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Neutering... and I guess my rabbits life story lol

Nessa

Young Bun
I've wanted to neuter my rabbit ever since I first got him, since I researched and thought it would make him nicer. I used to think he was evil, but really he is the sweetest thing, just as a 10 year old I thought he'd be like a dog. My parents wouldn't let me. They have stupid rules which I don't understand. I can't have him live inside and I can't get him neutered. I buy everything myself so I don't understand why they won't let me get him neutered. That was 4-5 years ago. So he's about that age now as I got him as a baby. I am allowed to bring him inside, which I do daily for about 2-4 hours, depending on if he's pawing to go outside. I give him three different veggies per day and have a schedule (he gets 3-4 cups, switching off every day. From what I researched I think this is correct. Let me know if I'm wrong). He sure loves his veggies!

He doesn't like to be held or pet, but he does follow me around and come when I call him (I love that about him :)). I love him so much and I wish I could bring him inside and get him a friend and get him neutered. I know it is my parents rules and I have done the best I can for him. He lives in an old playhouse that used to be mine, but we repainted it, installed thick mesh wire, and put in a hutch. He absolutely loves to be in the window spot :). It is really big and is at least 10 ft by 4 ft but I have never measured it. His hutch is (I'm guessing) 48 inches by 36-42 deep, and he can hop in and out of it. This is really long but I'm trying to give background information lol!

Ok, on to the neutering. I'm older now, and I've decided I'm getting him neutered. He is my rabbit and I'm paying for it so I don't see how they can stop me. I'm worried it is too late to neuter him or he will die or something.. If anyone has any suggestions like if I shouldn't get him neutered or what, it would be really helpful. I just think he would have a longer and happier life if he were neutered. He is good at not peeing/pooing in the house but maybe this will make him more trustworthy. Although he isn't a cuddler, I still love him and want what is best for him. If it helps, he is a himalayan rabbit and I don't know how much he weighs. Very light though. He is really fit (lean) and gets a lot of exercise so he is probably strong. Well, I hope you enjoyed reading all of this! Any suggestions are helpful. Thanks!

Vanessa
 
there isn't the cancer risk with unneutered boys that there is with girls - and he sounds perfectly well behaved and happy to me, so I wouldn't neuter him unless you wanted to bond him up with a female friend (he would still be fertile for 8 weeks after his neuter if so) It is hard to find a good rabbit vet in the US - you need to look for someone who specialises in exotics and rabbits, as they don't cover that much detail in college. Ensure they use isofluorane gas as anaesthetic (costs more but rabbits struggle to recover from anaesthetics used on cats/dogs) and use invisible, dissolveable stitches (rabbits are notorious for chewing out stitches, and if they have to wear a collar they can get sick from not eating their caecal poops) and also rabbits must be fed right up until surgery (regardless of what the vet receptionist tells you!) and encouraged to eat ASAP after surgery - which means having them indoors for at least one night, and staying up nursing them till they recover.
 
i thought there was still the cancer risk with boys :?
i would recommend that you do get him neutered as (im pretty sure) there is still a risk with boys even if its only a small one?
 
i thought there was still the cancer risk with boys :?
i would recommend that you do get him neutered as (im pretty sure) there is still a risk with boys even if its only a small one?

no there's nothing similar in unneutered boys - usually it just makes them cleaner and less destructive, but as my neutered boy is extremely destructive, that puts the lie on that theory - and the original poster's boy is already clean in the house and well behaved (rabbits are seldom cuddly) - there's no real benefit from neutering him except for bonding purposes.
 
I want to get him a friend but my parents say no more pets. I only have my rabbit that's mine and a family dog and my brother has two lizards and a cat. My question was more, is it risky at his age? I was going to get him neutered at the humane society here because fix rabbits a lot (right now they only have like 10 rabbits but at one time they had over 50! They are all neutered/spayed). When I go to college (two years) would that be too late to get him a friend, if I neuter him now? I could get another older female bun.

I guess he really is a good rabbit for not being neutered. He likes my cat and my dog and they like him. My cat enjoys rolling on his back and lightly (without claws, he's gentle) bats the end of his tail and Earl does his happy hop :). He never chews anything, except my homework :lol:, in the house and hardly pees or poos except the rare poop (inside). Sometimes he has this musty smell, and I'm wondering if that is from him not being neutered.

Thanks for the replies!
 
It would be fine to get him done now, have a chat with the vet to put hyour mind at rest.
I just had a look on the net about the testicular cancer thing and apparently there is a small chance, nowhere near the chance of uterine cancer but there is still a tiny one... i knew id read it somewhere:)
 
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