Does this sound like an intact male to you?

[bunnnnnnie!]

So my new bunny Zeus is a male.  I ASSUMED he was not fixed, because in general his care was not that great before I got him.  He had unlimited food pellets, was bedded on pine shavings, lived in a tiny cage, was fed generic not very good food pellets, lots of things that suggested the owner really didn’t know that much about rabbits.  So I assumed if she didn’t even bother to bed him on the right shavings, she probably didn’t neuter him, either.

But now I’m not so sure!  He’s been living with me for 5 days now, and you’d think with all the new smells and environment he’d be marking stuff like crazy, either with poo or spraying.  He hasn’t marked ANYTHING!  He was litterbox trained in like a day and a half, and now never poops or pees outside the litterbox.  The only time I find poo outside the box is when he kicks it out when he jumps out.  He never poops outside the box.

Also, he doesn’t smell, nor does his litterbox.  And I’ve already cleaned his box a few times, so if there was a smell I was close enough to smell it.

He’s also super-docile and not aggressive or territorial at all, and I haven’t seen him try to hump anything at all.  He’s just not acting like I’d assume an intact male to act!  Maybe he was neutered?  Or maybe he’s just a really laidback intact male?  Anyone have any ideas?

Is there any way for me to check if he’s neutered?  I don’t see the “family jewels” back there, but he’s also quite furry.

[Minty]

How old is he?
This sounds similar to my Sully. I was warned before I brought him home that he sprayed and was messy. But he was the complete opposite in a new place… Probably because there weren’t any other buns to ‘compete’ with. Is it possible to just lift him up and have a good look under there? It should be pretty apparent if he is intact. If you don’t see anything maybe he is really a she. You never know!

[bunnnnnnie!]

Posted By SullysMum on 05/12/2010 08:23 AM
How old is he?
This sounds similar to my Sully. I was warned before I brought him home that he sprayed and was messy. But he was the complete opposite in a new place… Probably because there weren’t any other buns to ‘compete’ with. Is it possible to just lift him up and have a good look under there? It should be pretty apparent if he is intact. If you don’t see anything maybe he is really a she. You never know!

Yeah he was an “only child” at his old home and at the new place.

I’ll have to try and take a look at him, although he probably won’t let me flip him over just yet.  He’s not totally comfortable even being picked up yet, he kicks with his back feet and tries to get away.  Will an intact and neutered male look different just from behind?  Or do you have to flip em over to check?

 Oh and he’s 2 years old.

[Minty]

You usually can’t tell just from looking at them from behind. I was able to lift Sully’s front end up while he was sitting on a table and take a peek. When I did this, I could easily see his testes, but you might have to pull the fur back a bit. You could also have someone else lift him up for you so you can take a better look. I didn’t try to flip him over onto his back though, but if you are confident doing this then it could work as well.

[kralspace]

There is a thread you might find interesting in the Rescue section:

https://binkybunny.com/FORUM/tabid/54/aff/8/aft/108453/afv/topic/afpgj/3/Default.aspx#174075

Markus found out that rabbits keep their family jewels in front of their penis, go to the last few posts on page 3 of the thread.

[Sarita]

Well some rabbits “suck” up their testicles. But in a neutered male you won’t see them either. I guess my best advice is to have a vet check the sex.

Also some rabbits from petstores do come altered. Is there any kind of little dot tattoo in the ear?

[Elrohwen]

My boy was totally fine before being neutered and had no bad habits, so not all males are spraying stink machines.

I would take him to the vet for a check up anyway and ask them to check. They’ll be able to find the testicles if they’re there.

[bunnnnnnie!]

Posted By Elrohwen on 05/12/2010 08:41 AM
My boy was totally fine before being neutered and had no bad habits, so not all males are spraying stink machines.

I would take him to the vet for a check up anyway and ask them to check. They’ll be able to find the testicles if they’re there.

Yes he’ll be going in for a checkup once I rack up a few paychecks (I just got a new job! &#160, and I’ll definitely ask the vet to check for jewels or no jewels.
 

That’s interesting though that your boy was also not a big stinky sprayer either though, I just assumed they all were marking machines until neutered.  Good to know!

[bunnnnnnie!]

Posted By Sarita on 05/12/2010 08:34 AM
Well some rabbits “suck” up their testicles. But in a neutered male you won’t see them either. I guess my best advice is to have a vet check the sex.

Also some rabbits from petstores do come altered. Is there any kind of little dot tattoo in the ear?

I’ll check, he’s a lop so if there is, it’s not in plain sight.

 

[Elrohwen]

Otto also never had a single litter box accident (poo or pee) before or after he was neutered. More often than not, I think the big sprayers are the males in multi-bunny households. When they’re the only bun, there’s not nearly as much need to mark and spray your territory.

[bunnnnnnie!]

Posted By Elrohwen on 05/12/2010 09:07 AM
Otto also never had a single litter box accident (poo or pee) before or after he was neutered. More often than not, I think the big sprayers are the males in multi-bunny households. When they’re the only bun, there’s not nearly as much need to mark and spray your territory.

 

That definitely makes sense.  Zeus’s only “competition” is my dwarf hamster named Snoopy… and somehow I don’t think a dwarf hamster is much threat to big Zeus.

[Karla]

If you can’t turn him around, you can easily slip some fingers between his legs from behind…okay, it will look like you are a pervert, but it does work. If you feel something, he is intact. But as Sarita says, his testicles could be been sucked up, although I don’t think that is common in house rabbits, but only wild rabbits – just a guess.

Some rabbits are just very “clean” although they are not neutered. Also, my experience is that rabbits sometimes wait a bit until they feel fully secure in their new home, before they begin the marking. So he may actually begin in a week’s time.

[bunnnnnnie!]

Posted By Karla on 05/12/2010 09:29 AM
If you can’t turn him around, you can easily slip some fingers between his legs from behind…okay, it will look like you are a pervert, but it does work. If you feel something, he is intact. But as Sarita says, his testicles could be been sucked up, although I don’t think that is common in house rabbits, but only wild rabbits – just a guess.

Some rabbits are just very “clean” although they are not neutered. Also, my experience is that rabbits sometimes wait a bit until they feel fully secure in their new home, before they begin the marking. So he may actually begin in a week’s time.

 

So if I don’t feel anything, he’s neutered?  I might try that, as long as he doesn’t protest.  It’d be easier than scaring him when I try to flip him.

I’ll also wait and see once he’s more settled, if he begins marking or anything.  Although he already seems quite settled, he flops over halfway onto his back with his legs sticking out all directions quite often.

[MarkBun]

It is possible that you have a female on your hands as well. People can easily mistake a girl thingie for a boy thingie so again, have your vet tell you.

[bunnnnnnie!]

Posted By MarkBun on 05/12/2010 10:24 AM
It is possible that you have a female on your hands as well. People can easily mistake a girl thingie for a boy thingie so again, have your vet tell you.

 

I’m ASSUMING he’s a he, because the girl bought him from a breeder, not a pet store, so I’d hope a breeder would know what gender they’re selling.. but who knows.

[Andi]

One of my vet’s tried to tell me my neautered male was a girl … when the ‘boy part’ finally popped out he appolagized to my ‘boy’ bunny for all the prodding LOL

I find that un-neutered males easy to regognize, as the testicles are right there when u flip them over. I’ve never had one hide them from me LOL My boys b4 neutering where very well behaved, i have a neutered male who pees everywhere and sprays, so it doesn’t always change them all (little bugger)

[bunnnnnnie!]

Posted By Andi on 05/12/2010 10:42 AM
One of my vet’s tried to tell me my neautered male was a girl … when the ‘boy part’ finally popped out he appolagized to my ‘boy’ bunny for all the prodding LOL

I find that un-neutered males easy to regognize, as the testicles are right there when u flip them over. I’ve never had one hide them from me LOL My boys b4 neutering where very well behaved, i have a neutered male who pees everywhere and sprays, so it doesn’t always change them all (little bugger)

 

That’s really interesting, I just assumed all intact males = naughty stinky sprayers, and all neutered males = clean calm boys.

[Beka27]

I also had an unneutered male for a couple years and he never sprayed, never smelled, was not aggressive or destructive. The vet will tell you for sure but if you’re curious, why don’t you ask the previous owner? If she got the bun directly from a breeder (who won’t spay/neuter!) and has had possession of the bun this entire time, she would know for sure whether or not she ever paid for a surgery.

[Monkeybun]

Some breeders also mis-sex the buns when they are young, so I wouldn’t count on that as a sure thing Definitely get the vet to check gender for you. He’ll likely need a check up anyway, after living in not so good conditions.

[RabbitPam]

Spockie was not a sprayer either. Good with litter pan, though Samantha is much more fastidious.

He had little flat sacks that were pink and visible, but kind of shriveled, especially over time.
I think a nail trim visit to the vet is a good way to get something done and get an answer at the same time.

[Lis]

Stormy is about two and a half years and only started spraying in the last month. He’s also gotten downright mean to the dog. But before that, he was the perfect little angel your guy sounds like. No smell, no nothing.

[Nibbles_NZ]

If he is 2 1/2 if he is intact, you will see them or feel them. Even if he is sucking them up. When my 3 1/2 month old male sucks his up, I can still put a finger on each side of them and kind of move your fingers and press down a little. You will see them then. Get a good hold of your bun as they do not like to be violated in that area. lol. Give him a treat afterwards.

[Nibbles_NZ]

Or, you can do the easy thing and call the lady you got him from and ask lol

[Nibbles_NZ]

yes, it is also easy to mis sex them, He could in fact be a SHE

[BinkyBunny]

Since he is an only bunny, and if he’s laid back, he may just be an easy going non-neutered bunny. Many times other animals or other bunnies will bring out some of the typical ick habits. And like Markus said, he could also be a she! So who knows.

I can’t wait to find out what the real story is…neutered/ not neutered, he or she. HAHA! Keep us updated.

[Author]

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