Rabbit still has testicles after being neutered

[Toki]

Toki, was neutered this morning at the age of 4yrs old. Honesty, it had never crossed my mind to get him fixed, until recently within the past month he started lunging, grunting, and chewing on EVERYTHING, including the bars on his playpen. When I picked him up this evening, the vet tech told me to check the incision site for the next few days just to make sure it was staying clean and dry. Well, I checked it, and I think he still has his testicle…. well he still has 2 pink sacks there. Is this normal?  There are 2 incision marks (one on each sack) Also, the vet sent me with a syringe of pain medicine I’m supposed to give him tomorrow. One problem, I have no idea how to give a rabbit a syringe of medicine? I’ve never attempted to open his mouth, or get my fingers near it. I know, I should in order to check his teeth, but my vet always does that. 

[Deleted User]

Well you got ripped off!!! Na, just joking…. Seriously, give it a few days/weeks and they will disappear, literally shrivelling up into nothing. (It really is amazing how the process works???). So yes, all good and normal.
Um, sorry I can’t help you out with the medication and syringe – I was one of the lucky ones and my boy didn’t need pain killers after his procedure, but I know a lot of other BBer’s have had too (all buns recover from there de-sexing differently) so am confident you can be guided through this process with there assistance. All the best for Toki’s recovery, and I hope you didn’t mind my little joke. Cheers.

[jerseygirl]

Agreed, sounds normal. Probably just swelling.

I have best results putting syringe tip in side of the mouth. Usually when you push back against corner there, they start a tongue motion so I squirt med in then.

Alternatively, you might be able to squirt it on a favourite food. I’d test this out first with just a drop so you don’t waste a full dose in case he snubs the food.

[Bam]

I agree too. The sacks themselves are not removed during neutering, just their content. There will be initial swelling from the procedure and then the sacks will shrivel into nothing, as AndHenry says.

I find it very helpful to be two persons when I give medicine. One holds the bunny in his/her lap, in a bunny-burrito, the other person inserts the syringe-tip into the side of the mouth and you may need to gently stabilize the head from the other side of the head because bunnies are not always co-operative. That is if he doesn’t take it with food as Jersey describes.

Good luck!

[Roberta]

I agree with everyone else… The sacks remain for a little while, you will see liitle dots at the end which is where the incisions will be if they were done like my boys.
When syringing medication or fluids make sure the bunny is upright not on its back as the fluids can be aspirated leading to respiratory problems.

[Sarita]

Perfectly normal – they usually take a few months to actually shrink.

[Jessie1990]

I just had my boy done a few weeks ago, and he still has this same thing you are experiencing I think your guy should be fine. I’m just watching for any redness or swelling to indicate infection. Good luck!

[Deleted User]

It’s been about 2 months since Henry was neutered and his bits started to shrivel up in a few days, and totally gone in a few weeks? So maybe bunny boy bits heal differently? Anyhow, something funny to add on the chance you may get a chuckle out of it – I still do….
About 2 days later Henry was wandering the house and I jokingly said to my hubby ‘maybe he’s trying to find his b***’s’ thinking I was being funny? NO, the funny part was yet to come…. about an hour later, we found him asleep laying under the bed next to the ‘soccer’ ball! We all knew he was impressive, but I said to Henry – “don’t kid yourself pal”! Ha ha hah! Cheers everyone.

[Zombie-Sue]

when my rabbit had a bad case of head tilt, I injected his antibiotic into a spoonfull of applesauce. There was no need to worry about him snubbing it.

[Toki]

Posted By jerseygirl on 11/23/2013 02:38 AM

Agreed, sounds normal. Probably just swelling.

I have best results putting syringe tip in side of the mouth. Usually when you push back against corner there, they start a tongue motion so I squirt med in then.

Alternatively, you might be able to squirt it on a favourite food. I’d test this out first with just a drop so you don’t waste a full dose in case he snubs the food.

Hey, thanks! I put the syringe in the side of his mouth, and got the medicine in. I’m pretty sure I got it in his mouth because he licked his lips afterwards.. Also, question about his aggression, will that diminish? I read online that issues will diminish once you have a rabbit fixed. How long will this take? I went into his playpen today, and he started to circle me and grunt like he did before he was fixed.

[Deleted User]

Hey Toki! So pleased you were able to administer the medicine with no drama’s – I knew everyone who had previous experience would be able to help you out (big smile!).
Ok, the bad news – his naughty behaviour will continue for a while, up to 6 weeks? I was lucky (finally) and only had to endure it for around 2 weeks. I’ll keep everything crossed that you have a simular outcome, but yes, prepare yourself for the worst (6 weeks, maybe more – eeek!). Sounds like Toki is recovering well, how wonderful! Wishing you both all the best. Cheers, Henry’s mum.

[Bam]

You will perhaps have to work a bit on his bad temper so you don’t accidentally reward it (by withdrawing etc), because aggressive behaviour can become habitual and if it does, neutering in it self won’t cure it completely (in a boy). If he lunges when you clean his cage, try to clean it when he’s not in it. If he lunges when you approach him, wear gloves if you have to grab him ( f ex for medicine-time). What he “wants” is for you to back off, so don’t back off. You may also squeal if he manages to bite you, so he’ll know the behaviour is not appreciated.

I have one little growler and he usually calms down if I talk to him. I suppose he growls in defence before he realizes I’m not out to hurt him.

The grunting, circling thing is classic mating-behaviour and will probably go away completely in a few weeks (it may last up to 8 weeks or so though).

My bunny Bam’s sacks were like AndHenry’s Henry’s, they were gone completely in an amazingly short time. So I guess it varies a lot. What you should look out for is excessive swelling, seepage, redness and increased warmth in the area.

[Toki]

Posted By bam on 11/25/2013 10:33 AM

You will perhaps have to work a bit on his bad temper so you don’t accidentally reward it (by withdrawing etc), because aggressive behaviour can become habitual and if it does, neutering in it self won’t cure it completely (in a boy). If he lunges when you clean his cage, try to clean it when he’s not in it. If he lunges when you approach him, wear gloves if you have to grab him ( f ex for medicine-time). What he “wants” is for you to back off, so don’t back off. You may also squeal if he manages to bite you, so he’ll know the behaviour is not appreciated.

I have one little growler and he usually calms down if I talk to him. I suppose he growls in defence before he realizes I’m not out to hurt him.

The grunting, circling thing is classic mating-behaviour and will probably go away completely in a few weeks (it may last up to 8 weeks or so though).

My bunny Bam’s sacks were like AndHenry’s Henry’s, they were gone completely in an amazingly short time. So I guess it varies a lot. What you should look out for is excessive swelling, seepage, redness and increased warmth in the area.

His grunting/lunging just started a few months ago. I used to be able to clean his cage even whilst he was in it, but a few months ago he would lunge at my hand..so I had to take him out of his cage whenever I clean it. I can however clip his nails, (I cradle him on his back) I can trim, or easily put his butt in warm water whenever he gets poop on it; the vet showed me how to do this. I have no problems with hands on stuff. He seems to get randomly angry, and that’s whenever he’ll started chewing on his cage bars, or playpen bars like a maniac. He has chew toys, but he would much rather make a bunch of noise by chewing on metal bars. 

[Author]

Messages