Neutering and fasting

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 14sd replies, 10 voices, and was last updated 10 years, 10 months ago by jerseygirl.

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- 06/05/2013 at 2:52 PM
  Urfcerin
  Participant
  28 posts
  Beckham goes in tomorrow at 8:30 for a neuter. The exotics vet came recommended by others but I’m concerned because he told me to remove Beckham’s food at 6 am. Is this still considered fasting? Everything I’ve read on here says to run from vets who have rabbits fast before a neuter.
- 06/05/2013 at 3:01 PM
  Sarita
  Participant
  18851 posts
  I would not, here is a good article and explanation on why you don’t at all:
  
  http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/opcare.html
  
  Also take along some hay and fresh greens for the staff to give immediately after the surgery.
- 06/05/2013 at 3:17 PM
  tobyluv
  Participant
  3310 posts
  Did the vet personally tell you to remove Beckham’s food, or was it an office worker at the veterinary clinic? Sometimes the vet’s office staff will automatically tell someone to fast their animal before surgery since they are so used to dealing with dogs and cats, but I don’t know why a rabbit savvy vet would say that. If it was the vet, could you call and see if you can speak with him today, and ask why he said that? You said that he is an exotics vet and was recommended by others, Is this the first time you are seeing him? Or have you seen him before and were you comfortable with his knowledge and treatment of rabbits?
  
  I hope that the surgery goes very well for Beckham and that he recuperates very quickly. A neuter is usually a pretty easy surgery, that rabbits bounce back from in a short time.
- 06/05/2013 at 7:28 PM
  Roberta
  Participant
  4355 posts
  Definitely do not fast. All the vets I know say to bring them in with food so it is on hand immediately before and after.
- 06/05/2013 at 7:34 PM
  Stickerbunny
  Participant
  4128 posts
  Eeps, no do not fast. That is dangerous for bunnies and they can’t vomit, so it isn’t needed. Did the vet himself say it? Could you call and talk to the vet? I would be concerned about any vet that said to fast a bunny before surgery.
- 06/05/2013 at 8:29 PM
  Kokaneeandkahlua
  Participant
  12067 posts
  That’s only two hours….I really can’t see harm in that.
  
  You definitely shouldn’t ‘fast’ a rabbit prior to surgery. When dogs and cats go in, it’s a 12 hour fast. Two hours ahead is nothing that would concern me. I’ve also read that too much food in the gut can cause some pressure on the lungs during surgery. It seems that removing food just prior to surgery would not only not cause harm as it’s not truly a fast, but maybe avoid this; perhaps your vet is quite savvy. Send him with lots of food for after (veggies, hay) and make sure they intend to put food out for him as soon as he’s awake.
- 06/05/2013 at 8:53 PM
  LBJ10
  Moderator
  16908 posts
  I’m thinking what KK is thinking. That’s only 2 hours.
- 06/05/2013 at 10:43 PM
  jerseygirl
  Moderator
  22345 posts
  It could be that drop off time is 8:30 but surgery not performed until later. So it might go more then 2 hrs without food.
  I definitely agree to ring and clarify.
- 06/06/2013 at 1:19 AM
  Sarita
  Participant
  18851 posts
  I agree with Jersey – that is a drop off time and not a surgery time. All vet’s office want you to drop off early and they generally do surgeries in the afternoon. So it’s more than 2 hours.
- 06/06/2013 at 2:14 AM
  Bam
  Moderator
  16877 posts
  I agree with Jersey and Sarita. Both my buns were dropped off at 8.30 and picked up around 4 pm. And they were supposed to have hay in their carriers and pellets and treats for the staff to give after surgery. You need to call them and ask.
- 06/06/2013 at 6:18 AM
  LittlePuffyTail
  Moderator
  18092 posts
  If a vet recommends to fast your bunny, I see this as that vet is not very experienced with bunnies as this is common knowledge.
  
  However, like someone mentioned, if it was the vet staff and not the vet, they may just have been telling you what the standard is for dogs and cats. I’ve had a vet staff tell me to fast my bunny before and I informed them you never fast a bunny and they were very grateful I told them as the vet had not.
- 06/06/2013 at 9:02 AM
  Urfcerin
  Participant
  28 posts
  Thank you for your feedback! They closed early yesterday so I wasn’t able to call and clarify. I lifted his food at 7 am this morning and we had our consultation appointment at 8:30. I left at 8:45 and they called at 9:30 to say he was done and ready to come home at 1. Everything went well – whew!! While he is at the vet I cleaned his pen from top to bottom and put down a fresh piece of linoleum flooring for his majesty
- 06/06/2013 at 3:29 PM
  tobyluv
  Participant
  3310 posts
  I’m glad that the surgery went well!
- 06/06/2013 at 4:48 PM
  LittlePuffyTail
  Moderator
  18092 posts
  Glad things went well.
- 06/07/2013 at 2:05 AM
  jerseygirl
  Moderator
  22345 posts
  Good to hear!
  They certainly did get to his surgery right off. I was thinking it could be at least midday. This is good example if how things vary place to place!
  If you get an opportunity, could you still ask about the reasoning behind the short term fasting?
  If its like what K&K has read about, it would be interesting to know.
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