Bunny going in to be spayed! Nervous!

[ChesnutKC]

My year old, female bun is going in to be fixed next week and I’m nervous for her! I’ve never had a rabbit fixed before (seeing as she is my first rabbit) so I don’t know what to expect? How long will the pain last for her? Should I give her any specific treatment? Should I keep her away from her “big sister” bunny or would that affect their bond?

I’m sure the vet will fill me in on a lot of this stuff when I go in next week but any advice on how to care for her and what to expect from her would be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks in advance!

[Bam]

We are all nervous when our bunnies are about to have procedures done, it is always scary. Still it’s the most important thing we can do for a girl rabbit in order to keep her healthy long term. (I’m sure you know this, though, but it’s a good thing to keep in mind: As scary as this is, it’s in her very best interest).

You should make sure you get a painkiller to give her for at least a week, it’s very important to relieve pain in a newly spayed rabbit, there is scientific evidence of that.

If your bunnies are bonded you shouldn’t separate them completely, they should absolutely be near each other, but direct physical contact may not be good the first 24 hours or so. That really depends on how they interact. Sometimes a bunny reacts to the strange scent of their bunny partner when it’s been to the vet, so it’s actually recommended that you take both buns with you to the vet – although the other bun will of course not be present during the surgical procedure. Bunnies heal way better in the presence of a friend.

You should feed her right up til you are going in, rabbits can’t vomit so they don’t have to fast before surgery, and their tummies should always have food in them in order to work properly. Get som Critical Care (or equivalent) and a syringe for feeding to keep on hand at home in case she refuses to eat when she comes home. And keep a variety of food that she likes on hand too – anything she wants to eat after her surgery is good, even if it’s fruit. It’s also important to keep her warm, bunnies that have been put under are prone to hypothermia. A hot water bottle wrapped in a blankie is often appreciated, but she must have enough space so she can move away from it if it gets too warm for her liking.

I wish you and her the best! I hope others will chime in here and offer additional advice!

[Sgt.Pepper and Jojo]

It was so nerve-wracking when I got my girl spayed  but, like bam said, knowing (and reminding myself) that it’s 100% in her best interest, helped.

For me, it helped that I first did some research and asked for advice, then I brought up my concerns with the vet prior to the surgery, and made sure that I could get metacam to manage her pain afterward. That went a long way to making me feel better about the whole thing. They also made the suggestion to use 100% apple juice to mix up the critical care, in order to make it more enticing to eat. That worked beautifully, and got her to take it with no problem (she was refusing to eat any of her favorite foods).

After the first night, I was worried that she wasn’t eating/pooping properly, so I called the vet in the morning and ended up bringing her there to be monitored during the day while I was at work. That ended up being kind of unnecessary, but did wonders for my peace of mind while I was at work. After that I felt a lot better, and she started eating/drinking more on her own, and had a smooth recovery.

Stay strong, the stress and worry will be worth it! My number 1 advice is to not be afraid to ask the vet lots of questions, and/or call them with any concerns afterward. 

I hope your bun has a quick&easy recovery!

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