What to ask Vet & Age for Spay?

[Nutmeg]

Hello, 
So my little boy, Rupert, is now 4 months old & my little girl, Penelope, is now 5 months old.
I’ll be taking them into the vet this weekend to have their first check up to make sure they are as healthy as the appear to be so that we can than proceed to book their Spay and Neuter. 
(So Excited to start officially pre-bonding and than bonding after!!) 

So Two questions; 
1. I was told that for boys a neuter can be from 3 months on, as long as they have matured. He’s 4 months now.
For the GIRL I have read on here that 6 months is ideal for the spay, but my vet (over the phone) had mentioned that girls are usually good from 4 months on – she’s 5 months now. My Husband thinks we should wait until they are a bit older as he feels it would be safer if they were more around 7 / 8 months old… I think that if the vet gives the all clear than we should be good to go to book them both in. 

2. This is my first time taking in a bunny for “just a check up” – what should I be asking, what should I make sure they check for – I would think they couldn’t check all the little back teeth until they are under for their spay / neuters? Should I bring anything? A sample of their Poop? (Ewww  lol) 

Thanks everyone!!! 

[Deleted User]

My boys were both neutered at 4 months old and recovered just fine I live in Boston, and the vets in this area won’t spay until the girl is around 6 months old to make sure she’s fully developed and can handle the surgery. A spay is much more invasive than a neuter, so it might be a good idea to make sure she is at least 6 months old. I forget if it was Sarahthegemini or Sirius&Luna who had their girl spayed at 5 months, but maybe they’ll pop in on that.

For a vet appointment, they’ll mainly just feel your little ones up (I know it sounds weird) to make sure everything feels fine. They’ll hold their mouths open with a little mirror/scope like thing to check all of their teeth. They’ll also use a similar instrument to check down in their ears. My vet didn’t do any blood work on them until they went in for their neuters, so I’m not sure if they would do blood work on yours. The most important thing to ask is about the spay/neuter. Ask about the mortality and success rate of the vet that will be doing the surgery. Anything greater than 1% is not good. Also ask if they offer any care for them after the surgeries and definitely ask about pain meds. Aside from that, just ask them general questions that you may be concerned about. Things to look out for with teeth issues. GI issues, EC, how much they’ll weigh full grown, diet… you get the idea.

[Nutmeg]

Thanks A&B – that was super helpful. For the mortality rate – should I just ask for the stats on younger bunnies being spayed and neutered? I know that emergency spays, when they are older, from things like cancer, would have a higher risk.
For example – when I rescued, my now deceased, bunny at almost 5 years old I was told that it was more of a risk to spay her at that age – so we decided to not spay her – so I would imagine if they took emergency spays for older rabbits in to account it would be higher than 1% wouldnt’ it?

[Deleted User]

I think that’s a really good idea. I don’t think many bunnies end up having emergency spays, but you never know! I know I’m going to sound like a broken record, but definitely make sure they’ll send you home with pain meds, especially for the girl. They’ll be a little dopey on them, but it honestly helped my boys get back to normal quicker than without. Good luck

[professorzap]

I would also ask how often they’ve done spay/neuter on rabbits and if they take special precautions (like with anesthesia, rabbits have problems with some anesthesia). I know my first rabbit, the vet had NEVER done a spay on a rabbit, but I didn’t have much of a choice in my area. I don’t know if your vet’s office said to withhold food before surgery, but my understanding is that you should not do so (since rabbits don’t have the same concern about throwing up). I’ve even heard some people won’t use a vet who suggests it (but don’t just go by what a person from the vet’s office says, I think they automatically have a “script” for surgery and sometimes they don’t know that it doesn’t apply to rabbits).

[Nutmeg]

Posted By Asriel and Bombur on 4/11/2018 9:39 AM

I think that’s a really good idea. I don’t think many bunnies end up having emergency spays, but you never know! I know I’m going to sound like a broken record, but definitely make sure they’ll send you home with pain meds, especially for the girl. They’ll be a little dopey on them, but it honestly helped my boys get back to normal quicker than without. Good luck

Oh I will for sure! They did give me pain meds when I brought my senior rabbit it for GI issues, so I can’t imagine they wouldn’t give it for this, but its definitely a great idea to double check that its at least included in the cost. 
I really hope they have a low rate as they are the only real “Rabbit Savie” Vets I’ve found with in an hour drive of my home. They were amazing with my senior rabbit, but that can be quite different from surgery for sure!! 
The only other one near me said they only do Neuters and not spays… which made me not even comfortable for the neuter haha. 

I am SOOoooo Scared for these procedures. They just seem so invasive for such tiny little bunnies!

[Nutmeg]

Posted By professorzap on 4/11/2018 9:57 AM

I would also ask how often they’ve done spay/neuter on rabbits and if they take special precautions (like with anesthesia, rabbits have problems with some anesthesia). I know my first rabbit, the vet had NEVER done a spay on a rabbit, but I didn’t have much of a choice in my area. I don’t know if your vet’s office said to withhold food before surgery, but my understanding is that you should not do so (since rabbits don’t have the same concern about throwing up). I’ve even heard some people won’t use a vet who suggests it (but don’t just go by what a person from the vet’s office says, I think they automatically have a “script” for surgery and sometimes they don’t know that it doesn’t apply to rabbits).

Hi Professorzap – I am so sorry I just saw your reply. I missed it somehow. 
I know this vet has done spays and neuters before on bunnies. But I will now also ask them what their success rate is. But I’m out int he boonies too – so I am so happy they have experience with bunnies as most people see them as food out here. 

That is so good to know, as it makes sense that with a dog or a cat they would have to with hold food. And I agree as far as what the front nurse / receptionist could say – as they may not be bunny knowledgable. 
I have a list of questions I’m putting together to ask when I see the vet for their check up!! 

[Author]

Messages