I'm getting my 5 and a half month old bunny neutered next friday (01.12.06) and i wanted to know what to expect when i get him home, should he be getting any special treatment/care?

Any advice is greatley appreciated from all you rabbit experts, thank you!

blah blah blah see below

He will be rather dozy and should be kept indoors in the quiet on newspaper and a towel for the first 24 hours with limited exercise space. You need to get him eating as soon as possible so offer him his favourite food and lots of fresh water. His wound will need washing with warm salt water every day and you need to make sure he leaves his stitches alone, if he nibbles on them he will need to wear a dreaded 'lampshade'.

He should be back to himself in a couple of days but will still be rather sore. He will have to go back for a check up in 7-10 days and can still impregnate a female for up to 1 month after his op. Dont worry if you can still see his bits, they will slowly disappear over the coming weeks and the stitches will also dissolve.

please tell me you mean 5 and a half months?????!!!!!!

Sorted! Yes that's what i meant! I'm really dreading taking him in!

ahh dont worry he'll be fine. Ive had three done in the last couple of months, the aneasthetic can really knock some sideways and other come round like a shot. They will also offer you the option of blood tests. BTW the vet should not instruct you not to feed him, if he does I would suggest looking for a vet more experienced in rabbits.

I've been told to feed him as normal and bring him early for the once over then they'll take him for the OP.

It's worked well as we've bought him a small dog crate to take him on his holidays at christmas so as of Friday he'll be living indoors in the crate until it heats up outside a bit. Can i put him any straw in to snuggle into or just newspaper and towels?

What are the blood test for? Should i get them?

Just paper and non-fluffy towels. Straw, hay and sawdust will get stuck in/irritate the wound so its not recommended for a couple of days. the blood test check for problems which may cause a reaction with the anasthetic. In a young, healthy rabbit you shouldnt have anything to worry about and none of mine had the tests, the vets recommended against them but have to offer anyway.

Wheres he going on holiday?

Just paper and non-fluffy towels. Straw, hay and sawdust will get stuck in/irritate the wound so its not recommended for a couple of days. the blood test check for problems which may cause a reaction with the anasthetic. In a young, healthy rabbit you shouldnt have anything to worry about and none of mine had the tests, the vets recommended against them but have to offer anyway.

Wheres he going on holiday?

He's coming to my mums in Scotland for three nights, i left my mother in law feeding him last time but it broke my heart to leave him on his own because he wouldn't be getting nearly as much attention so it was deceide that we'd get him a cage to take him with us. He likes the car as long as he can see out the window so it looks like 5 hours with a bunny box on my lap!

I wouldn’t wash the wounds if I were you especially with salt water, as it will hurt like hell. Just keep an eye on them to make sure they don’t get infected. I’ve had lots of rabbits neutered and I’ve never washed the wound nor has my vet instructed me to.

Boys tend to bounce back much quicker then girls after neutering. Might be worth adding a probiotic to the water such as Avipro Plus to keep the guts working properly after the anaesthetic.

I only tend to get a pre-anaesthetic blood profile run on a rabbit 5 years plus as they are at a higher risk from kidney failure etc.

Louise

vets advice ellepotter.

washing with salt dissolved in water is not like rubbing salt onto a wound, havnt you ever gargled with salt water when youve had a sore throat? It has a pleasent numbing effect and also kills bacteria.

vets advice ellepotter.

washing with salt dissolved in water is not like rubbing salt onto a wound, havnt you ever gargled with salt water when youve had a sore throat? It has a pleasent numbing effect and also kills bacteria.

Seconded. I always soak my own feet in very salty water when I've got open blisters etc., it's very soothing and helps with infections as well.

Each to there own.

It’s something I would never do nor see the need to do.

The RWA certainly doesn’t recommend it.

http://www.houserabbit.co.uk/rwf/articles/neutleaf.htm

Louise

Im an RWA member but I do not hold their advice as gospel. You will find them contradicting themselves on advice throughout 'Rabbiting On'. They provide some information and I make an informed decision based on my experience, their advice and the advice of my vets.

Each to there own.

It’s something I would never do nor see the need to do.

The RWA certainly doesn’t recommend it.

http://www.houserabbit.co.uk/rwf/articles/neutleaf.htm

Louise

There isn't anything on there saying they don't recommend it :confused:

There's a difference between not recommending it and just omitting to mention it.

So there isnt. That will teach me to take someones word for things in future. Im sure they would recomend folowingyour vets advice closely seeyoujimmy dont pay any attention to what us so-called experts are rabbiting on about!

ellepotter how can you not see the need to disinfect a woundsite located close to the floor and near the anus? Not to mention wiping any dried blood away. If you dont do it it only encourages the rabbit to do it itself and then low behold it finds the stitches!

So there isnt. That will teach me to take someones word for things in future. Im sure they would recomend folowingyour vets advice closely seeyoujimmy dont pay any attention to what us so-called experts are rabbiting on about!

ellepotter how can you not see the need to disinfect a woundsite located close to the floor and near the anus? Not to mention wiping any dried blood away. If you dont do it it only encourages the rabbit to do it itself and then low behold it finds the stitches!

Cleaning the wound seems obvious to me but whether Rubens will let me is another matter :rolleyes:

Thanks for the advice, his indoor crate is oon order and should be here by monday and we're nipping to Wilkinsons tonight to pick up his pet carrier (thanks for that sooz22:thumbsup: ) so i think i'm organised now!

If you lay him onto his back on yor lap with his head by your stomach he should go ito a sort of 'trance'. This wil give you access to his wound for cleaning and inspection without him panicking. dont leave him lke that for too long though its a survival mechanism and they 'freeze' because they are scared. As soon as you put him upright he will snap back to himself.

It sure beats wrestling with a sore bunny.

Now I do have the RWA to thank for that little gem.

I’ve never had any problems with after neuter wounds and I’ve never cleaned them. As long as the rabbit is kept on clean bedding the risk, of infection is small, as the area has been cleaned with an antiseptic pre and post surgery at the vets.

This is the opinion of a very experienced lady I know (posted with permission). “In my unqualified opinion (I’m not a VET) washing the wound will just provide a more inviting environment for bacteria to multiply, as you will be making the wound area wet. If the wound was closed with glue it will weaken the adhesiveness. If closed with internal sutures then there is really very little external tissue damage to bathe. Overall the process of bathing the wound is just more stress for a post surgical rabbit.”

At our vets they have the rabbits back three days after surgery to check on the wound. If the rabbit has had a nibble at the stitches or if the wound looks very inflamed they are often put on a course of Baytril (an antibiotic) as a precaution.

Louise

Having had loads of buck rabbits castrated, (does spayed also but thats for another thread) both my own and rescues, I've never ever washed around that area after the op, yes keep an eye on him but he will keep himself clean.

Modern practice is to glue after castration.

Your veterinary practice will ensure your rabbit is eating and poohing before they allow him home, just ensure that he continues to do both.

He shouldn't be "floppy" when you bring him home, yes he may be a little quiet, but certainly not floppy.

If the veterinary practice tells you to starve your rabbit before any op, ask if this information applies to rabbits, if they confirm that you should starve him, seek an alternative vet / practice or ... it doesn't as rabbit cannot vomit, like other animals so that isn't a risk during a GA.

Sat here with an house full of happy but, neutered house rabbits.

In my experience, 10 years plus of having rabbits castrated, bucks are up and about as soon as they are home, and they don't miss the missing bits.

We took Rubens to the vet yesterday only to find out the little boy was actually a little girl:o !

She is now in her indoor cage with plenty of shredded newspaper and food, she's a bit quieter than normal but keeps having little bursts of energy. How long should it be until she's back to normal?

Girls tend to take a little longer than boys, Id give her between 2-3 days before she's steady on her feet again and about 10-14 days before she seems 'herself' ie hopping about without any signs of discomfort etc.

A girl aye? Didnt see that coming. Wer'nt you a bit suspiscious about her lack of dangly bits? Lol.

Girls tend to take a little longer than boys, Id give her between 2-3 days before she's steady on her feet again and about 10-14 days before she seems 'herself' ie hopping about without any signs of discomfort etc.

A girl aye? Didnt see that coming. Wer'nt you a bit suspiscious about her lack of dangly bits? Lol.


I just took the owners word for it and i could have sworn i'd seen some but he's that furry you can barley see anything down there! It came as a bit of a shock but never mind, she's still my baby!

Its really hard to tell in young rabbits. I had the vets check mine for me and she showed me how to do it and what to look for but they were all boys so I couldnt compare the two sexes to see the differences.

Once they reach 4 months little boys start to drop which makes it a whole lot easier!

I'm getting my 5 and a half month old bunny neutered next friday (01.12.06) and i wanted to know what to expect when i get him home, should he be getting any special treatment/care?

Any advice is greatley appreciated from all you rabbit experts, thank you!


i never did. r.i.p. i got him 'friends' from charity shops. he was a housebunny and the vet said it would alter his personality.. ( i didnt want that as he was such a character). so got him 'friends'.. cuddly toys he was well pleased.. then just binned them!!:love: :love:

We took Rubens to the vet yesterday only to find out the little boy was actually a little girl:o !

She is now in her indoor cage with plenty of shredded newspaper and food, she's a bit quieter than normal but keeps having little bursts of energy. How long should it be until she's back to normal?

Having a doe spayed is quite a big op, but rabbits are incredible at coming through.

In a couple of days she will be visibly back to normal, just keep an eye out for her nibbling / licking her stitches / worrying the wound. If you can lift her on to her back onto a daily basis just to make sure she isn't trying to open the wound. The op will be double stitched so the visible stitches are less critical than you would think... the inner stitches hold the muscle together and if she get to these you have problems. If you are concerned day or night you should contact the veterinary practice which spayed her.

She will be sore inside for a few weeks, if you also have a buck, I would keep them apart for a while, you don't want him to mount her and injure her post op, certainly don't want her struggling to get away or him mounting her.

Do you have to take her back to the vet for a post op check-up?

I've had one doe who chased cats around the house the day after the op! Although I certainly wouldn't advise this.

You will have a calm bunny once her hormones calm down, also she isn't going to get uterine cancer now :)

Having a doe spayed is quite a big op, but rabbits are incredible at coming through.

In a couple of days she will be visibly back to normal, just keep an eye out for her nibbling / licking her stitches / worrying the wound. If you can lift her on to her back onto a daily basis just to make sure she isn't trying to open the wound. The op will be double stitched so the visible stitches are less critical than you would think... the inner stitches hold the muscle together and if she get to these you have problems. If you are concerned day or night you should contact the veterinary practice which spayed her.

She will be sore inside for a few weeks, if you also have a buck, I would keep them apart for a while, you don't want him to mount her and injure her post op, certainly don't want her struggling to get away or him mounting her.

Do you have to take her back to the vet for a post op check-up?

I've had one doe who chased cats around the house the day after the op! Although I certainly wouldn't advise this.

You will have a calm bunny once her hormones calm down, also she isn't going to get uterine cancer now :)

She's getting back to normal and was desperate for a bit of exercise yesterday (she's usually in a two tier hutch with plenty of room but i put her in a dog cage to limit her tearing about) so we let her out for 20 mins, she had a little bounce round the living room, nothing to strenuous the went back in, i can see the difference in her already she's alot calmer.

We're going back on Wednesday for her check up but everything looks fine!

Good glad to hear shes doing so well. X

Had our check up yesterday, the wound is healing well, no swelling and is dry and Rubens is back to normal, always looking for food and desperate to have a bomb around the livingroom . We're going back on Monday to get the stitches out.