A question I am asked all the time is "should I spay/neuter my pet rabbit?"
There isn't really a yes or no answer to this question. There are pros and cons. In this blog post I'm just going to over the basics: Neutering is an operation performed by a veterinarian. For males it is called "castration" and it is simply the removal of both the testicles. In females it is referred to as "spaying" and the vet will remove both the ovaries and the womb. The obvious reason neutering is done to prevent your rabbit from breeding another rabbit. The saying "breed like rabbits" is used for a reason. Rabbits can reach sexual maturity some times as young as 3 months old. They are only pregnant for about 30 days, and can be re-bred within 72 hours after giving birth. They will normally give birth to 3-7 babies. This is one reason why you would not want to house in tact males and females together. As you can imagine, you would have a nearly constant amount of baby rabbits. Most people think of this as the only reason to neuter their rabbit and in turn don't think its important to neuter their single pet rabbit. But there are many other reasons to neuter your family pet, or companion rabbit. Here are some good reasons: 1.) Neutering is good for their health, especially for females. Ovarian cancer very common in adult female rabbits, and there are very few if any symptoms when it occurs. Males and females will often live much longer lives when they are neutered. 2.) A neutered rabbit is a calmer, happier, cleaner, and more easily litter box trained when neutered. You can handle them better, and they are better behaved outside of their cage. When a rabbit is feeling particularly hormonal they can be grumpy, and males will often spray urine. Neutering will keep those hormonal feelings as bay and results in a friendlier rabbit. 3.) Rabbits love company. They will bond to another rabbit and it will completely change their attitudes. They will be less bored and depend on you a little less (perfect for those of you who work long hours and cannot spend lots of bonding time with your rabbit). But they cannot be housed together if neither, or even if only one of them is neutered. A neutered male and a neutered female get along the best. There are cons to this operation as well though. First of all, there is always a risk involved with neutering them. It is generally safer to castrate males than it is to spay females. But there is still a small risk associated with neutering a male. The anesthetic can sometimes (uncommonly) cause death in a rabbit. And of course there is the fact that it is an invasive surgery and it is very stressful for them. Most rabbits are neutered around 4-5 months. And in a young healthy rabbit the risk is minimal. The other disadvantage is that the operation can be quite pricey. It depends on where you live but here in Massachusetts it is usually somewhere around $300 in total. You can call veterinarians around your area and get a quote for yourself. And your vet will walk you through the process. In conclusion, despite the risks, neutering is a wonderful option for your rabbit. If you can afford it, and you have a young, healthy rabbit from a good breeder, then by all means go forward with it. If you do not choose to spay/neuter your rabbit, that's ok too. Your rabbit can still have a good, long, happy life. *Be cautious not to let your pet rabbits breed. If you are interested in breeding please do all the research you can beforehand.*
1 Comment
Anna
3/23/2017 07:03:22 pm
Thanks so much, this is super helpful!
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AuthorHi! I hope you enjoy reading and scrolling through these photos and posts about our beloved herd of rabbits! Each one is part of the family and very much loved! --Harmony Archives
April 2017
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