Attitude since Spaying

[AUDIEDOG]

 Chica got spayed 3/13/09. Pulled out all her stitches by 3/15. Got restitched on 3/16 and had one of the stitches pulled out by 3/17 am. We patched her back up and wrapped a bandana around her. 3/24 noticed she had rolled the bandana down and pulling stitches out again. Ok, I guess since she is supposed to go 3/26 to get them removed. But…….she just doesn’t have the same spirit and this morning she bit my roommate! Is this hormones? Is she just tired of being messed with? HELP!!! I miss my old bunny now.

[Beka27]

Welcome here! It is likely a combination of things. She’s still not back to her normal self, the poking and prodding is not helping her feel secure, and the hormones can still be present a month or two after the spay. Depending on how old she is, she may still be in adolescence (up to one year old) and her behavior may not be what you want it to be during that time, spay or no spay.

This is an article from HRS regarding Age-related Behavior: http://www.rabbit.org/journal/3-3/age-related-behavior.html

She certainly sounds like a feisty thing! Many females post-spay are barely responsive for 48 hours. Did the vet send you home with pain meds for afterwards? Oftentimes, if they are in pain, their response is to pull out the stitches, since they think stitches are the source of pain.

[AUDIEDOG]

She is only 9 mo. and the vet said no to the pain meds. Said a little pain was good so she wouldn’t want to jump around. She is very feisty. Was up and eating the very next day. Thanks for the link, gonna go check it out now!

[Beka27]

Yes some vets use that reasoning. It’s a delicate balance between no pain at all, and the bun doesn’t take it easy, and too much pain and they’re trying to rip their insides out. We usually recommend that members refuse to leave without pain meds. Another thing that can happen is that they are in so much pain that they refuse to eat. Of course, this is all hindsight now. I’m glad you didn’t have too many problem post-op.

[bunnytowne]

Awe poor girl.  She really hates those stitches.  After about 2 weeks she should be ok. The poking and prodding will be stopped by then hopefully.  The stage she is in well…. that should pass in a few months she is 9 months so yeah a couple more months and even more so at 1 1/2 years old.

[MooBunnay]

To me it sounds like she is probably just tired of the stitches and the harassment I wouldn’t really judge her personality from the way that she is acting now, if a bunny doesn’t feel good from stitches, or is feeling uncomfortable from having to go to the vet a bunch of times, they will definitely act abnormal. Once she has her stitches out and an opportunity to heal, I think that her attitude will improve a lot. Try to spend a lot of quiet time with her comforting her while she is in a place where she feels safe and secure. Also a treat here and there might help!

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