Neutering Your Rabbit

Neutering is a surgical procedure, undertaken to prevent both female and male rabbits from reproducing. In males (bucks) the testicles are removed – this is the main source of the hormone testosterone, so levels of this hormone fall after the surgery. In females (does) the ovaries and the womb (uterus) are removed as standard – this means that your rabbit will no longer be able to fall pregnant. In all cases, neutering involves a general anaesthetic. Your rabbit will come into the clinic in the morning, stay for the day to have the operation, and in most cases will be reunited with you the same day. Although all surgical procedures come with some risk, neutering is the most common procedure undertaken at our vet clinics, and the techniques are very safe.

Although all surgical procedures can be uncomfortable, recovery from neutering is usually very rapid. In the vast majority of cases rabbits are on their feet within a few hours of the procedure, and are also given pain-relief drugs for the procedure itself, and throughout recovery. Some rabbits may be subdued for a day or so following the procedure, and may appear drowsy or a little wobbly that evening, but most rabbits are back to their normal selves within a few days.

Comprehensive pain relief is especially important in rabbits, as sometimes being in pain can cause them to stop eating. This slows down their guts, and can lead to a potentially life-threatening problem called ileus. All rabbits neutered at Companion Care are given strong pain killers, and encouraged to start eating as soon as they wake up. If your rabbit is coming in to be neutered we recommend bringing in their favourite food to have when they wake up!

Full recovery, including skin healing, is generally under ten days. Keeping the area clean will allow that natural healing process to take place as quickly as possible. Rabbits should be kept inside during recovery on clean, dry bedding that won’t stick to or irritate the surgical area – towels are a good option. Your vet will be able to recommend when they can go back to their normal housing at their post-operative check, but this is usually within a week of the operation.

The benefits of neutering your rabbit are seen both for your rabbits and for you.

• No risk of pregnancy. Pregnancy is a difficult time, and rabbits do not get the emotional reward we may from reproducing. Rabbits can have multiple litters per year, and pregnancy and birth both carry risks to both your rabbit and the kittens.
• Improves socialisation. Rabbits need companionship, and a human is not enough, imagine not having any friends who speak your language! Guinea pigs are also not suitable companions. Neutering both is really important, as male-female pairings generally work best socially.
• Less risk of cancer. Sadly, female rabbits are very likely to develop uterine (womb) cancers relatively early in life. They can also develop womb infections, or other cancers such as mammary (breast tissue) cancer. Neutering when young greatly reduces the chances of these occurring.
• Better temper! Neutered rabbits are less temperamental and generally easier to handle, which is especially important if you have children.
• Better house training. Neutered rabbits are much less likely to exhibit these marking behaviours.
• Remove risk of false pregnancies. Unneutered female rabbits often develop false pregnancies, which can cause very hormonal behaviour such as aggression towards their owners or other rabbits.

It is a common misconception that it is healthy, or nice, to let your rabbit have a litter. There are no recorded health benefits for a rabbit to having a litter. As well as this, as rabbits do not form the same lifelong bonds with their offspring as we do, they do not get the same emotional benefit as we may get from having a baby. This means that there is no reason to let your rabbit have a litter, and in fact delaying neutering increases the chance of negative consequences such as urine marking, cancers, unwanted pregnancy and development of unwanted behaviours.

Rabbits are usually neutered around four to five months old. Males can be castrated as early as 10-12 weeks, although your vet may want to wait a little longer than this, especially in small rabbits. Your neutering plan should be discussed with your vet, and will take into account the age and neutering status of any other rabbits. Care should be taken with male rabbits once castrated – they can still be fertile for up to four weeks after castration as some sperm can remain in the genital tract! Make sure to separate them from unneutered females for at least a month after their operation.

The cost of neutering will vary depending on the gender of your rabbit, and any extra supportive procedures recommended by your vet. Speaking to your vet directlyis the best way to get an estimated price for your rabbit.