Rabbit in heat during spay??

[Kate]

I just got my new bunny today! I have a a question though. Her previous owner had her spayed a couple weeks before I got her. Her vet said she was in heat during her spay, causing the spay to be a little more complicated. As far as I know, rabbits do not go into heat. What could be the cause of this? She said that the vet said something like her uterus was full of blood. It sounds like uterine cancer! She doesn’t have any symptoms, but I’m still worried, as it doesn’t sound normal. I’m calling the vet in the morning, but in the meantime, does anyone have any opinions or advice? I hope she’s ok! Thanks in advance!!

[BinkyBunny]

You are right. Rabbits do not go into heat. That sure is worrisome that the vet thought that. How was your bunny when spayed? If I were you, I would find a rabbit-savvy vet and let them know the history. This way they can advise you better on all the possibilities. While blood in the uterus could be a sign of cancer, it might be a result to of something else. And if it were a sign, maybe then the removal of the uterus was done before it had a chance to metastasize, especially if this was a younger rabbit. I wish I had some definite comforting news, but I think to get real peace of mind, I think a true rabbit-savvy vet would be your best bet. Do you have one? If not, here is a good resource on finding one. http://rabbit.org/vet-listings/

Let us know what the vet says!

[Bam]

Bunnies don’t get into heat like dogs do, but they can spontaneusly ovulate and go into false pregnancies, which is very common. How old is your bunny? Uterine cancer is very uncommon in does under 2 years, but before there’s flat out cancer, there are often (perhaps always, but a lot if it is probably asymptomatic and goes undetected) other changes to the uterine tissue such as endometriosis. The cure in any circumstance is to have the bunny spayed asap. If there was cancer and it hasn’t spread, that’s that with the uterine cancer of course. If the cancer has spread, there’s not a lot to be done currently. Uterine cancer tends to spread to the lungs.

I too hope your bunny is ok. Having her spayed was great, it sounds like she had sth wrong with her reproductive organs and those organs are obviously history now, since a full spay means that both the ovaries and uterus are removed.

Is she eating, pooping, normally active?

[Bam]

I was writing my reply at the same time as BB sent hers, didn’t see hers until I’d sent mine =)

[jerseygirl]

Did the previous owner get her spayed because she had been with an intact male?

[Author]

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