enjoy can assist with this. If your rabbit is refusing food completely by the following morning speak to your vet for advice; unless they have already explained how and when to syringe feed critical care. Many rabbits will only nibble when they come home but this is normal after their ordeal. If their interest in food diminishes, again speak to your vet.

• Wound infections and / or breakdown – this is often associated with the wound getting wet, dirty or being nibbled by the rabbit. The wound may fail to heal normally and may start to open up again and this will mean that they will need to be seen again by the vet. It is important that your rabbits’ space is restricted so the wound can heal properly, so don’t give them full access to the garden or stairs until the vet or vet nurse has signed them off. The wound needs to be checked regularly for the first few days at least.

 

What should the wound(s) look like?

A healthy wound will look clean and dry, with both edges meeting; there may be some swelling for a few days. Some scabbing is normal as per any wound.

 

If there is any pus, bleeding, increased swelling, redness or the wound is starting or has reopened this requires contact with the vet. They may ask you to send a photo of the wound first to decide if they need to see them in clinic.

 

What to watch out for post-surgery

• Keep an eye on how much your rabbit is eating, drinking, passing urine and pooping

• Check that your rabbit’s wound is clean and dry, with no signs of redness, swelling or stickiness from discharge

• Look to see if they seem excessively quiet or out of sorts, pressing their tummy to the ground or look restless and / or uncomfortable

• The risk of flystrike increases during the warmer months, and wounds will often attract flies, so this is something to be very careful of and check thoroughly for. House rabbits can also be at risk of flystrike!

 

If you notice anything that worries you contact your veterinary team for support rather than waiting for any scheduled post-operative checks. Your rabbit insurance, not a vet care plan, may offer facetime consultations free as part of your policy cover which may be an option if your veterinary clinic is closed.

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