Nervous About Spay

[RetroJester]

My Nellie has gotten to the age now where she has become territorial, and is dropping pellets all around my room, which she has never done before. She has an appointment to be spayed this weekend, but now it has worked out where I am going to have to be out of town. This isn’t a problem, per say, because Nellie loves my mom, and that’s who she’ll be staying with. I am just so nervous that something is going to happen to her because of the spay. What can I tell my mom about caring for her after the spay? My mom has taken the days off from work so she can stay with Nellie and keep an eye on her. Any help and advice on how to take care of her after her vet appointment would be REALLY appreciated! 

[Roberta]

Know exactly how you are feeling… I was a basket case when my first girl was done and I still have several to go… Best advice is once you get her home and settled give her peace and quiet and resist the temptation to hover and fuss…. Give her a lovely quiet comfy spot on ground level with a dish of wet greens and some hay and lots of water. Have a syringe handy for giving water if she is not taking any within a few hours and some critical care and treats to encourage eating or aid with eating if she has not shown any interest by the next morning… Remember to ask about pain meds (my vet always uses a 3 day slow release for pain, anti inflammatories and antibiotics…)

[DebbieP]

Well, ours went in for a neuter and ended up with a spay. haha.

She’ll be fine. Just keep her in her cage when she is home so she doesn’t try to run around. Mine stayed in her house in her cage for a good week. She was stressed and tired!

[Deleted User]

Yes, this is an awful feeling. As long as your vet has rabbit experience your little one should be fine. I know that doesn’t help the pain. Mine were just 4 months old when I had them all altered, and I was so incredibly worried. Everyone is happy and healthy today, though. I am sure yours will be as well. My vet did not send me home with pain meds, and my rabbits did not require any special care when they came home, except I did not give them free time outside their rabbit house, really, for fear of breaking a stitch. I also did not handle them at all for about a week or two. Sending you and your bunny positive energy for your upcoming ordeal

[LongEaredLions]

It is so nervewracking, I know. After her spay, keep her warm and comfortable, don’t fuss, let her sleep, but do make sure she is eating as Roberta says. (((((Good spay vibes)))))

[RetroJester]

The main thing I’m worried about is where she’ll stay. Her cage is on the smaller side (because she’s usually just free roam) and her house is the cage is on an upper level, which I know she couldn’t jump to and from. The room where she usually sleeps when she’s free roam has a bed in it that she likes to jump onto, so I’m nervous about that as well.

[bunnywhipped]

Completely know how you feel. I was almost sick from worrying about what was going to happen, when my Summer got spayed.
The best time to get them fixed is 6 months to 1 year. But because I was so nervous, I put it off until she was 3. Stupid idea
I applaud you for getting it scheduled and not putting it off
First, definitely make sure you come home with pain medication for her. If they don’t have pain medication, it will take longer for them to eat. You want them to eat and poop as soon as possible. Although, there’s no need to worry unless she goes over 24 hours.
Try not to fuss over her, though I know how hard that will be. And keep her warm, even if it is warm outside. When I let Summer out of her carrier, she ran and sat in her litter pan (which I made sure was clean prier.) It was in the summer time, but her ears were cold to the touch, and in need of warmth. Then, almost exactly 24 hours after surgery, she suddenly woke up and acted normal.
As for the not jumping and such, my vet had told me to keep her in her cage for 7 days. I have to admit, I didn’t follow that.
I let her move around the house freely like normal. I mean, they know what hurts and what doesn’t, right? What I DID do was block off the upper level of her condo with cardboard, so she couldn’t jump up there and pull her stitches.
Was she mad? heck yes. But it was for her own good. haha.

Maybe buy some stepping stairs to put next to the bed/the cage, so she can walk up them instead of jumping? or if you think she’ll ignore those, for the bed, just block the side off with an x-pen, or a homemade one with NIC cubes and zip ties

As long as you have a good rabbit savvy vet doing the procedure, she should be fine!

[RetroJester]

Thank you guys so much for the advice. I’m feeling a bit better now about the ordeal, but of course I’m still nervous! I know everything will be fine

[LittlePuffyTail]

Just want to wish Nellie an (((easy procedure and quick recovery))))!

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