Saar's tumour (was Getting Saar spayed?)

[a reader of books]

I was just wondering if people had any thoughts on this. Saar is 9, but not spayed. My only experience with having a bunny spayed was when Sophie was about 6 months old, so a long time ago, and she was much younger. They told me at the rescue Saar couldn't be spayed because she was too old, but I've brought it up during one of Casper's laser therapy appointments, and they pointed out that while it would not be risk-free (it never is, of course), if I don't get her spayed and she gets ill with uterine issues later and needs an emergency spay, it'd be far riskier, which does make sense. I do fully trust my vets, and I'd request blood tests beforehand to check for any unknown issues, so I'm very much leaning towards getting her spayed, but I wondered if there are maybe any issues I'm overlooking?

That reminds me, do unspayed girl bunnies typically have smellier pee than spayed girls? Or is it just a Saar thing?

 

[bunny momma]

I was thinking the same thing about smellier pee because my new girl who needs to be spayed has smelly pee.
As far as getting her spayed, I do not know if her behavior would change at her age, though it may. If she already has a tumor I wonder if it can be resulting in more hormones being produced? I had a ten year old female spayed on emergency due to a huge uterine tumor that went unnoticed until she passed blood during an emergency appointment. She recovered well and that was a longer, more invasive surgery than a standard spay.
Sorry she bit you. Years ago I had a little unspayed dwarf called Teenie Weenie-she looked like Pip. I had to pry her teeth off my finger, so I know how much it hurts. After that I sometimes called her meanie teenie weenie.. My finger is not a treat stick.

 

[a reader of books]

Meanie teenie weenie That's hilarious. Not that she thought your finger was a treat stick and you had to pry her teeth off, though, ouch!

Aah, so your new, unspayed girl has smelly pee, too! That might really be the reason, then. That's so good to hear that your 10-year old girl recovered well from her emergency spay, especially when she had such a huge tumour, poor girl. I'm thinking I'd rather have her spayed now so she won't possibly need an emergency spay in the future, since, as you said, that would be longer and more invasive if there's already an issue there. She doesn't have any behavioural issues aside from accidental finger-eating, so I really would just have her spayed to prevent uterine cancer.

 

[bunny momma]

Meanie teenie weenie That's hilarious. Not that she thought your finger was a treat stick and you had to pry her teeth off, though, ouch!

She was my spouse's bunny and she would sometimes stomp when he kissed me. She was the alpha. I was just the cleaner.

 

[a reader of books]

Oh, gosh, that's so funny. She sounds like she had a huge character in a tiny body That reminds me of how our doggie would get jealous when my parents hugged and would jump in between them trying to pry them apart.

 

[joey&boo]

Saar seems like a healthy bun & your vets are amazing - so if her bloods are good I'd go ahead with the spay. I'm not saying it would be an easy decision but on balance, its the one I would make....& you already know she is receptive to honey drug & syringe feeds from her trying to steal Casper's

 

[William]

If I had confidence in the vet performing the operation, I think I would.

She's been lucky so far but the risk of uterine cancer is so high, it seems likely she could still develop it.

Tough decision of course though. I think part of my decision would be based on her personality - some animals are much less stressy and don't mind being handled, and therefore are less likely to have complications from any kind of vet visits/aftercare from surgery.

 

[keletkezes]

I'd do it, well, go for the checks and do it if there are no big risks. She's settled well, seems pretty well in herself, and likes food, so you've got a really good chance it'll be plain sailing

Good luck with it all

 

[joey&boo]

Gotta say if I was an older bunny who got to choose where I was going to recuperate I'd choose your place. With you & your vets she is in very safe hands

 

[a reader of books]

Ah, thank you so much for sharing your thoughts, j&b, William, and keletkezes. I really appreciate it She's not a stressy bun, but she does very much mind being handled. With her being so food motivated, though, I hope I can keep the handling to a minimum with the help of some food... It's how I clip her nails, too; I put a bowl of food down and she's distracted enough that she'll let me do my thing. That would only work if she doesn't stop eating after surgery, though, of course... But I hope that her food obsession will help there.

I think what I'll do is schedule an appointment for her on the same day as Casper has his laser therapy and get them to check her over and do some bloods and make sure she's healthy as can be, and if that's all fine, I'll go ahead and get her spayed. Thank you all again, it's really helped me think about this.

Gotta say if I was an older bunny who got to choose where I was going to recuperate I'd choose your place. With you & your vets she is in very safe hands

Aww, that's so kind of you to say. I do trust my vets to make everything as safe as they can.

 

[joey&boo]

Ah, thank you so much for sharing your thoughts, j&b, William, and keletkezes. I really appreciate it She's not a stressy bun, but she does very much mind being handled. With her being so food motivated, though, I hope I can keep the handling to a minimum with the help of some food... It's how I clip her nails, too; I put a bowl of food down and she's distracted enough that she'll let me do my thing. That would only work if she doesn't stop eating after surgery, though, of course... But I hope that her food obsession will help there.

I think what I'll do is schedule an appointment for her on the same day as Casper has his laser therapy and get them to check her over and do some bloods and make sure she's healthy as can be, and if that's all fine, I'll go ahead and get her spayed. Thank you all again, it's really helped me think about this.


Aww, that's so kind of you to say. I do trust my vets to make everything as safe as they can.

Sounds a good plan, just hope she hangs on to her appetite

 

[a reader of books]

Saar had her checkup yesterday and spaying is off the table for now...

She's felt skinny to me ever since I brought her home, and she'd lost weight at the rescue, though this could be explained by her only eating hay there because she didn't like the pellets and they had found she couldn't tolerate greens (both things seem very puzzling now that I know her). She drinks (and pees) a lot more, too, than I'm used to from Sophie and Casper, so with her being thin, I was concerned. One of the vets looked at her last month, though, and said she was in good shape, so I thought I might've been worrying too much, especially since this vet specialises in rabbits and would know better than I do. Maybe she just seemed to drink a lot to me because Casper and Sophie, with their greens and soggy pellet diet, barely drank/drink any water?

She's lost a bit more weight since then, though, so I told the vet yesterday that despite the other vet's words, I'm still worried, and told him about the drinking and peeing and how much she eats but doesn't gain weight, and he agreed that she's thin and found it all worrying, too. He spent a long while feeling around her tummy and felt something, but he wasn't sure what, and couldn't see anything on the x-ray he took. He asked another vet to look at the x-ray, but she didn't see anything, either. She did feel the same thing in Saar's tummy that he did, though, so they don't trust it. So, Saar's having an ultrasound next week (they couldn't schedule her in sooner), and they'll get some bloods, too. He said that what they're feeling might be nothing, but that with her symptoms it could also be something bad, and that her symptoms alone are already concerning. So, I'm very worried about my girl

 

[Shimmer]

Did they check her teeth? There could be a small spur that's making it difficult for her to eat.
I would also get bloods done, and consider a course of Panacur for EC.

 

[Pets mum]

Really sorry to hear this Reader, but she's very lucky that both you, and the vets are on the ball. Sending lots of vibes for your lovely girl, that the tests show nothing untoward x

 

[a reader of books]

Did they check her teeth? There could be a small spur that's making it difficult for her to eat.
I would also get bloods done, and consider a course of Panacur for EC.

Ah, no, we forgot about her teeth, but she stuffs her face with everything she can get her little paws on, so she doesn't seem to have any difficulty eating. I'll ask the vet about Panacur; thank you for the idea. I wish now that I'd had them do the bloods yesterday so we'd have some answers more quickly, but I had expected we could do the ultrasound this week so it seemed more practical to do it at the same time.

Really sorry to hear this Reader, but she's very lucky that both you, and the vets are on the ball. Sending lots of vibes for your lovely girl, that the tests show nothing untoward x

Thank you so much, PM.

 

[joey&boo]

So many vibes for your lovely girl. I like Shimmers idea of getting her on a course of panacur. My Mouseypie got EC really badly when she had a failed adoption (after a year) & was returned to rescue, it must be so stressful for them when they are used to a decent rabbity life. When Boo (was thought to have active EC my vet wouldn't do her dental until she'd had 10 days (I think) on panacur. It might be worth sounding your vets out on the subject asap in case they agree it'd be worth starting her on it. i know vets are very divided about EC & treatment though. I will have everything crossed that its something treatable. She always looks so bright & happy

 

[a reader of books]

Yeah, it does sound like a good idea. I've just sent the vets a message asking about it. Thank you for having everything crossed for her

 

[joey&boo]

Yeah, it does sound like a good idea. I've just sent the vets a message asking about it. Thank you for having everything crossed for her

Cool, its worth an ask. If they do say yes remember little Casper will need some too

 

[bunny momma]

Sending lots of positive vibes for you and your bunnies. Hoping it is nothing concerning.

 

[Cinnabun14]

Aw, I'm sorry Saar isn't doing greatI hope she gets better soon and the vet figures out what's wrong.