To Neuter or Not to Neuter

[Elliriyanna]

Tenzin will be 5 months on the 13th and I was fully prepared to get him neutered but the more I think about it the more I think maybe I should wait. 

He doesn’t stink, he doesn’t spray and he is litter trained. The behaviors a lot of neuters are trying to fix ( also no humping yet) 

Now I am not thinking of Never neutering him because I would like to bond him to another rabbit someday when I feel both he and I are ready. But Maybe I should wait until I have him more bonded to me, where he trusts me more first. Why? It will be easier to check his incisions and tell if anything is going wrong after the neuter if he is more trusting of me. I have the money already set aside so I can always schedule it and have it done if he starts having any of the problems that male buns do. 

Any thoughts from more experienced owners? 

[Mocha]

I would definitely reccomend neutering all pets, but it’s your choice He might not be showing any signs know, but he could later on. By bonding him to another rabbit, do you mean getting him a friend? If so, then I think you should get him neutered. I find that males and females usually get along nicely, and you have to have him neutered so you don’t get baby bunnies. But if he’s not neutered, and you get him a male friend, they could end up fighting (not in all cases though). If he won’t have a friend, than you don’t have to get him neutered.

[Elliriyanna]

I did say I planned to neuter him eventually … Its really just a matter of should I do it immediately or work with him first. I also stated if he starts displaying these signs he can be neutered immediately I have the money set aside  

[Eepster]

If you know you’re going to neuter him, do it while he’s young.

My Porky is not neutered, and mostly it’s been fine. The exception was briefly when we first arrived to stay at my dad’s house b/c of a broken pipe at our house and Porky went nuts marking. He smelled almost like a skunk.

Porky settled down, so no worries now, but had he not settled down I would be worried about neutering him do to his age. At this point he’s at least middle aged, possibly older since no one knows how old he was when he was abandoned on the shelter steps. He’s old enough at this point, that I worry about how well he would handle anesthetic.

There is a sweet spot for these things. Too young and his lungs are still developing and his bits are too small. Too old and hearts get weaker, muscles around the bits get tougher, etc.

So, while I don’t believe every male needs to be neutered, if you are going to neuter, don’t put it off.

[Elliriyanna]

I was only planning to wait a few months. And even if i waited a year he would still be a safe age from what I have read. I am not thinking of waiting years.

[Bam]

Well, some male bunnies that are only pets never display the sex-drive related behaviors that are troublesome to humans. My Bam was a fully grown adult when I got him, and it took a year before he suddenly became infatuated with my dog and started to pee on the couch and follow the poor dog around, cirling and nipping her virtually 24/7. If that hadn’t happened, I wouldn’t have had him neutered. But his sexual urges so obviously were stressful to him (he is a confirmed food-monster but he barely even ate when the dog was around, he was constantly trying to get her attention.) that I’m pretty sure neutering him was the best thing for his health. (It certainly was for my dog’s mental health, and mine).

If you are planning to have him neutered anyway, I’d say go for it, younger animals cope better with surgery and it may be very helpful to neuter the bunny BEFORE any unwanted behavior shows up, it’s not a sure thing they will all go away with a neuter if they once have become established behaviors. But it is your choice, you are right in that a male bunny doesn’t have to be neutered like a female bunny has to be for health reasons. It IS scary to have your darling go into surgery. I have no idea how old Bam was when he was neutered, but he wasn’t young. He did fine though =)

It could also be wise to not have the neuter done in the middle of the summer, since infections arise more easily when the weather is hot and humid. (Don’t know if you have summer now where you live).

[Elliriyanna]

Its summer here and its nasty, high humidity and high temps. Tonight I am going to the hardware store to buy some tiles to help. Of course the rabbits aren’t exposed to the 95 degree highs but they are still warmer than bunnies like to be.

[Bam]

In my humble opinion, I think hot and humid weather is a more than valid reason to post-pone any surgery unless it’s an emergency, of course.

[Elliriyanna]

Well it really doesn’t stop being Hot and humid here until September to October.

[Elliriyanna]

Well I have mentally bumped back his neuter to October … Since I had never actually scheduled his neuter. Thats the sooner I can guarantee we won’t be getting crazy heat waves. ( it was 70 in december once … It makes no sense … I am too far north for that !! )

[LBJ10]

I always say the sooner the better if you plan on getting another bunny someday. Waiting until October certainly won’t hurt anything though.

[Author]

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