Feel Like a Fool about Spaying

Greetings! :wave:

I truly am at crossroads about fixing. I'm all for it, sure, but my family doesn't quite agree. My mother does her best to support me and doesn't put me down about it, but my brother and father have nothing positive to say about it. :? They always come up with something heineous and false, but even those comments make me want to cry. My brother has even said something about rabbits living for two years then dying. Quite blunt, and pitiful for him it say. Yes, I had a fit about those few words.

Now, do you think I should go against everything my father and brother say about this and spay Morgan? I love her dearly and only want whats best for her. The Vet apparently knew something about spaying rabbits and said they can easily struggle and break their backs, or die from overdose of anestetic. I already knew this, but coming from a vet, I feel unsure. He's fixed a few rabbits in his day, but not many. Should I go on and book an appointment?

Hi again!

Your brother is partly correct when he says that female rabbits live to age 2 and die. They die because they're not spayed. 90% of unspayed female rabbits get uterine cancer and die very young. This is a totally preventable thing.

Yes, yes, yes you should absolutely get your doe spayed. Yes there is a risk with a GA but the risk of cancer is 90% so I think that outweighs the risk of the GA by a country mile.

Definitely get her spayed. It can really only do positive things.

1) Remove the threat of uterine adenocarcinoma (cancer of the uterus)
2) Help calm her hormones, making her less territorial (less aggression, less spraying the walls with urine)
3) Remove the threat of her getting pregnant if you ever decide to bond her with another bun. (A very good idea!)

The only reason I can see not to spay is if you want to breed her (bad idea...) or if you're scared the surgery may kill her (but this is a very very low risk if you use a trusted, rabbit savvy vet and take all precautions)

Not sure how you can be made fun of for wanting to do those things. Rabbits can live 10+ years if well cared for. That's a long term commitment and a long term best buddy. I encourage you to show this thread to your family, or relay these sentiments.

Stick to your guns and don't let them discourage you from doing what you think is right for Morgan.

By the way, any pictures of the cutie?

I always tell my family that I WILL spay her, but now I've said so often (due to my unsureness) that they don't take much notice. Besides my mother, of course.

Tonight I said it again, and I'm dead serious. My mom and I would like to phone the local rescue and ask about their policy re. helping with nuetering/spaying. I might have enough for Oscar to be fixed, but in truth, we could use whatever help is out there. Then again, with the uncommonness with fixing rabbits, they might put us down. We aren't a rich family, deffinately, but I'm capable of paying for a spay even if they reject us. For Morgan, at least. I'm near having enough for Oscar to be done, but I really made a snap decision when it came to him. I'll find a way, though.

Sorry, I sort of just wrote my thoughts down. I might have been sorting my thoughts more than posting.

By the way, I have no new pictures of Morgan, but tomorrow I'll post some of Oscar. I'll have to get some of Morgan.

You are more than welcome to sort your thoughts here!

Just as a heads-up, spaying generally costs more than neutering as the surgery is more intensive. While a buck gets his testicles removed, a female has her entire uterus removed, so it's much more involved and requires more healing time. Hopefully someone can help you out with the cost, but if not, maybe you can work out pricing with your vet?

I hope you find a more rabbit savvy vet than the one you mentioned before. I wouldn't trust my rabbit with any vet who didn't do at least a few a week with a 99% success rate or better. I would shop around and find someone you're comfortable with.

You can check this listing of vets and see if any of these might be near you:

http://www.rabbit.org/vets/vets.html

Sorry if I'm throwing way too much information at you! Let me know if you have any more questions, and I'll keep watching your posts.

I would get bunny spayed, but i would get a better vet to do it if possible.
Good Luck xx

sidereus7 said:

Definitely get her spayed. It can really only do positive things.

1) Remove the threat of uterine adenocarcinoma (cancer of the uterus)
2) Help calm her hormones, making her less territorial (less aggression, less spraying the walls with urine)
3) Remove the threat of her getting pregnant if you ever decide to bond her with another bun. (A very good idea!)

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Sidereus has said it all,however I would not have confidence in you present vet,get a more rabbit savvy vet then spay

I'm dreading the day Amber goes in for the op (and the time is quickly approaching!!!), i get upset just thinking about it.

Someone on another threat very kindly posted up a link to a leaflet. Find it and read it a couple of times. One sentence stands out:this is the kindest and most important thing you can do for your bun (or words to that effect)

Have a chat with your vet and the receptionist, mine really did put my mind at rest (sort of!)

You would never forgive yourself if your best friend got cancer and died a horrible death when you could have taken steps to prevent it..

Plus all the behaviour probs of an unspeyed female, it can't be any fun for the bun to be grumpy and terratorial all the time.

right males are often cheaper to do and its a quicker recovery time. there is no medical reasoning for neutering a male ... its more behavioural and to allow tehm to live with a freind.
females: 85% (And i had a bun that died) will get uterine cancer over age 3yrs and die as its hard to detect before its too late. getting a rabbit spayed costs 60-120 uk pounds where as a male is usually 30-70 uk pounds. but females are more essential to do . before op feed right up to time as unlike cats and dogs rabbits cannot vomit and stopping them eating can have huge implications starving a rabbit is a big no no. after op they need cage rest adn will probebly need to be encouraged to eat and poop pain relief and gut stimulants are nessacery. collars are a last resort to a arabbit chewing open its stitches so you are best withuot one if possible. any other q's please ask. i have rabbits aged... 11yrs,10yrs, 7yrs, 4yrs and 3yrs, they are all sitll living adn are all spayed/neutered. al lare happy and helathy s a rabbit definatly can lie a long time if cared for correctly x

Bellikinz said:

Greetings! :wave:

The Vet apparently knew something about spaying rabbits and said they can easily struggle and break their backs, or die from overdose of anestetic. I already knew this, but coming from a vet, I feel unsure. He's fixed a few rabbits in his day, but not many. Should I go on and book an appointment?

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No no no not with this vet doesn't sound like he has a clue what he is doing, find a rabbit savvy vet.

Here are the questions you should ask when calling around vets:

It's important to choose a suitable veterinary practice to neuter
your rabbit. Like any other specialist field, vets vary in their interest and expertise in rabbit medicine. Some questions to ask when choosing a vet include:

Do they recommend vaccinations for VHD and Myxomatosis?

Do they regularly neuter rabbits of both sexes?

Rabbits need special care on the day of surgery. Will the vet use heat pads and warmed fluid therapy?

Has the practice invested in modern surgical and monitoring equipment to help
make surgery safer for rabbits?

Do they give pain relieving drugs to all rabbits during and after neutering operations? If not, choose another vet.

Are rabbits hospitalised away from dogs, cats and ferrets?

If you already use a veterinary practice, ask whether they neuter rabbits.

Most small animal vets neuter males, but unless your vet operates on a lot of rabbits you may be referred to another practice to have a female spayed.

Now see thats the thing. We live in a small sort of town and don't have many vets. I think two vet offices. We were recommended to the one I told you about. He was supposed to be really good with animals, although it wasn't specified whether he was good with cats and dogs, or small animals.

I'm extremely worried about getting Morgan done. She's very timid and sneeky. I'm mostly worried that she'd pull the stitches out and not let me touch her. Also, she doesn't like to eat from my hand period, so that could be a problem, too.

We were lucky and have a very bun savvy vet whos very confident (the vet nurses didn't half have a giggle when we asked if our buns would die in the op - not out of cruelness just because they've done so many without any deaths ).

My bun was teeny weeny too, she was very shy and timid and only weighed about 0.6kg (some vets are only happier doing larger bun buns) when speyed. She was an angel and didn't touch her stitches. The only thing she did do was be a rude guest and refuse all there food! resulting in her scaring me as she had to stay overnight lol In the morning she came home and scoffed as if she'd never ate in years!! :roll: :lol:

Maybe talk to the other vet your local to as she if they have a better reaction when you ask about operating on your bun Its nice to see your trying to get the best for your buns I hope they know how great a mum they have!!

Bellikinz said:

Now see thats the thing. We live in a small sort of town and don't have many vets. I think two vet offices. We were recommended to the one I told you about. He was supposed to be really good with animals, although it wasn't specified whether he was good with cats and dogs, or small animals.

I'm extremely worried about getting Morgan done. She's very timid and sneeky. I'm mostly worried that she'd pull the stitches out and not let me touch her. Also, she doesn't like to eat from my hand period, so that could be a problem, too.

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And don't let the fears of aftercare scare you away from spaying. You can cover the stitches with a gauze pad, and the stitches should be on the inside and dissolve on their own. She doesn't have to eat from your hand with a spay, because she'll be plenty hungry when she wakes up. Unless she has stasis problems, it should be fairly easy to give her a comfortable recovery. It might be worth taking a slightly longer drive to get to a bunny savvy vet.

Alright, I'll (kindly, if I can. No, of course kindly :lol: ) force my mom to check around with the two vet clinic's in town. These are the only one's I can get to. The other's far off somewhere else in the mountains.

A question about post-spay: It's been nice out lately. Should I keep her inside, or let her stay out if it's nice. She's an outdoor bun. I'm also a little worried that the vets here won't provide proper medication for after the spay. And I'm pretty sure the vets over here aren't open at night incase there was a problem. We'll have to make sure everything's safe.

There seems like so much to worry about. I'd feel so sad and guilty if something ever happened to Morgan. Especially if there was something to prevent it..

Only you can make the decision sweetie but it really is the best thing in the LONG TERM for Morgan.

Based on statistics, she wont have a long term if she's not spayed as she will get uterine cancer.

My little Lucy was spayed a month ago and had no problems. It'd be best to keep Morgan inside at least the first night she comes home. Make sure she has something soft and clean to lie on, and that it's changed every day. She may pull at the stitches, a lot of buns do that. Lucy didn't but Chloe and Matilda, my old girls from way back did.

Good luck!

I agree w/ Biscuit Bunny. Your vet is clearly not a rabbit specialist. You need to call around for a rabbit specialist, they charge the same.

That line of fairy tale about breaking the back due to surgery is so absurd, what he should have tell you is that a female bun, w/o spay, has a 80% chance of uterus cancer after age 2.

Dig out your yellow page and start calling, call every clinic and ask what type of animal the vet specialize in. I know in BC they have vet hospital, and w/i those hospital, they are always at least 1 or 2 rabbit specialist.

If you can't find 1 after you call all the ones in your YellowPage, let me know, my vet is virtually the dept. head in this city, I can email him and ask him who he would recommend in your city. PM me the location of your city

Happy Hopping, I just noticed your from Canada! :shock:
So, I'm not alone! :wave:

We just did that today. We live in a fairly tiny town and there are only two clinics in the town. Creston, B.C. There is one (or maybe more) in Cranbrook, but thats a ways off. I would if that was the only option, but I'm still checking around. I'm going to ask some questions that Biscuit Bunny provided. One clinic wasn't open, the other only had a lady there for emergencies; no actual vet present. On Monday my mom is going to call again.