I can understand being nervous, I almost cried the first time I dropped off one of my buns for a neuter – but of course everything went fine!
While your bunny is at the vet’s, you can prepare for her homecoming by cleaning her space thoroughly. She will be sore when she comes home, so provide her a litter box with a soft litter like care fresh, or cover her normal litter with a layer of soft hay. Stock up on her favorite fresh vegetables, as these are likely to be the first foods she eats. It is very important that she be offered food right before and right after the procedure. Unlike humans, dogs and cats, a rabbit will not vomit as a side effect of the surgery, so she can eat as much as she likes. When she comes home, you may have to tempt her to start nibbling food initially. She will be sore and tired, and now you have to get her eating again. You can tempt her with greens by slipping them stem first behind her front teeth. Try breaking the stems to release flavor, parsley is particularly good for this.
During the spaying procedure, your bunny will be rendered unconcious by an anesthetic, usually administered by a mask. An intravenous line will also be inserted to stabilize fluids and allow introduction of medications. Once the procedure is done, you bunny will be given a dose of a potent pain killer like Buprenex. When bunny comes home, she will have a small scar on her belly, perhaps have a shaved arm or ear where the IV was inserted, and she will be a little groggy. Ask your vet about pain relief for her. Most vets will give you a mild pain medication like Metacam to use for a few days after the surgery. This not only help with bunny’s pain, it will also help prevent GI stasis.
After a few days, she should be back to her old self. Be prepared to keep her on cage rest for a couple of days while the wound heals. Alert your vet immediately if you see any signs of post surgical complications:
– bunny will not eat/drink and is not pooping
– the wound is very red, swollen or oozing – this could indicate an infection
– bunny is biting the sutures and/or the wound. Some bunnies have to wear a collar for a few days while they heal.
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