Hockeyaholic Posted January 20, 2007 Share Posted January 20, 2007 I was just browsing through the forum and noticed that many people recommend having there bunnies spayed. Not only to help correct any behavioural issues but to prevent uterine cancer. Anyway when we took our 2 girls to the vets for their Myxi jab and first checkup I asked the vet what she thought about getting them spayed...and she said that unless it was completely necessary then she wouldn't recommend it, as it is a big operation for the females and that theres an anesthetic risk as with all animals. She recommended it was best to just keep an eye on the bunnies and if one becomes particularly more dominant then to go back to the vets. I have every faith in our vetinary surgery as we've been taking our pets there for years and they've been brilliant. and although I don't want my girls to have a big operation for the sake of it I am concerned about this cancer risk...just wanted to hear peoples thoughts on the matter? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helen Posted January 20, 2007 Share Posted January 20, 2007 Hi hockeyaholic, We have recently adopted three bunnies from the RSPCA and part of the contract was to have them spayed as it is of benefit healthwise to them and stops the patter of tiny paws. Mindy was done a couple of weeks ago and is fine. She didn't seem at all upset by it and her fur on her tummy has grown back very quickly. She had one stitch which she removed herself!! and has been as fit as a fiddle since. I can understand your vets cocerns but I think the benefits outweigh the risks. It is quite expensive too, but the RSPCA paid for ours to be done as we were rehoming all 3. We paid a £60 donation towards it. Helen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pepe Posted January 21, 2007 Share Posted January 21, 2007 I agree Helen, my little girl bunny was done by the RSPCA, they said exactly the same to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helen Posted January 21, 2007 Share Posted January 21, 2007 I should point out that the £60 was for all 3 bunnies, the mum Molly had already been spayed as had her son Max...boys can be done younger than girls as it is not so complicated. We had a voucher to use at the vets for Mindy as we had to wait until she was 6 months old. The RSPCA were really kind and helpful , but it does vary from area to area. My local branch will NOT rehome into a rablu but the ones I went to in Aylesbury will. Not that I have bought one yet, they are wrecking my greenhouse at the moment but at least they are warm and dry and have plenty of room to run about. I'm sure I can get a new seal for the door and fil in all the holes !!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pepe Posted January 21, 2007 Share Posted January 21, 2007 I will always get my bunnies from the RSPCA from now on, I didn't have my rablu when they did the home inspection, but I mentioned omlet to one of the workers there and they think they are great, she said they would like them there but they are too expensive. Funny how it changes from area to area Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lib Posted January 22, 2007 Share Posted January 22, 2007 Hi I had my 2 girls spayed last summer as I too was concerned about the uterine cancer risk. I also hoped that the spaying would sort out the dominance issue which was becoming quite nasty - alot of bitting was going on even though they were sisters! Georgie's spaying was a text book case. However the spaying has not calmed her down and she still disco dances around the garden like a beautiful crazed bunny!! Peggy on the other hand was a completely different matter. Her uterus was quite far back which meant that the procedure took longer than anticipated. We finally got her home and overnight she managed to rip off her surgical coat and pull her stitches out. When we checked her early hrs of the morning she has also put straw in her open wound. To cut a long story short, she eventually stopped eating - we couldn't even tempt her with her favourite foods or plants in the garden. We ended up booking her into the B & B at the vets so she could have injections to stimulate her digestive system. It was really surreal going to the vets every night after work to visit Peggy - just like going to the hospital! About 5 days after the op, she was eventually eating. However, her personality has changed quite a bit - she's more lethargic now and loves being stroked. She's also piled on the pounds, so she's now on a post Christmas diet like her bunny mummy!!! Even though we've been through the mill with Peggy, I'd still have any new bunny spayed or neutered due to the potential risk. Good luck! Liz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 22, 2007 Share Posted January 22, 2007 My two girls are sisters,and I had them spayed at 6 months on the advice of their breeder - bunny guru Karen Williams http://www.rossrabbits.co.uk. My vet is very clued up on bunnies and endorsed the decision. As with any other small furries, there is a risk of death under anaesthesia, but they were both fine and are now coming up for 2 years old and pretty lively too. It's down to personal choice, but I have heard form different sources that the chances of uterine cancer are pretty high. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hob Posted January 31, 2007 Share Posted January 31, 2007 I have also heard that the chances of uterine cancer are very high in unspayed rabbits. However, it's a prerequisite of coming into to our house! We just don't have room for the chance of the unexpected.... Our two girls are booked in on 9 February for their operations and I am picking up a rescue male Nethie called Max on Sat who will also be neutered on 9 Feb. He was meant to be a show rabbit but he had a little too much white hair under his arm would you believe so they don't want him anymore! He's so handsome. I'll have to update my picture! I'll then have a fox, an otter and a self - little cuties! Anyway, I'm petrified of taking them as last time one of my bunnies went for an operation, they didn't make it but that was the vets error (they're only human too unfortunately!). He also wasn't a bunny specialist so we've now changed. But it won't stop me from having them neutered if it gives the chance at an extra few years of life. It's a catch 22 situation I'm afraid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 1, 2007 Share Posted February 1, 2007 Very sensible Lydia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
