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Would you find giving vaccinations and neutering a rabbit the same day appropriate?

The Duchess

Wise Old Thumper
Just wondered if any of you have had this from your vets?

Does anybody know of a vets that routinely does this?

I can't imagine expecting a rabbit to have this at the same time as the load on the body must be immense, but is it actually accepted in the veterinary world and am I just plain wrong about it being bad for the bunny?

Does anybody know of a rabbit savvy vet that would think this was okay if the rabbit was otherwise healthy?

I have a serious reason for asking.

Thanks
 
I know of an Exotics Specialist Practice who has done it for years.

So it's just me then - getting my knickers in a twist? Is it just that all the vets I know who are good with bunnies don't want to do it because they worry about the risks more than a more proficient practice?

What do you think Jane, personally?
 
So it's just me then - getting my knickers in a twist? Is it just that all the vets I know who are good with bunnies don't want to do it because they worry about the risks more than a more proficient practice?

What do you think Jane, personally?

I dont agree with it at all. But I just know this practice does it. For a start the vaccine relies on a good immune response for it to be effective. I am no Vet, but I cant see how that can happen when the Rabbit undergoes a surgical procedure on the same day ??
 
I don't like it at all, but I know a practice that does it (a very non rabbit savvy practice). They don't seem to consider the stress reaction and immune response, etc.
 
I dont agree with it at all. But I just know this practice does it. For a start the vaccine relies on a good immune response for it to be effective. I am no Vet, but I cant see how that can happen when the Rabbit undergoes a surgical procedure on the same day ??

I'm with you. I'd never put my rabbits, healthy or not through this at the same time.

Also if the rabbit used to live with a guinea pig in his past life? And used to be in poor condition? Even worse I think as you couldn't know what the animal might be carrying.

Not for me at all. I'd want to tred very carefully.

Thanks for your input Jane.

Anyone else had any experience or an opinion either way?
 
My vets would not vaccinate and operate on rabbits on the same day. The vet nurses know to leave a couple of weeks between any rabbit procedures.

I don't think it would be appropriate even in cats, dogs, etc due to the stress on the animal, and the possibility of additional infections post-op which would require antibiotic treatment.
 
I have never asked a vet but would not personally do it for the reasons Jane has mentioned. I took mine for for myxi, wait 2 weeks then VHD, wait 2 weeks and then neuter after this.
 
The vet I had my first two does spayed at gave the VHD whilst they where under. Apparently that would be less stressful. I wouldn't do that now though.
 
My Auntie's rabbit (male) was neutered and vaccinated on the same day, with a single vaccine, on the vets recommendation. They are just a normal vets practice, they dont specialise in rabbits.


Personally, I wouldnt want to do it, but I can see the advantages in that the rabbit is already there (perhaps better if they are unsure if the owner will come back for the jabs) and getting it out of the way, particularly in high-risk seasons. A male bun's op is obviously a lot less stressful, less painful and less invasive anyway, so not sure if this vet would do it on a doe.
 
My pops had it done she got spayed, combi vaccination and ear mites treatment all on the same day and she was fine x
 
No. Elijah was neutered only a few days after he was given his myxi vaccination purely because there was something wrong with his eye a few days after his vaccination that our vet wanted to investigate so decided to give him the snip whilst he was under. It never occurred to me I could have him re-vaccinated a few weeks after he'd recovered from the GA, I think that is what I would do now. To be honest at that stage I probably thought the issue was that they were under too much stress at the time, not the issue of the vaccine failing because it couldn't develop sufficient immune response.

But, back to the original question - no not appropriate. Unless it was an emergency spay, I would always choose to vaccinate first then wait for suitable period before neutering.
 
My vets always say to leave 2 weeks between any vaccine and any procedure that might result in a lowered immune system - the reason being that the vaccine needs a strong immune system to actually work . . a lowered immune system will not mount an appropriate response.

Also a bunny who has had a vaccine and thus has a lowered immune system should not have a procedure - unless absolute emergency of course.
 
For me the issue is that it might be ok...but it might not, and there's no way of knowing whether or not the vaccination has been effective until something happens. I guess if practices have been doing it for years and never had a problem then that might indicate that the bunnies do develop a decent immune response in spite of the surgery, but on the other hand I know plenty of people who have had unvaccinated rabbits for years and never had a problem so I don't think one can easily conclude that the immune response is good.

Personally I don't see the point in risking it - if a vaccine takes 2-3 weeks to provide full immunity then I would want to feel assured that the animal was clear of any kind of stressful procedure such as surgery during that time, just in case.
 
Being a first time bunny owner, I dont have any experience of this but would say no. To me vaccinations are really important. Personally I would get the vaccination done first and then a decent gap, at least a few weeks and then the neuter.
 
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