Post-Neuter Behavior

[Zoe_dej]

My 3 year-old Holland Lop Henry was neutered today. The surgery was around noon and I picked him up a 3. The vet didn’t give me any pain meds for him, but said I could come back at any time if he needed them. Also, before I picked him up he had pulled out his own stitches, they used glue though so they said it was fine. I’m worried because he didn’t eat much of his pellets this morning and he has eaten maybe an inch long piece of kale with a few pellets. I moved his food and water closer to him because he has been balled up on his blanket since we got home. He goes to the litterbox every once in a while but has not pooped. The vet said if he hasn’t pooped by tomorrow to bring him in. I’m just very worried something could be wrong. I read others’ posts saying they noticed their rabbit hopping around within a few hours, but he’s only gone the foot from his litterbox to his blanket. Could this be because he’s in pain or maybe was too old for the surgery? The woman I got him from said he was about 3, but that could be wrong. Thank you.

[Bam]

It’s great that he goes to the litterbox to pee and that he’s eaten a little bit.

He’s not too old to be neutered, but the very young recuperate a lot quicker from a neuter. What you describe reminds me of my Bam’s neuter. He was at least 2 years old, probably more, and he didn’t feel well post neuter. I gave him a hot water bottle that he snuggled up to. Rabbits can easily get hypothermic post anestesia, so if you have a hot water bottle or handwarmers, I’d give him that. There must be enough room for him to move away from the water bottle if he doesn’t want the heat though.

I had to syringe feed Bam the day after his surgery, because he ate only very little. I used pellet mash – ie pellets soaked in water. To perk the bunny up a bit you can add something sweet to the pellet mash, like baby fruit puree or mashed banana. The sugar in the fruit goes directly out into the blood and that can help a lethargic bun feel a lot better quickly and hopefully well enough to start eating of his own.

Fresh greens and herbs are often the most popular food post surgery.

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