Helo & Inara’s Spay/Neuter

[MoveDiagonally]

Helo and Inara were spayed/neutered yesterday and everything went well. 

Helo came home and acted like nothing much happened he ate, pooped, and hopped around without any issues. 

Inara sat in her carrier for a long time and didn’t move much until later in the evening. The vet said to start with pain meds the next day (today) but my husband decided to give her a partial dose last night because she was acting like she was in pain. It really seemed to help and she ended up eating her food and moving around more. This morning she is showing a lot more enthusiasm for everything (including pooping).

The vet put cones on them and we took them off as soon as we got home (after snapping a picture of each of them). I don’t think they really fit and there was no way they were going to be able to do anything. 

They haven’t seemed to mess with their stiches too much today but we’re keeping an eye on them. I’m actually not sure what we would do if they started chewing on their stiches. The cones don’t seem like much of an option for them with their ears. Someone suggested rolling up a towel and placing it around their neck similar to a human neck brace. This would stiffen the neck area so they couldn’t chew at their stiches but not inhibit their vision/eating/ears. But I’m not sure, has anyone ever tried this? I know it’s not necessary to do anything unless they really go at their stiches but I like to think ahead. 

Another question because it’s been a long time since I’ve had a rabbit spayed/neutered and I can’t remember. Is the greasy fur around their head/neck normal? How long does it seem to last? 

Here’s a better pic of what I’m talking about (the clumping fur around the eyes/top of ears):

 I’m happy that they seem to be recovering so well though. I was a bundle of nerves yesterday. 

[Sarita]

Vibes to Helo & Inara – I am laughing at the cone – how can she see….hopefully you won’t have to use any preventative measures but like you it’s been ages since I’ve had a rabbit altered so I cannot remember how much they fool with the incision or answer the greasy fur question.

I kind of think the towel might choke them and they have such delicate bones. Maybe something around the stitched area though like a big tube sock like thing – kind of like pantyhose…instead of around the neck.

Such pretty girls!

[Stickerbunny]

If you have to make a cone yourself, I would recommend something like they do for birds (since both have very sensitive necks) with a softer material such as foam or light plastic wrapped with medical tape to secure it. A towel works for a dog, but I would worry about a bunny having too much pressure from it. But, hopefully you won’t need to use it.

The greasy fur is from their masks during surgery, it’ll go away in a few days. The incision … it depends on what kind of stitches were used and how much they bug your buns. My vet only uses internal dissolving stitches because he said he had no luck at all with external removable stitches and rabbits, they always wanted to rip them out. He’s been working on rabbits for 25 years, so I trust he has experience in that. My buns didn’t even look at their incisions and the vet didn’t give me cones or anything, there were no stitches for them to rip out that they could reach. It is important you keep them from chewing if the stitches are on the outside though, since they can rip themselves open and require another surgery to close them back up.

Something my male liked after his neuter was COLD air he could put on his erm, sensitive parts. He slept with his butt backed up onto the air vent (we have ones that come out the wall instead of the floor) so the A/C blew right on his incision.

[MoveDiagonally]

Thanks for the vibes The cone pics make me laugh too.

Thank you for the tips on the DIY E-Collar. I was a bit wary of the towel idea and I’m glad I asked about it. Hopefully they won’t need anything but I’ll look into the DIY bird collars some more just in case we do need something. They used outside stitches and a few staples. We have to take them back and get them removed in a couple weeks. This is not my regular vet but I’ve had rabbits spayed/neutered there before. I think previously when I’ve had surgeries done there they used dissolvable stitches… Not sure why it’s different now. I know my regular vet used dissolveable ones on Dexter and Penny forever ago.

Actually, I didn’t really think about it before but are staples “bad”? Are there any other worries when you have a bunny with staples?

[Sarita]

I think it’s just what the vet feels most comfortable with. The first vet I went to did the outside stitches and staples and then went to one who did the dissolvable ones. Staples are fine. They may be more itchy though…

[MoveDiagonally]

Good to know! I’ll keep a really close eye on them. I’ve noticed that today, on their full dose of pain meds, they seem a lot less interested in their incisions. If they seem to be bugging them a lot I’ll call and see if there’s any way we can get the staples out at 10 days instead of 14 (the paper work says 10-14 and our current appointment is on day 14).

[Beka27]

I wonder if anyone has tried a modified baby “onesie” to cover the incision area? It would be a pain regarding bathroom habits, but since it’s short term it might be something to consider.

[MoveDiagonally]

Beka – That’s a really interesting idea! A girl on the HRS Facebook group said she used a small dog tank top for her female E-Lop and it seemed to protect everything well enough. I’m sort of collecting ideas because even if in the end I don’t have to use anything for them because of the spay/neuter there is always a chance in the future I’ll need to keep them from chewing/picking at something. The ears do provide a bit of challenge in the e-collar related department. 

 

Of course in the end, I hope they do well and don’t need anything.  

 

Your idea also sounds adorable… And I might subject them to something like that later for the sake of some pictures 

[NewBunnyOwner123]

The greasy stuff is the ointment they put in their eyes during surgery. Sally looked so greasy! Ten times worse than yours lol it’ll go away soon when they clean it off better

[hannaroo]

Haha sticker bunny that comment about the a/c made me laugh! Congratulations on two successful spay! Are you still planning on bonding them to penny dexter and monty?

[MoveDiagonally]

Hannaroo – I do still plan on bonding them with the trio once they heal and their hormones settle down. I’m going to try to do them all at once and jump from a trio to a quintet. I think it will be more stressful on me to do it this way but less stressful on them in the long run (they only have to settle into a new hierarchy one more time instead of two). But we’ll see!

[hannaroo]

Judging from what I’ve read in the forum that may be the way to go!
It’s still a while away so you have plenty of time to plan. It’ll certainly make life easier if they did all bond!
How are the trio doing anyway? Are they all happy and healthy together?

[MoveDiagonally]

Trio is doing great. Dexter and Penny have opened up a lot and are more affectionate and outgoing. Monty is tidier and really enjoys being around other rabbits. I can’t say enough good things about them being bonded.

As I’m getting closer and closer to bonding I’m getting a bit worried about disrupting my little trio but I think Helo and Inara’s personalities will mesh well.

[hannaroo]

I’m glad the trio are doing so well! Although bunnies can get along well if they are bonded to a human companion I definatly think there is so much to be said about being around there own kind. Buttons is so much more affectionate and confident since he’s been with Suri and he is a lot easier to train as he follows what she is doing!

It’s good they are doing so well especially that dexter and penny have opened up! They all sound very happy!

I hope bonding goes well in the future and I’ll follow any progress you post here
Even if they don’t mesh in the trio I’m sure they’ll get on well as a pair as they’re of similar ages anyway

Good luck

[LittlePuffyTail]

I’m glad to hear Helo and Inara made out well with their spay/neuter.

My apologies to your beautiful buns, but I had to laugh at the cone pics too. Funny and cute! The poor buns. Bindi looked so pitiful when he had a cone. It’s hard to wear a cone when you have big, long lop ears.

[LBJ10]

Aww, poor babies! It is hard not to laugh at the cones.

Glad they are doing good.

[jerseygirl]

They are just beautiful! I’m happy to read their surgeries went well.

You are probably past the point of worrying now, but I’ve wondered if the cones could be worn backwards around the belly? Kinda like a skirt lol

[Author]

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