To Spay or Not to Spay?

[Baudoin]

So, I have a single female rabbit.  I would love to have her spayed but I have one big issue getting in my way – I live in rural Alaska and my vet knows literally nothing about rabbits.  She said she would perform a spay but do I risk my bunnies life with someone who has never actually spayed a rabbit?  The next nearest place that will do it is an ASPCA 7 hours away (each way) and I feel that the drive home with a groggy, cut open rabbit is just as dangerous, not to mention hard on the wallet and the fact that I have a 2 year old who would have to accompany me on the trip.  

I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place and either way, my rabbit’s life is on the line.  Do I potentially kill my 4 month old rabbit trying to have her spayed or have her contract cancer and need to be put down prematurely in a few years?  What would you do in this situation?  

[Agouti Lover]

Not spay her if I’m honest, my rabbit just got spayed and I’ve already had to go to the vet once (it’s only been a day) with issues. Maybe you could get a vet to travel down to where you live and do the spay?

[Baudoin]

From where would they travel, @Agouti Lover? I doubt the ASPCA clinic vet has the time to take an entire day to travel to do the spay and even then, where would it be done? My house? That is my second concern, not even mentioning the issue of how sensitive buns are to anesthesia. I have had a lot of people on other sites/groups tell me I shouldn’t have gotten the rabbit if I could not have it spayed but my vet microchipped my tortoise, I didn’t give that a second thought because I know she deals with exotics here and there. It’s just such a crappy situation to be in.

[jerseygirl]

Posted By Baudoin on 9/29/2016 12:37 AM

From where would they travel, @Agouti Lover? I doubt the ASPCA clinic vet has the time to take an entire day to travel to do the spay and even then, where would it be done? My house? That is my second concern, not even mentioning the issue of how sensitive buns are to anesthesia. I have had a lot of people on other sites/groups tell me I shouldn’t have gotten the rabbit if I could not have it spayed but my vet microchipped my tortoise, I didn’t give that a second thought because I know she deals with exotics here and there. It’s just such a crappy situation to be in.

People can be so…   How is that helpful advice?  I don’t agree with their opinion.  You obviously understand that a spay is beneficial for her health.But it’s not an accessible option for everyone. It’s also obvious you care about her. You are providing a rabbit with a home and general vet care, then isn’t that better then her having ended up with someone else in your area giving a less then decent home?  /end rant 

That she is only 4 months old, I think you have time to keep looking into this. No need to try rush off and get them spayed at 6 months old. The cancer risk does increase as they age, particularly over age of three. A spay is also trickier when they develop fat around the uterus, but this shouldn’t be a big issue with an experienced vet. 

In another 6 months – year, you may have some more options available to you. 

@AgoutiLover, I’m sorry you have had issues post-spay for your rabbit. Unfortunately there is always some risk with any surgery. I hope the rest of her recovery is swift and trouble-free.

[Baudoin]

@Jeresygirl, is a spay/neuter clinic vet any better than a totally uneducated one? They only have neuters listed on their site for rabbits but I’d assume they do spays as well. Unless they have killed enough females they reject them now…. I honestly didn’t even call them because I cannot make the drive.

What is life expectancy unaltered? I googled and it seemed to be 5-8 years (she is a satin if that helps) but no information about if that was altered or not.

Also, regarding the hate, I fully agree. She is almost litter trained, has an entire room plus a 3 tier cage and a proper diet on top of already having a preliminary done with a vet. Seeing as she was a $20 feed store rabbit, she could have gone home in a wire bottomed hutch and been thrown outside or in a greenhouse for the winter and we are already having temps below freezing at night.

[jerseygirl]

It’s probably worth calling to see what your options are. They might do satellite clinics that are closer. Also, there may be a rotation of vets or visiting vets that come in a do rabbit surgeries for them all at one time. Does the site use the term neuter and spay? Neuter is not actually meant to be a gender specific term, but often gets used that way.

[Baudoin]

The site does refer to spaying cats and dogs, just not rabbits. I will ask my vet but our little hodunk town-run shelter said they are the only option for spay/neuter when I was looking for lower cost options for my service dog. ($450 for her spay!! Yikes!)

[Odette]

I would not risk a spay with an inexperienced vet.

It may well be that you get visiting vets or that a new vet will set up shop in the next couple of years. I read that bunnies are now the third most popular pet, so hopefully that means more vets will train to treat rabbits. But, as is, I wouldn’t personally take the risk on a vet that has never done the operation on a bunny.

Also, you might ask your vet to stock critical care. She may not have that on hand if she doesn’t treat many bunnies. Hopefully you’ll never need it, but it’s good to have available.

[Candle]

Since it looks like you still have some time maybe just hold on but don’t give up on the idea entirely. Are you going to go visit family or anything or travel to a bigger city in the next couple years? Perhaps you can bring it then if you have a few days there to help her settle down a bit?

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