Rabbit Spayed Today – advice please??

[MUSE23]

Hi, im new to this forum and although i know there are a few posts on this already id like to ask about my rabbit.

 

We had our new female rabbit spayed today. we picked her up about 4pm, and the vet said everything went well, although she was a little slow waking up she had picked up very well since. the vet said though she may be more sleepy than expected due to her taking a while to wake.

 

She has since had a little drink of water, but despite offering her favourites – carrots and cucumber, and also offering her a pellet mash, she hasnt ate yet. i know its only been a few hours since we got her back but im stressing out already! she is very sleepy and at the moment is asleep on an old dressing gown! The vets were helpful and told us if we have any concerns to ring them up and ask the vet whats best to do.

 

but how long with no food is it time to really worry? i know they never have much of an appitite after this op, but i want to just make sure shes ok.

 

We had 2 males neutured a few months ago (sadly, one of our males passed away about a month ago due to a chest infection ), but they both recovered very well and were eating the same night, although i know spaying is a more major operation.  

any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Sarita]

She will mostly want to be left alone at this point. Usually with the females it can take overnight for them to start nibbling – I would just leave out fresh greens for her and let her rest. If by this time tomorrow she is still not nibbling you may want to phone the vet.

It can take a full 72 hours for her to totally recover from the surgery though. Females just don’t bounce back as quickly as the males.

Did the vet give you any pain meds for later?

[MUSE23]

Thank you for replying Sarita.

So it wont harm her at all not eating over night?

they gave her an injection that apparently will last a couple of days that helps with pain? she is going for another check up on wednesday morning.

she doesnt seem in pain when she is awake, she seems very alert and has been digging herself a bed out of the dressing gown, which again worried me as i dont want her to do too much and open the wound! but as i said she only wakes up for a few minutes before she is back down and dozing. although she has just had another couple of sips of water.

[Sarita]

That’s good she is drinking – I would make sure to put her fresh water in a bowl or crock to make it easy for her if it isn’t already.

What you may want to do later is “tease” her with some fresh greens by hand feeding her – I used to “tickle” my rabbits nose with the greens to annoy them and try to get them to bite the green – usually kale is a favorite or another fresh green – you can try breaking a piece of cilantro or parsley to get the aroma.

[MUSE23]

Shes just had another drink. but still no food and no droppings or weeing yet

is it worth ringing the vet and seeing what he thinks?

she seems quite alert and ‘normal’ when shes awake.

[Sarita]

How many hours since the procedure?

[MUSE23]

id say about 8 hours…

I just rang the 24hour vet, he says its a good sign that shes drinking well, and that she seems to be ok in herself when she is awake.
he said if she hasnt ate by morning (its 10.30pm here) to book her straight in the vets for an injection to help movement in her bowels and to have a checkup. earliest appointment will be 9am hopefully….

[MUSE23]

Slight update, she has done 2 wees now, but still now poops

But she has just had a little wander of her cage for the first time since shes back, but only from one end to the other, washed her face then lay back down. i have managed to get her to eat a probably 5 or 6 bits of some dried herbs and dandylions we had from the pet shop. she didnt eat much at all, but at least its a start. still very worried about her not pooing but at least its an improvement?

[Sarita]

That is normal with the combo of anesthesia and pain meds- just let her rest and see how she is in the morning. She needs to rest.

[MUSE23]

Thanks for all the help Sarita.

Im just hoping during the night she goes to drink by herself. all the times she has drank so far is when i have taken the bowl right under her chin. Il let you know how she gets on in the morning.

[Enzo's Mommy]

Would there be chances of blood stains from the wounds?

[Enzo's Mommy]

My rabbit is getting fixed next week! Muse, I’m glad you started this topic because I know I will have the same worries!

[Author]

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