Please Note - Medical Advice
Please keep in mind that posts on this forum are from members of the public sharing personal opinions. It is not a replacement for qualified medical advice from a veterinarian. Many illnesses share similar symptoms but require different treatments. A medical exam is necessary for an accurate diagnosis, without which appropriate treatment cannot be given.
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What we do know is that uterine cancer is the commonest cancer of rabbits and is the end point of a gradual process becoming much more common with increasing age. The classic study (Greene, 1958) which is so widely quoted in houserabbit circles showed 4% of does had uterine cancer age 2-3 years of age, rising to 80% at 5-6 years. It doesn't make any difference whether the doe has been bred from or not (Adams, 1962) or what breed she is.
Breeding does who develop uterine cancer invariably have a history of reproductive disturbance in the 6-10 months prior to the tumour becoming detectable by palpation. Typical problems are reduced litter size, stillborn litters, and does deserting their litters. Dystocia (difficulty kindling), litter retention in utero, abdominal pregnancy and fetal resorption are also more likely when tumours are developing.
Ann NY Acad. Sci. 75:535-542 Green, 1958.
This is perhaps the best article, and probably where everyone gets the often quoted 80% figure. Greene monitored a colony of rabbits over a long period of time (8-10 years). All rabbits dying from whatever causes were necropsied. 16.7% of 849 rabbits were found to have uterine adenocarcinoma. The average age of the colony was greater than 4 years, which is important, because most lab rabbits are under 24 months of age. The tumor incidence in Greene's colony was very closely linked to age. In rabbits dying between 2 and 3 years of age the incidence of cancer was 4.2%. In rabbits 5-6 years of age the incidence is 79.1% (the mythical 80%). Note: these rabbits did not necessarily DIE from the cancer, but there were tumors after their death.
We don't know what the different causes of death were, but they are listed as "natural". The incidence of cancer in males and females is about the same in rabbits under two years of age, after that, the incidence in females dramatically increases over the males, primarily due to uterine cancer.
We found the article in _TBLR_ because it was referenced in a journal that claimed that the incidence of cancer was somewhere between 1 and 4% in rabbits. That low figure was compiled from laboratory rabbits, most under 2 years of age. So, that figure agrees very well with Greene's findings. When one starts looking at older rabbits the data drastically changes. Most of the veterinarians we've talked with seem to believe that this is very genetically controlled. _TBLR_ even lists breeds that are not susceptible to uterine cancer. While 80% may not be a figure for all rabbits, it was for that colony. Other colonies have had >50% incidence of cancer.
Ref: http://www.rabbit.org/care/bibliography.html
rabbits over age 2 diagnosed with cancer = 31% (37 out of 120)
rabbits over age 4 diagnosed with cancer = 43% (22 out of 51)
rabbits over age 6 diagnosed with cancer = 50% (11 out of 22)
Ref: http://home.earthlink.net/~suzys/results.html
I owned many girls, most were bred from, but I cannot say I ever lost one from this....
most of my girls went into their 3rd and 4th years in good health, if not longer.
AmberUK said:I have been trying to find out if there is any general advice that vets are running off? Ie if there are any offical/semi offical lines that the vets are taking.
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I think Vets recommend Spaying based upon the statistics available, however, having read some of the literature provided, although I agree with what the Vets say, I do not think enough is said about the risks of surgery.
I have had many Clients annoyed at finding out ALL the facts of the risks of surgery post Op, but these details were not made readily available at the time.
I guess 1) Unless you ask the Vet directly and they are prepared to research the other side of things to give you a really balanced perspective, they will only present the aspects that SUPPORT spaying.
2) Due to so many rabbits being in Rescues and needing rehoming, I kinda feel that perhaps views are swayed by other issues, such as ensuring that as few rabbits as possible can breed.
In conclusion, some Vets may promote spaying for ethical issues as well as for the benefits of dramatically cutting the Cancer risk.
The trouble is, bunnies tend to succumb to gut problems more than anything else, so I am more concerned about that than the spaying issue.
A lot of Does come through surgery absolutely fine though, and it does have its benefits, but it seems drastic action to take INCASE Cancer arises, this is just my own view. After all, the Uks Doctors do not advocate this cause of action for all us young females incase we get uterine Cancer, oh gawd, the NHS would have permanent bed blocking if that was the case :roll: :lol:
I do not wish to put folk off from having their Doe spayed if that is what they feel comfortable with, I do think however that you need to very carefully weigh up all the pros and cons properly before you decide to go ahead.