Checking Spay Incision.

[tanlover14]

My female and male bun buns got spayed/neutered today and the vet told us to make sure we check the incisions daily to make sure there’s nothing abnormal.  My problem is figuring out how to pick them up (in a safe way since none of them liked being picked up and kick excessively) without stressing them out or hurting them so we can have a good look and make sure everything is healing fine. 

 We’ve tried the burrito with them but it doesn’t seem to work to well with them yet, we can never get them in a good position without them kicking themselves away first and the holding between the legs doesn’t work for checking this procedure.  

 

I would really appreciate any help anyone could give with this!

[Sarita]

I would take them to the bathroom (limited space), sit down, and then lift them towards my stomach and look at the incision that way (kind of like cradle them in your lap on the floor) or do the lift catty corner so you can see for yourself (cradling them).

[tanlover14]

I got one bun done — the male! Everything looked fine with his incision and he’s been back and forth, one minute he’s really rambunctious and the next he’s laying down looking like he’s the most exhausted bun in the world but he’s eating and drinking and everything. I finally got the girl to eat some hay and she had a few licks of water. Hoping she keeps up. She’s not being overly active but she’s walking around about once an hour and then will lay back down. She’s our most skittish bun and is surprisingly being the most affectionate! I’m scared to move her right now and bother her because she’s being so good and looks like she’s doing well. And I’m terrified of hurting her and making her go back to being a skittish bun.

[Sarita]

You don’t need to check them right away anyway – give the female a few days – she probably just wants to be left alone. I would just let the female be for tonight and not fuss over her.

[Monkeybun]

i checked the incisions on my buns by holding up a treat and having them stand for it. quick peek, and done

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Ok bear with me while I try to explain what I did. i have a hard time explaining positioning lol so sorry in advance.

I sit on my knees, like one is about to pray. Then I had Kahlua on the ground in between my knees (like shes standing there, and I have my folded legs on either side, sitting on my knees) .
Dave is then laying on the ground in front of my with a flashlight and mirror (so I can see too) and I gently lift her front up (front paws and head) keeping her bum on the ground.

Very easy, minimal manipulation, good view and bunny stays on the ground (mostly) so limited struggle. Worked really well for us, hope you can envision what I mean from my terrible description!

[RabbitPam]

Variation on that: I hold up a treat so she stands up, then hold a hand mirror to reflect her underbelly incision site and look at it that way. If you didn’t get a good look, don’t give the treat until another try. You can also try a bigger mirror and holding her suspended above it to look, but it’s easier if you just let them stand up and not try to grab. If you see redness or swelling or ooze, take a better look by holding her/him.

[tanlover14]

Thanks so much for the advice guys! It all makes sense, so no worries Kokaneeandkahlua! This is so much easier than trying to get them on their backs or in a bunny burrito and they seem to cooperate a ton more without having to be picked up!

I haven’t done the girl yet — I’m going to wait a day or two and let her relax like you said, Sarita. She looks like she’s doing well so far. She’s been up and about and has been eating hay and a few nibbles of veggies. She had a few drops of water last night and she peed quite a bit over the night so I’m not sure if she drank more or not. Still no pellets though. I’m happy to see her doing so well though and even though she’s always been insanely skittish she has been coming up to side of the cage every time I come to check on her. And she even nudged my hand until I pet her one time! She also loves the stuffed animal I gave her right after her surgery and has been dragging it around her cage and laying on it so I think she’s doing good so far. Just watching to make sure she doesn’t go backwards at all in her progress!

[scatterbunny]

Thanks for the great ideas, Scat goes in tomorrow for his neuter and this is one of the things i was dreading.  He does the bunny burrito thing ok if i can catch him when i clip his nails, but he really doesnt like it so i was dreading having to catch him every day but some of you ideas will hopefully make it easier.

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