Neutering

[Jenny]

Hello, I’m a new bunny mom & just had our little Winston neutered on Wednesday (5 days ago), the vet said to check his incision but we haven’t gotten to a point where he will let us pick him up yet. The vet tech made me feel very horrible about myself that we haven’t been able to pick him up but we’ve only had him for a month we rescued from someone who didn’t want him. I’m worried about the incision but he’s acting totally bad to normal, eats, sleeps, drinking water and poops like normal. He seems frisky and happy like normal the only thing is he hates being stuck in his cage which the vet told me 10-14 days but I feel like it’s so long & wished I could let him out in his enclosure for some free time. I’m feeling like a horrible bunny mom.

[LBJ10]

Will he stand on his hind legs for a treat? If you can get him to do that, you can slide a little mirror under him to see the incision.

[Bam]

Its best to follow your vets advice, but I’d go with the 10 days rather than 14 of hes acting all normal. You could even call your vet and ask if he can have his freedom early. The recommendation of 14 days is common for girl rabbit after a spay, but a spay is a very much more invasive procedure.

If he has an enclosure without climbing nd jumping possibilities, I think you can let him out in that. To check the incision, use LBJs treat-and-mirror trick or ask someone else to hold him while you look. If you don’t have access to a person who has held a rabbit before, maybe you can hold him and another person take a few quick pictures or the area?

[Hazel]

I got nothing more to add about the neuter, just wanted to say that you shouldn’t feel bad about having trouble picking him up. All rabbits hate being handled, the vet tech shouldn’t have criticized you about that. You’ve only had him for a short while, a new bunny needs time to adjust to a new home and stressing him out by handling him unnecessarily wouldn’t be a good thing. I’ve had my rabbit for 7 years and he still hates being picked up. Some rabbits can learn to tolerate it somewhat, but being prey animals, they will never actually enjoy it. Personally I don’t think it’s worth the trouble and stress to try and force them to get used to something they instinctively hate, although there are people who’ve had some success in that regard. I just pick mine up when I have to, for nail clippings or to pluck his fur when he’s shedding. A nice alternative that’s much less stressful for the bun is to train them to go into a carrier.

Sorry I got a little off topic. Fingers crossed for a speedy recovery! 🙂

[Bam]

I couldnt agree with Hazel more. Adult rabbits do not like being picked up. Some can learn to accept it, but that doesn’t mean they like it. For a rabbit, being picked up is the first step towards becoming someone’s dinner.

I’m sorry the vet tech made you feel horrible about that. Rabbits are an important source of food for many predators of varying size. The rabbit’s instincts “know” this.

[Jenny]

Thank you all so much for your replies. He does stand up some times and actually while petting him today his was all lounged out he let me lift his tail up but it’s so fluffy under there I don’t know if I’m looking for the right thing! lol! I took a picture but not sure if you could tell from this? Thanks again for all your input and help, I was feeling pretty horrible about myself and as a new bunny mom after the tech made me feel inadequate to own a bunny.

[Jenny]

I got a better picture today which looks like the stitches I believe. To me they look like they are healing ok.

[Bam]

Theres nothing that looks worrisome in the picture. The most common problems  that can occur with a neuter are chewing of the stitches soon after the rabbit comes home, or a hematoma causing excessive swelling of the scrotal sacks, (or one of the scrotal sacks). Chewing mostly occurs if there’s insufficient pain relief.  A scrotal sack can become the size of a ping pong ball if there’s a leaky blood vessel. Some swelling will of course always occur as a part of normal healing.

You are obviously not an inadequate bun owner! 🙂

[Jenny]

Thank you so much for your reply Bam it’s much appreciated and makes me feel a lot better. I thought the stitches looked like they are healing well. Today is day 7 so the poor little fella has a few more days to go in his cage  just to be safe. Thanks again. 😊

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