Worried About Separating Male Prior To Neutering.

Our Male Bun saw the vet on Thursday this week to assess for neutering. One testical is palpable like a little nut and the other just palpable at 12 weeks. He is booked in next Thursday for his op but in he meantime how risky is it to keep him with the other two same aged females?

I am not wanting baby buns but my concern comes about separating them. The male is a very sweet gentle soul and easy to handle as is one of the other females. However, the biggest female, although 80% of the time is happy to be with them, she is feisty and has attacked the others a couple of times. I am therefore worried about her not accepting him back into the fold.

I do have an indoor hutch for him but it would mean splitting their time in the run as I only have one. Also him and the other little girl stick together a lot and she would miss him.

Advice please.

Anyone please?

Is your female spayed? - forget that just re read and see that they are the same age as him.

I think you have no option if you want to play it safe, but to split.

Unfortunately, I agree. At 3 months old, it is just possible you could end up with an unwanted litter.

If you kept them together until his neuter, were you hoping to reintroduce him on his return? This is what I would be worried about most. I have never known a 12 week old doe to become pregnant so imo there is nothing to worry about in this respect. Your problem might be when he comes back home - you would have to keep a very careful eye on the biggest rabbit in case she attacks him. Also he should rest for a few days post neuter, no jumping or running mad - would you be able to ensure he can do this? Would you be able to restrict their space to enable him to be quiet for a few days? I think if you split them up now you might have a problem when you reintroduce them, especially as you have 2 females.

tonibun said:

If you kept them together until his neuter, were you hoping to reintroduce him on his return? This is what I would be worried about most. I have never known a 12 week old doe to become pregnant so imo there is nothing to worry about in this respect. Your problem might be when he comes back home - you would have to keep a very careful eye on the biggest rabbit in case she attacks him. Also he should rest for a few days post neuter, no jumping or running mad - would you be able to ensure he can do this? Would you be able to restrict their space to enable him to be quiet for a few days? I think if you split them up now you might have a problem when you reintroduce them, especially as you have 2 females.

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I separated them prior to reading this and it broke my heart separating them . They were all confused especially my little boy.

Isn't it a bit young to neuter? I'd be more worried about what is in effect a baby bun having a GA.

My rabbit specialist vet wouldn't actually give a GA that young. He thinks 20 weeks is more appropriate when they are stronger and can cope better.

I've never neutered boys before 5 months, and girls before 6 months.

Personally I would feel the girls are too young to become pregnant - and if he has not even tried humping yet then he is not yet getting the hormonal urge.

After he is castrated because he is so very young it would be very unlikely that he would retain the capability of impregnation. And the girls are still so young that they are less likely to get pregnant anyway.

In your situation I would let them stay together.

He is young for castration - but not younger than I have had done.

I would worry more that the separation now will cause real upset and possibly therefore make him less strong to go through the GA - the support of the other when he gets back would also very greatly help his recovery.

Can you re-introduce now whilst they still recall each other easily?

IMO the very very small chance of a pregnancy (very very small) is outweighed by the danger of upsetting him just before his GA - he may go off his food and his immune system will certainly be low.

Excellent advice so far. I hope you manage to reintroduce them sucessfully. If not it may still be possible to do so at a later date. Very best of luck.