Neutering next week!

[Piggle]

Hello all

So, we’ve got poor Hercules booked in for his neuter next Tuesday, and I’m starting to get get a little anxious about it. We’ve got a good vet, who is definitely rabbit savvy, but I was just wondering if any experienced bunny-parents could offer some additional (less clinical) advice?

A few questions I have at the minute (I’m sure there’ll be more as the days go on!):

• What sort of environment is he going to want when he comes home?
• What sort of behaviour can I expect from him shortly after? (ie. is he going to be pretty lethargic, or a bit aggressive, or…what I’m dreading the most….cold with us?)
• I know I’m going to have a guilty complex, so what treats could I give him?
• What’s the best way to ease his pain?

If anyone has any other tips/answers to questions I’ve not even thought to ask please feel free to bombard me additional information- I’m trying to be as prepared as I can be to make sure he’s as happy as I can make him.

Thanks in advance!

Ps. Here was his reaction when we told him what’s going to happen:

[bullrider76543]

I have had three of my boys done, and after the surgery they were a little tired but pretty much normal. Nibbels was the only one that seemed to change after his, he became more agressive and no longer liked to be pet or cuddle at all.

[tobyluv]

Hercules will be sleepy when he comes home. Make sure that everything is clean and comfortable for him. Keep him on one level – it’s best that he doesn’t jump up and down off of furniture or if he has a multi level living environment. The vet will give him pain medication, probably Metacam and will likely send you home with some to give him the next day or two.

You should take some hay and veggies with you to the vet. They like to see that a rabbit is eating before they discharge him. Be sure to have a good variety of his favorite veggies and fruits for when he comes home.

Rabbits bounce back pretty quickly from a neuter, so he should be back to his normal self and routine in two or three days.

That’s a very cute picture of Hercules!

[OskarAnnie]

I think every rabbit is different. Oscar didn’t change at all when he was neutered (aside from smelling less and not peeing where ever he wanted). But make sure he does not jump around! This was really hard for my rabbit because he jumps EVERYWHERE, I had to keep him on one level and he got really frustrated (I could tell when I walked over) but after a few days he was able to go out for his normal routine.

As far as pain is concerned, he’ll probably just be lethargic, but the medicine he gets at the vet will do him good!

[tanlover14]

My boy bun was actually full of energy when he came home from his neuter. He was banging around in his carrier the whole way home and was VERY flustered that the 2nd level had been taken out of his bunny home. LOL. And that he was in a confined space. And he actually gobbled up a TON of food when he got home…. but then as the meds started to wear off you could tell he became a little less active and would sit in the corner with his rear off the ground a bit but when we gave him his next dose of pain meds he was fine and back to being all giddy and angry that he couldn’t run around like usual.

I would be prepared to have to check his incision though — that was probably the hardest part of the whole process for me — that and getting him to take his meds (after the 3rd day he was having none of it). We basically managed to check his incision by getting him to stand with his front paws up on something (we put up one of our tiny fences around his cage so when he came out and would want to get out he’d of course walk up and want to jump over the wall so when he put his paws up I’d put the flash light down next to him and check it quick. Another way could be by holding up a piece of his favorite treat so he lifts up to reach it and sneaking a quick peek then too!

My buns go back and forth on what treats they like and prefer but the one thing I can never seem to go wrong with is craisins. They will literally all tackle me (even our skittish bun) to get to the bag of craisins. It only took a little prodding to get one of them to try it and it was all over from there…

Also, any of his dishes/food/hay that he may have to reach up to get to I’d suggest putting them really low to the ground so he doesn’t have to do any stretching to reach them… if he has any toys that hang from the ceiling I’d take them down also so he’s not tempted to be overly active. My overactive bun went nuts being so confined and was really angry but once we gave him lots of attention and play time afterwards he was really fine.

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