They just don’t get it!!

[Bougatsa]

I have a problem. My parents are opposite to taking my bunny for a spay. They dont have any pets and never did, they havent done any research and they are not convised by what I’m saying about the health benefits for my bunny. They just dont get it and they say it’s too expensive and everything is made up by vets in order to get our money. They say it’s not worth it and they even suggested giving up my bunny (cause they know that now ske poops and pees everywhere but they dont believe that spaying will help with that too!) and instead taking a cat! They make fun of me cause they dont understand that now I have a pet and I want what’s best for her. I dont know what else to say to convince them, they argue a lot. I would go do it myself without asking but I dont have all the money needed plus I dont have a car to move the cage in the city…

How do I make them understand?? The only pet they ever had is a canary and they never wanted a house pet cause they think it’s just trouble!

[jerseygirl]

Is Noah your rabbit? And are you an adult? (don’t post your age if you are a minor).  Because if your answer is “Yes” to both, then it is really up to you and what you think is best. Is there a way you can save for the spay?
One of my concerns is your finding a suitable vet. Will this be difficult? I’m sorry you don’t have your parents support on this.

Edit: I know you are working with her on the litter training. Are you wanting to get her spayed sooner to deal with this?  Because, spaying does help but please understand, it can take another month for hormone levels to settle to a lower amount after a spay. So it will not necessarily be a fast-track solution to her litter problems.

[Bougatsa]

Yes I’m 19 but it’s not really up to me, I need some help from them too. I already have most of the money and they still say I shouldnt spend it on the spay :/

I know a good vet where I live and still they are trying to convince me to find a cheaper one but I dont know any. I know it’s all about money for them…grrr

I would get her spayed ANYWAY, I was planning to do it in summer or in September but know it’s a bit more urgent because of her litter habits (the thing is that I live with my brother and he wont put up with it for much longer, see I’m the only one in this family who wants a pet). And I AM AWARE that it will take another month for the hormones to settle down. But sooner the better. It is the same for me to do it now or do it in a couple of months but now I have another reason.

[Beka27]

In the meantime, before her spay, I would recommend you keep her in an enclosed area that can be easily cleaned up. For exercise time, try to schedule it around when your brother isn’t home, and closely supervise. That way, if she does have an accident, it can be cleaned immediately and it isn’t obvious to everyone.

It’s not uncommon for people who know nothing about rabbits as house companions to not understand the need to spay/neuter. *Usually* with dog/cat people, you can explain the health benefits and they eventually might “get it”. But if your family is opposed to ALL pets, I doubt there’s much you’ll be able to say. Stick to your guns and do it ASAP, when you can finance it yourself.

[Karla]

You don’t need your parents to bring her in her cage to the vet – you can also buy a small carrier. You know, like these ones:

 They are carriers for small dogs and work wonders for bunny owners who don’t have a car. That way you can easily bring her to the vet by bus, bicycle or by walking. The first couple of times, I had to walk for 40 minutes to bring one of mine to the vet, but eventually I bought the carrier to the right, so I could go by bike.

I know it may mean that you will have to postpone the spay a bit (although they are really not expensive and I am sure you will be able to buy one used on the internet), but at least you are independent of your parents if you’ll need to go to the vet at any time.

 

[wendyzski]

I’d not recommend one of the soft-sided carriers – too chewable.  I tote Pepper arround in a hard-sided cat carrier. I got it off Craigslist for $15.  People on the bus are always interested in her too!

[mocha200]

i thought my girl bunny was hopeless to being litter trained, but when my family was complaining my room stunk i started cleaning the cages every day and after about a week of doing that lulu ( my girl bunny) was completely litter trained. so i would try to clean her cage every day and see if that helps.

[Nibbles_NZ]

Posted By Bougatsa on 04/24/2010 03:29 AM

I have a problem. My parents are opposite to taking my bunny for a spay. They dont have any pets and never did, they havent done any research and they are not convised by what I’m saying about the health benefits for my bunny. They just dont get it and they say it’s too expensive and everything is made up by vets in order to get our money. They say it’s not worth it and they even suggested giving up my bunny (cause they know that now ske poops and pees everywhere but they dont believe that spaying will help with that too!) and instead taking a cat! They make fun of me cause they dont understand that now I have a pet and I want what’s best for her. I dont know what else to say to convince them, they argue a lot. I would go do it myself without asking but I dont have all the money needed plus I dont have a car to move the cage in the city…

How do I make them understand?? The only pet they ever had is a canary and they never wanted a house pet cause they think it’s just trouble!

 

I was looking for a shelter so I could adopt a second and I stumbled upon one that had a rabbit up for adoption until they discovered that she had a big dark mass on her belly. It was uterine cancer.  She died not long after. It says that if her previous owners would’ve had her spayed she would be alove today. Do internet research and show them pics. I’m sure you can find them. I can also try to find that shelter where I saw that. It has a pic of her mass on her belly. Isn’t there something you can work out with them for the cost? If you earned it or if it was gift money, it’s yours and you can spend it on getting your bun spayed. 

[Nibbles_NZ]

Also, I don’t recommend a backpack either. Too soft. I have a small pet carrier I got at the pet store for $20. I put a towl on the floor of it so my bun doesn’t slide around.

[Nibbles_NZ]

http://www.rabbitwelfare.co.uk/resources/content/info-sheets/uterine.htm
Here is a site with information

[jerseygirl]

I agree with what Beka has posted

In the meantime, before her spay, I would recommend you keep her in an enclosed area that can be easily cleaned up. For exercise time, try to schedule it around when your brother isn’t home, and closely supervise. That way, if she does have an accident, it can be cleaned immediately and it isn’t obvious to everyone…..
Stick to your guns and do it ASAP, when you can finance it yourself.

It’s the best you can do for now. You could also try talking to the clinic and see if you can arrange to pay the majority now and settle the rest with scheduled payments.

[Bougatsa]

Thanks for all the support. I think it’s going better. I was talking to my father and he saw that I insisted (and was about to cry, this always works ) he said ‘why dont you find out what other people with bunnies do?’…. DUH! I said I already did that’s way I wanted her to get spayed, cause I know what can happen to her in a few years. He suggested let her make babies but I said it’s not an option cause there are no people that would take care of them, there’s no way giving them to a pet shop and that it would be too hard for me to see them die as this could happen.
So I agreed with them to look for another vet in the town where we live. I’m sure there isnt anyone so I’m probably taking her to the one in the city. They still dont understand the danger but at least they dont say it out loud!

[Deleted User]

Bougatsa, even if your parents will never quite care about the rabbit enough, maybe they will see how much she matters to you and give in that way.
I think the soft-sided back-pack style carriers are a neat idea but I wouldn’t recommend them in this case  because a rabbit after a spay will be quite raw and delicate, you want her comfortably flat on a straight surface so she won’t pull any stitches. If she pulled stitches out you’d have to hike it back to the vet’s…

 

[RabbitPam]

http://www.rabbit.org/faq/sections/vet.html

Bougatsa,

I don’t know which city you’re referring to, but above is a link to the House Rabbit Society’s list of vets who are experts on rabbits, listed via location. You put in your zip code (in USA) or country if elsewhere.

Also, look in the phone book yellow pages, your local one, for vets who say “exotics” or small animals in their description ads. Those are the ones who have more experience with rabbits. You may find one or two just a few miles away rather than in the city.

The biggest reason, as in the example above, for spaying a female is the risk of cancer in a couple of years. The expense of treatment, and the heartache, makes the comparative trouble of a spay well worth it. Unfortunately, your parents sound like they are ready to just give her to a shelter and swap for a cat, who is equally expensive. You’re doing the right thing pushing for a spay that is sooner.

Be sure to call each vet your ask about and get a price, and ask if they take a payment plan of installments. That may help you pay some now and be billed for a couple of months afterward. The test of a good vet is to ask each one if you should fast your bunny before the procedure. If they say “yes, fast the bunny” DO NOT take her there. Wrong answer. The bunny needs to eat normally the day of the surgery.

[Bougatsa]

I live in Greece, Thessaloniki. I’m in greek forums too and everyone talks about a specific vet. Many people say that she is the only one with so much experience and she has spayed numerous females and males. Other vets wont even agree to spay a rabbit. So she’s my only choice and since everyone recommend her I’m going my bunny to her.
Here in greece, bunnies are not very common pets and not many of the owners actually know that their bunny needs to be spayed/neutered. So it’s hard to find vets that have any experience at all. Since now I know one in Athens and one in Thessaloniki that have a lot of experience.

[Sequia]

I have been dealing with vets from Greece and I agree with Bougatsa. The vets there don’t get it   and they don’t want to get it. They refuse to do conference calls with rabbit savvy vets, they won’t do research, and refuse to do certain procedures that may save a bunnies life.

It is very frustrating and madening  that vets can be so ignorant.  Rabbits are sold in pet stores in Greece but their mentality is that bunnies don’t live more than 5 years so why bother?

I am so glad that I do not live there.

 

[Nibbles_NZ]

That’s really sad! Bunnies are no different from any other pet. I really hope your parents will give in! Good luck! You are making a very heartfelt and responsible decision in fighting for your bunny! I wish there were more people out there like that!

[Alika613]

I have a lovely vet. I suppose the best way to put it is, she’s firm, but gentle. We were talking about why some vets don’t see rabbits, and how many don’t spay rabbits. She got really excited and said “Some vets find rabbit spays to be too complicated, but I love them! You make a few snips and BAM! The uterus is right there! Normally in cats and dogs you have to go digging around because it falls back when they are on the table, but with rabbits it’s right there! Aw man, I love spaying rabbits.” The funny thing is that she was completely serious, she got all excited and was smiling.

And then it hit me. This woman is going to cut out my rabbit’s uterus and ovaries.

And she’s really psyched about it, haha.

As for spaying your rabbit, do you have a job? If so, I’d simply decide by when you want your rabbit spayed (I want my rabbit spayed in 4 weeks), get a rough estimate from your vet (I recommend the optional blood work, it helps with the anesthesia), and then do the math so that you can figure out how much money you need to put away each week in order to save up by your deadline. This may help you keep your money organized.

As for your parents, unless they are loaning you money for the spay, taking or picking up your bunny for the spay, then you may just need to sit down with them and explain that it’s your rabbit, your money, and your job to provide health care. My mom used to say “How much for a spay? $300?! I’ll disown you if you spend that much money on a bloody rabbit! You don’t have a male so she’s not even going to get knocked up, so why spend that money for nothing?!”

…

I didn’t even respond, there wasn’t really anything to say. There was just so many things wrong with that statement I didn’t know where to begin, XD But she’s over it now. She either had accepted it, doesn’t care, or is keeping it to herself, either way I win! (is very immature, )

-Alika

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