Post-neutering advice sought desperately.

Hi guys, after reading a hundred threads online I decided to seek advice in person, I'm absolutely drained and dying from stress.

My boy Hades has just been neutered today and is recovering just fine. He's a happy little dwarf but has his problems, which I will explain later.

I'm worried about him causing himself harm with the stitches. As I said, he's been acting just fine, it has been a few hours, but every 10 mins or so he will start licking, or biting, I can't tell, his private parts. Sometimes it lasts few seconds, sometimes a few minutes. He licks mainly his legs and tail area, but not only, and my grief and despair is only escalating with every second. I try to distract him, but as you can imagine I would like to get some sleep, especially since I'm at work 12h or more tomorrow. My partner will be with him some, but not all of the time.

My question is, should I start getting worried and get him a DIY collar or not just yet? I'm assuming it is a pretty standard procedure for rabbits to groom after such an event, but how do I know if he's not causing himself harm? He's been lying like a sausage for almost 20 minutes now, but that doesn't guarantee anything just yet.

The problem with Hades is that he really raises up to his name. He'd never let us handle him and had his own ways, although he's the biggest sweetheat who just wants attention. On our first visit the vet said that he must be one of the most, if not the most, dominant male she's seen and was surprised that he doesn't bite. He's never been aggressive towards anyone! But, as you can guess, I won't be able to actually check myself and see if anything's inflamed or if the stitches are pulled. I've been told he has both stitches and glue, but although I didn't get any pain relief I'll go there tomorrow before work and demand it.

Past experience and advice would be most appreciated, Thanks.

PS: he's still being a sausage:

I cant offer much advice, but I had my demon bunny (much nicer after a spay) and couldnt check her, left her to it. In the end she did pull 2 stitches out, but the wound still healed fine and looked perfect. You stressing will rub off on bunny too, so hard as it is, try not to stress!

Lopsy isn't handleable either, but he came home with a cone on post-neuter:



Again, Lopsy's gorgeously well-behaved on his terms, so when he's not being picked up, poked about too much etc. He's also very food-orientated so it was easy to check his stitches and for any swelling or other abnormalities 24hrs later by making him stretch up for food and getting a good look! No touching involved XD When I did take his cone off (three days earlier than advised) he did have a bit of a lick but no biting or over-licking on his wounds: I think we were lucky!

I did have to cut the cone off, and he had some difficulty eating (couldn't eat his cecals, for example) but he was fine overall. Good luck with Hades (he's a lovely looking thing, and has a brilliant name!).

Thanks for the replies. We managed the night, he wasn't doing anything at all and I'm so relieved. Hopefully I'll get him to stand up for food, but where he's so little (he only weights 0.6kg) we're having a difficulty. I've also notice he isn't eating, not even nibbling, the vet told me to wait but I booked him in for a pain relief jab, but now he's not coming out from his hutch at all. I think I will leave him be, I don't want to drag him by force even if for a good cause.

Persephone said:

Thanks for the replies. We managed the night, he wasn't doing anything at all and I'm so relieved. Hopefully I'll get him to stand up for food, but where he's so little (he only weights 0.6kg) we're having a difficulty. I've also notice he isn't eating, not even nibbling, the vet told me to wait but I booked him in for a pain relief jab, but now he's not coming out from his hutch at all. I think I will leave him be, I don't want to drag him by force even if for a good cause.

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Has he had the pain relief now ? Is he pooing and weeing ?

It's going to be 24h soon. Actually he had a couple of treats and went back to sleep. He is pooping but the soft poop only, verging on very soft?

Persephone said:

It's going to be 24h soon. Actually he had a couple of treats and went back to sleep. He is pooping but the soft poop only, verging on very soft?

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It's not unusual for the faeces to be somewhat abnormal in the first 24-36 hours after a GA. It is important to check the surgical wound. Is there someone who could help you to do this ?

Sadly, no. He won't let us pick him up, leave alone try to turn him over. He's been like this since little, I've been trying to get him used to being handled again but no tricks work, one of the reasons he was neutered in the first place, as well as to get him a life long lady friend. There are no stains and he looks clean around, he seems to have left it alone for now, I got my mum to look after him and she says he's still resting. He's lying down just fine, yesterday he was holding his bum up but I today he's just too exhausted.

If you can find a few blades of grass (if he is used to eating veg/grass) they much prefer this post neuter. Hope he is back to normal soon

He really needs pain meds - and most buns are sent home with meds YOU can give orally - are you in England?/UK?

Well, I have phoned my vet up and she said that all they can offer is an injection! As I said, we had to leave it at that, everyone is at work now so I really don't know what to do :/

When they are open again in the morning I would query why they cannot give you oral metacam to give (also known as meloxicam) .This is the most common pain killer given orally to rabbits (usually the dog version given - there is also a cat version).

It is extremely commonly given to rabbits for pain, inflammation of any kind, arthritis problem etc etc. It is a non-steroidal anti-infalmmatory. Rabbits have very particular needs re medicines and other treatments and a good rabbit vet will be aware of these.

If you are not in the UK it may be that your are in a country where vets are not used to dealing with rabbits - although having said that there are some fairly rabbit-poor vets in the UK as well.


If your bun was sent home with no painkillers to last after the first injection wore off perhaps you could ask whether the vet would be happy to be sent home from hospital with no pain killers at all after having their private parts removed?

PS If bun is still not really eating properly by morning then he must be taken back to vet as emergency - rabbits need to keep food moving through their systems. They are different to cats/dogs in the way their digestion works.

Thank you so much for your help parsnipbun. I live in the UK, and I will go there in person and demand it tomorrow. I've been told that he is getting better, but only eating treats and coming out for a cuddle. It seemed rather strange to me when they said injection after reading so much online, but I decided to trust them especially since I don't want to put him through any extra stress. Unfortunately, it has to be left until tomorrow, but I'll stay up with him tonight just in case.

So, I managed to leave work early and just got home, and Hades looks quite fine. He's almost his normal self, he's eating and pooping. Every now and again he'll reach down to lick, but he doesn't seem distressed. I'll stay up anyway. I managed to pick him up and the area seems fairly pink to me, but he is my first rabbit and I don't know if it's not just normal for a day after the surgery, for the area to be slightly more vivid and merging on inflamed?! Again, he's not giving me a reason to worry! I'm starting to feel like he's absolutely fine and I'm the one freaking out. Who would have though that you can care so much about such a little thing? He means the world to me. I hope this post can truly help someone with a similar issue.

Also, Hades has been coming up to say hello and thank you, but it's so dark that the best I can do is stick and old photo of him in:

Persephone said:

So, I managed to leave work early and just got home, and Hades looks quite fine. He's almost his normal self, he's eating and pooping. Every now and again he'll reach down to lick, but he doesn't seem distressed. I'll stay up anyway. I managed to pick him up and the area seems fairly pink to me, but he is my first rabbit and I don't know if it's not just normal for a day after the surgery, for the area to be slightly more vivid and merging on inflamed?! Again, he's not giving me a reason to worry! I'm starting to feel like he's absolutely fine and I'm the one freaking out. Who would have though that you can care so much about such a little thing? He means the world to me. I hope this post can truly help someone with a similar issue.

Also, Hades has been coming up to say hello and thank you, but it's so dark that the best I can do is stick and old photo of him in:

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It's perfectly normal to worry so much about them It shows you care ...

Lovely photos of him, by the way. Sounds like he's well on the mend - hope he doesn't worry you any more xx

I am glad he is feeling better.
My vet does not mind when I ask him questionsHe looks like buddy, my late netherland dwarf silver martin. Buddy was well behaved, but he did not like to be picked up even after 8 years of my taking care of him. However, I would sit next to him and he would come up to me and give me nudges. He was a very special boy and I thank you for the sweet picture that reminded me of my friend.

so glad he is feeling better now. However the problems you had with the vet might ring alarm bells for if Hades is ill at any time and you need a good rabbit vet. Pain killer especially is so necessary in some circumstances as being in pain from anything can make then stop eating.

You may want to plan ahead for any future problems by locating a specialist rabbit vet in your area.

Love to Hades - who is very cute!!!