FORUM

What are we about?  Please read about our Forum Culture and check out the Rules

BUNNY 911 – If your rabbit hasn’t eaten or pooped in 12-24 hours, call a vet immediately!  Don’t have a vet? Check out VET RESOURCES 

The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet.  It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

FORUM HOUSE RABBIT Q & A A few questions… (Please Read!)

Viewing 5 reply threads
  • Author
    Messages

    • Oliver The Bunny!
      Participant
      52 posts Send Private Message

        I have a few questions regarding my 1.5-year-old opal Netherland dwarf rabbit… 1.) Is it necessary to get him neutered? I know that he’s still young enough to do it, but I didn’t hear anything saying he needed it until recently. I’m a little worried about the stress and risk of surgery. I don’t want him to go through that if it isn’t necessary. My sister had another rabbit that lived to be 11 and was never neutered. He is pretty well potty trained and is only a bit aggressive to our cats. He circles me but doesn’t have any other bad behaviors. 2.) Should he be bonded with another rabbit? I can get another rabbit if it’s what’s best for him. Obviously, I would get him neutered first. I don’t want to deprive him of what he needs. I make sure he gets at least an hour (sometimes a few) out of his hutch each day for binkies and naps (he lives inside). He’s pretty social and I make sure he gets cuddle time as well. 3.) Do you have any enrichment suggestions? He was just bought a toddler play tent, with a tunnel, and ball pit (he’s spoiled :), and he has a ton of baby toys and, Easter eggs with treats in them. He also has a cat scratcher, a bundle of sticks, and a few old chew toys. I rotate out beds and hidey houses as well. He is in a hutch inside our house at night, and while I’m gone, that is about 8 square feet. (I attend school virtually so he’s normally out for that.

        Thank you for any advice you share!

        -Oliver (Ollie), the bunny!


      • Bam
        Moderator
        17028 posts Send Private Message

          It sounds like your bun has a great life!

          Male buns are primarily neutered for two reasons: a) if they are to be bonded to another bun b) if they display very (for the human)  impractical sexually driven behaviors, such as incessant spraying and mounting.

          Older intact male rabbits can get testicular cancer. It’s still rare, even though it is more common nowadays. The reason for the increase in incidence is that rabbit care has improved, so rabbits live longer lives. Testicular cancer in rabbits practically only occur in aged individuals (contrary to human testicular cancer).

          That said, a boy neuter is a very straight-forward affair. It’s minimaly invasive and the bun is put under for a very short time.

          I dont think your bun would be less aggressive towards your cats if he was to be neutered. Rabbits are quite adamant when it comes to expressing disapproval and approval, and neutering doesn’t change that. You could say buns are natural bullies. Since buns crazy adorable, us hooms tend to accept our status as slaves.

          😃🥰

           


        • Oliver The Bunny!
          Participant
          52 posts Send Private Message

            Thanks for the advice! I’m not too worried about the aggression towards the cats. (They are only temporarily in my room) I just want to do what’s best for him and will make him the happiest!


          • DanaNM
            Moderator
            9064 posts Send Private Message

              It sounds like he has a nice life. 🙂 Although, only 1 hour out of his hutch each day is ideal. I would try to give at least 2 hours (1 morning and evening), and preferably at least 4 total. I might have misread your post though!

              As Bam said, neutering in males is mostly done for behavioral reasons and to allow bonding. Whether or not to bond is in some ways a personal decision, although some rabbit welfare groups (especially in Europe) are really advocating for keeping rabbits in pairs these days. I think if you spend a lot of time with your bun, he could be just fine.

              I personally love having bonded bunnies. It is as much a source of joy for me as it is for them. I love watching them cuddle and groom each other, and it makes me happy to know they always have a companion with them. As much time as I spend with them, they would still be alone when I’m sleeping or busy (which is often when I catch them cuddling up and grooming each other).

              Bonding can be a bit of a process though, and there is always a time while you are working on the bonding process and have to have two separate bunny enclosures (usually an x-pen is a great temporary set-up).

              There isn’t a need to rush into anything though. I had my first house rabbit Bunston as a solo bun for the first couple years I had him, then eventually bonded him. So you have time to think about things. 🙂 An experienced vet will have no trouble neutering him, even years into the future.

              If you do decide to bond him, the simplest thing is to get him neutered first, then look into adopting an already spayed female or neutered male from a rescue. Male-female pairs are a bit more common and tend to be a bit easier, but male-male pairs can work too.

              . . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  


              • Oliver The Bunny!
                Participant
                52 posts Send Private Message

                  I try to get him out as much as I can. Today he was out for around 5 hours but it really depends on the day. Sometimes if I’m not in my room a lot he tends to get out less. An hour is more of a minimum. I hope to eventually free roam him full time but right now he doesn’t know boundaries and I can’t risk him peeing on carpet because we’re moving to a farm in a few weeks and we have to have the house nice for showings! I try to give him all the enrichment I can (I’m buying more toys soon!) and brush him and cuddle him as much as I can. I just want to make sure he’s not stressed from being an only bunny. He’s a very relaxed bunny and purrs all the time so I think he’s content for now?


                • DanaNM
                  Moderator
                  9064 posts Send Private Message

                    That makes sense! But I have to say that neutering will also help with peeing on the carpet! If you wait too long it can be harder to break the habit, so that’s another thing to consider.

                    . . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  


                • LBJ10
                  Moderator
                  17224 posts Send Private Message

                    Ditto what the others said.

                    RE: Enrichment – Hard plastic baby keys and stacking cups are very popular. You can also try puzzle toys. Even ones intended for dogs can work as long as a bunny is physically capable of doing the puzzle (e.g. flip something with their nose or pull a drawer out with their mouth). Treat balls for cats are good too, just make sure you can make the opening small enough so only a few pellets fall out at a time.


                    • Oliver The Bunny!
                      Participant
                      52 posts Send Private Message

                        He already has baby stacking cups, baby keys, and a cat treat dispenser! I’m going to keep him a teach-and-treat board soon!


                      • LBJ10
                        Moderator
                        17224 posts Send Private Message

                          I found the Teach N Treat to be too easy. I have had better luck with ones designed for dogs.


                        • Oliver The Bunny!
                          Participant
                          52 posts Send Private Message

                            Thanks for the tip! I will look into dogs ones and order some soon!


                          • LBJ10
                            Moderator
                            17224 posts Send Private Message

                              Yep, just make sure the puzzle can be opened with maneuvers that a bunny can physically do. I had a dog puzzle toy that had a drawer that could be pulled out, a flap that could be nosed upward to open, etc.


                          • DanaNM
                            Moderator
                            9064 posts Send Private Message

                              All of that sounds good to me! Another thing to consider when you move is to have him in a more high-traffic area of the home if possible, so that there is always someone around, even if not interacting with him directly.

                              You can also try giving him a “stuffy” to cuddle with. Some solo buns do like snuggling up to one.

                              . . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  


                              • Oliver The Bunny!
                                Participant
                                52 posts Send Private Message

                                  I do school from home so I’m almost always in my room. I also take him to our living room to watch TV. I’m planning on making him a snuggle bed soon! He doesn’t have a huge problem with peeing on the carpet, but I just can’t risk it until we move! I will do anything to make sure he is happy as a solo bun!

                            Viewing 5 reply threads
                            • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.

                            FORUM HOUSE RABBIT Q & A A few questions… (Please Read!)