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Castrating wildies (who are living domestically!!)

parsnipbun

Wise Old Thumper
I think I may have asked this before . .

basically our vet feels we should have Pippin done so that it will be easier for him to fit in with other buns . .

but he panics so much when we have to take him anywhere he is not used to (ie anywhere away from our house and paitio etc) that we are really really worried about it.

The vet has offered that we could bring him in just before the surgery and then she could give him a low dose of bupronorphine to calm him whilst my partner holds him (he adores my partner . . all rabbits do) and then hopefully when this has calmed him she will give the rest of the meds etc and operate (on Pippin - not my partner:lol::lol:)

But we are still petrified that he will react differently . . and we will loose him

. . can others with wildies re-assure me?????
 
Roger was terrified (he was neutered before he came to me but was at a far worse place than Pippin because roger just ran in a blind panic at anything, or just froze- he never got any sense of relaxation or calm until he came to me and settled here with Summer) but I have found the survival instinct in wildies to be far stronger than in domestic bunnies, so he was terrified, but his instinct to live kept him going and kept him eating and surviving. Even with limited pain relief, stitches and an infection. :evil: (at the vet)

It won't be comfortable for him, but it sounds like your vet has made a good suggestion to minimise his stress. Could you also send him with a worn t-shirt (or similar) of your partners for when he comes round so he can lie on it and smell a safe smell?
 
PS Pippin is only 6 months at present - did others wait longer???

Trouble is he has to live alone as long as he has his plums . .
 
It was about 15 years ago when Benji was castrated, and I 'think' he was about 10 months. He was quite a nervy bun but coped fine and then lived a happy life with 2 dwarf lop girls for many years.
 
Its strange to me that most rabbit info on the net says that wildies can breed as soon as 3 months. I have a 6 month old wild male with no signs of sexual maturity?
 
Scmamp was neutered about 10 months when his testicles dropped - no issues with the op. He wasn't keen on the standard vets cages when he went in after raiding the bin. I'd suggest a smaller box (or the carrier if it will fit) inside for shelter and a towel over the front so he can feel enclosed to minimise stress. Also give him the carrier to play with ahead of time so that feels like his.

When don't think of it as much as we should, but rabbits are like puppies. The need socialisation to get used to new things or they'll be nervous. Gently introducing experiences such as being in the carrier, the carrier lifting, riding in the car and the smells of a vet will help him cope and in general the more new (but positive) experiences he has the more confident he'll be with any experience.
 
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