Neutering or sterilization is an increasingly widespread practice in companion animals, including rabbits. The benefits it brings not only have to do with the resolution of behavioral problems, but also with the prevention of many diseases that can reduce the quality and life expectancy of these animals.
What does it consist of neutering or spaying a rabbit?
Castration consists of the removal or rendering useless of the sexual organs:
- Removal is performed by surgical castration, in which the reproductive organs of rabbits are removed.
- Disabling does not imply the withdrawal of the sexual organs, only their inhibition. In male rabbits, the alternative to surgical castration is “ immunocastration”, which consists of applying an anti-GnRH vaccine that inhibits the functionality of the testicles.
Generally, when we talk about castration we usually refer to surgical castration. As you can imagine, the surgical technique is different in males and females, due to their obvious anatomical differences.
Castration in male rabbits
The surgical technique is known as orchiectomy. It consists of the extraction of the testicles and the ligation of the blood vessels and spermatic cords that were attached to the testicles.
Castration in rabbits
In females, there are two possible techniques:
- Ovariohysterectomy: consists of removing both the ovaries and the uterus. It is by far the most common technique.
- Ovariectomy: consists of removing only the ovaries. Its effectiveness in preventing diseases is similar to that of thevariohysterectomy, given that most pathologies appear as a consequence of ovarian hormones.
When to neuter a rabbit?
Rabbits must be castrated when they reach sexual maturity, that is, when their degree of sexual development allows reproduction may be possible. This happens when they reach about 80% of their adult weight.
Castration of animals that have not reached sexual maturity is not recommended, as the surgery could be more complicated due to the size and position of the reproductive organs. In addition, early castration does not entail any additional he alth advantage for these animals.
When to neuter or spay a male rabbit?
In the case of males, sexual maturity is reached at 3-5 months, with the breeds of small size than large ones. From this moment on, the orchiectomy can be performed.
As a note, it is important to note that males remain fertile for 4 weeks after castration, because they continue to have sperm viable in your reproductive system. This fact must be taken into account to avoid unwanted pregnancies.
When to neuter or spay a rabbit?
Females are somewhat later than males. They reach sexual maturity around 4-6 months, with small breeds also being earlier than large ones. From this moment, the females can be sterilized by means of anvariohysterectomy or an ovariectomy.
How much does it cost to neuter a rabbit?
If you want to know the price of sterilizing a rabbit, it is best to check with your trusted exotics clinic. Prices may vary depending on the technique used and the individual requirements of your rabbit.
Some clinics carry out annual sterilization campaigns, in which it is possible to spay or neuter rabbits at a lower price than usual.
Benefits of neutering a rabbit
Rabbit keepers often wonder if they should neuter their rabbits. In most cases, the answer is almost certainly yes, since sterilization increases the life expectancy of rabbits and makes living with them easier and more enjoyable. Therefore, this procedure is part of responsible rabbit ownership.
Specifically, the advantages offered by castration of rabbits are:
- Disease prevention: in the case of males, castration prevents the appearance of orchitis (inflammatory process of the testicles), epididymitis (inflammatory process of the epididymis) and testicular neoplasms. For its part, in females, castration prevents important pathologies such as uterine adenocarcinoma, endometrial hyperplasia and polyps, pyometra, hydrometra, mucometra, endometritis and pseudopregnancy, among others. Important mention must be made of uterine adenocarcinoma, since it is the most frequent tumor in rabbits. Specifically, 90% of non-neutered female rabbits older than 5 years develop this tumor. For this reason, we can say that castration is something "mandatory" in rabbits.
- Resolving behavioral problems: both territorial marking and aggressiveness. Urine marking problems usually appear with the arrival of puberty in both sexes, especially in males. Neutering helps eliminate this behavior, or at least reduces it considerably. On the other hand, aggressiveness (especially the territorial aggressiveness of females during the mating season) also improves considerably with castration. If you wonder why your rabbit urinates on you and you suspect that it may be due to marking, in this post we talk about this behavior.
- Prevention of unwanted litters: unfortunately, it is common knowledge that animal shelters are full of animals waiting for adoption, many of them they are the result of irresponsible breeding. The awareness of society about the importance of sterilization is crucial to achieve a zero abandonment level.
Care after neutering a rabbit
Rabbits are quite stoic animals that hardly show any symptoms of pain or discomfort. Therefore, postoperative care is particularly important in this species. Adequate vigilance and care during this period will be essential to guarantee a good recovery.
Below, we detail the most relevant postoperative care so you know what to do after sterilizing a rabbit:
- Upon arrival at home, keep them separate from other animals (dogs, cats, etc.), as they could be a stressor. If you have multiple rabbits, they don't need to be kept separate, unless they tend to mount or play roughly. In the specific case of males, remember to keep them separated from females for 4 weeks to avoid unwanted pregnancies.
- The environment should be as calm as possible. The animal must be prevented from jumping or making sudden movements that could cause the dehiscence of the wound.
- Stay them in a warm, draught-free environment. It is preferable to place a towel or pad on the floor of the animal's enclosure to provide warmth and prevent hay or substrate from irritating or infecting the wound.
- If the animal is kept in a clean place, it is not necessary to treat the wound However, it is advisable to check the incision daily to make sure it is healing properly and there are no signs of infection or inflammation (itching, redness, discharge, etc.).
- It is essential to provide food and water Unlike other animals, rabbits should NOT be fasted prior to surgery. In addition, in the postoperative period, they should start eating and drinking as soon as possible in order to minimize the incidence of digestive disturbances. In the event that the animal does not start eating within a few hours of surgery, it is essential to notify the veterinary professional who treated it, since it will probably require fluid therapy and hand feeding with porridge.
- You have to minimize manipulation. During recovery, it is important not to overwhelm the rabbits; petting and other forms of attention should be given whenever they have a positive result in animals.
- It is necessary to comply with the prescribed medication. After surgery, it is important to administer the drugs prescribed by the veterinarian (analgesics, antibiotics, prokinetics, etc.).
- You must Comply with veterinary check-ups. If everything progresses favourably, a first check-up is usually carried out after 48 hours and another after 7-10 days. However, in the event of any anomaly, no matter how small it may seem, it is important to see a doctor as soon as possible. As we have said, rabbits are very stoic animals, so any sign should alert us.
