Zeus has a tentative appt to be neutered. I'm scared to death!

FORUM

What are we about? Please read about our Forum Culture and check out the Rules.

BUNNY 911 – If your rabbit hasn’t eaten or pooped in 12-24 hours, call a vet immediately! Don’t have a vet? Check out VET RESOURCES

The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 33sd replies, 11 voices, and was last updated 14 years, 4 months ago by bunnnnnnie!.

Viewing 33 reply threads

Author

Messages
- 12/27/2011 at 5:09 PM
  bunnnnnnie!
  Participant
  1491 posts
  I’m posting this in the lounge because it’s more about my own worrywartedness then the actual neuter, in all honesty. .
  
  I called the vet today and made a tentative appointment to get the Zeus bun neutered. The rabbit vet (they’re a small exotics vet, but have one specific vet that specializes in rabbits) is supposed to call me within a few days to do a bit of a phone consult and give me an idea of the cost. I’m going to be absolutely grilling the vet with every question I can think of, but Zeus has been to this vet in the past and I know they know their stuff when it comes to rabbits. If the vet “passes the test”, I’ll confirm the appointment. If I have one ounce of doubt in the vet’s knowledge, it’ll be cancelled.
  
  Zeus is 3, he’ll be 4 this Feb. He’s the sweetest bun in the world and I want the absolute best for him. I know ultimately neutering him will give him a better quality of life, and if in the future I can ever get another bun, it would be possible.
  
  But I’m still absolutely terrified of having him neutered. .
  
  After I hung up with the vet’s office, I seriously wanted to cry. . I’m just absolutely petrified something will go wrong. I know he’s a bit older to be neutered, and I know any surgery his its risks. If anything were to go wrong.. I just can’t even handle the thought. But I look at him, and I just really want the best for my loving boy. Ugh. Being a bun owner is really hard sometimes.
  
  Can someone help settle my fears? Success stories for neuters, especially with older buns? How long does it take for them to recover and be 100% again? Is there anything I’ll need to do once he’s home, or before the neuter? I’m scheduling it for a Friday so I can be with him all weekend and monitor him.
  
  …am I doing the right thing for my Zeus?
- 12/27/2011 at 5:21 PM
  Monkeybun
  Participant
  10479 posts
  You are definitely doing the right thing. At OHS, I have seen numerous older buns come through, get neutered, and recover in no time. With boys, its a much less invasive procedure, so the recovery time is only a few days, long enough for the incisions to heal. He’ll do fine If itty bitty Monkey can bounce back after a spay, Mighty Zeus can handle a little thing like a neuter
- 12/27/2011 at 5:31 PM
  bunnnnnnie!
  Participant
  1491 posts
  Posted By Monkeybun on 12/27/2011 05:21 PM
  You are definitely doing the right thing. At OHS, I have seen numerous older buns come through, get neutered, and recover in no time. With boys, its a much less invasive procedure, so the recovery time is only a few days, long enough for the incisions to heal. He’ll do fine If itty bitty Monkey can bounce back after a spay, Mighty Zeus can handle a little thing like a neuter
  
  Aww little Monkey, she’s my fav bun on here (minus Zeus of course!). Thanks for the encouraging words. Would he need to go back for removal of stitches or anything?
- 12/27/2011 at 5:33 PM
  Monkeybun
  Participant
  10479 posts
  It depends on the vet really. Some use dissolving stitches, some use glue, some traditional stitches that need to be removed. Ask your vet when you do your consult
- 12/27/2011 at 5:35 PM
  bunnnnnnie!
  Participant
  1491 posts
  Posted By Monkeybun on 12/27/2011 05:33 PM
  It depends on the vet really. Some use dissolving stitches, some use glue, some traditional stitches that need to be removed. Ask your vet when you do your consult
  
  Will do! The vet’s probably going to think I’m crazy when I start the 20 questions act, but oh well.
- 12/27/2011 at 5:36 PM
  Sam and Lady's Human
  Participant
  2001 posts
  It depends on what stitches they use, we had to take Samson back a week after the spay and they looked over the incision and cut the stitches.
  
  Lady’s getting spayed on the 4th, I’m really excited. I have total faith in my vet though, he’s a really good one, and recommended by rabbit.org
- 12/27/2011 at 5:40 PM
  Stickerbunny
  Participant
  4128 posts
  Powder is about four (best guess, we don’t know his actual age) and he came through neutering just fine. The only thing was he was a bit slower to bounce back than a younger bun, he refused water for three days and it took four for him to want his pellets again. Most males handle it better, I think Powder is just a whimp when it comes to pain. After that he was back to his.. well, not normal self since his hormones went nuts and he started chewing/digging (which he’d never done before) but was acting healthy again. Zeus should be fine.
  
  Edit: If they do use stitches that need removed, watch out for chewing – my vet used to use those, but he had so many rabbits chew the stitches out that he will only use dissolving internal stitches now. If he nibbles, they can give you a collar to prevent it.
- 12/27/2011 at 5:53 PM
  Kokaneeandkahlua
  Participant
  12067 posts
  At the shelter I volunteered with there was a rabbit we had neutered who was six or seven, and my vet wasn’t concerned at all. He did great and was normal within hours-as boys almost always are I wouldn’t worry a wink about the age having any impact, he’s still a young dude
  
  But I know it feels to be so worried, its something you don’t have control over as you won’t be there in surgery and unless you are a DVM you wouldn’t be much help. It’s like being in a plane, you have no control so you worry. I totally sympathize. But it will be over soon and he’ll do just fine. Boys recover so quickly! Just make sure you have everything clean for when he gets home and I would suggest pushing for some metacam to take home-often vets don’t want to give this, but it makes a lot of difference in ease of recovery-can’t hurt might help.
  And if you can-take the day off work-I didn’t and was just constantly posting on BB about how worried I was lol-I was useless that day
- 12/27/2011 at 5:58 PM
  bunnnnnnie!
  Participant
  1491 posts
  Posted By Kokaneeandkahlua on 12/27/2011 05:53 PM
  At the shelter I volunteered with there was a rabbit we had neutered who was six or seven, and my vet wasn’t concerned at all. He did great and was normal within hours-as boys almost always are I wouldn’t worry a wink about the age having any impact, he’s still a young dude
  
  But I know it feels to be so worried, its something you don’t have control over as you won’t be there in surgery and unless you are a DVM you wouldn’t be much help. It’s like being in a plane, you have no control so you worry. I totally sympathize. But it will be over soon and he’ll do just fine. Boys recover so quickly! Just make sure you have everything clean for when he gets home and I would suggest pushing for some metacam to take home-often vets don’t want to give this, but it makes a lot of difference in ease of recovery-can’t hurt might help.
  And if you can-take the day off work-I didn’t and was just constantly posting on BB about how worried I was lol-I was useless that day
  
  Thanks for the encouraging stories, Zeus is definitely much younger than a 6 or 7 year old bun so that makes me feel better.
  
  I don’t know if I can handle having the day off work.. I’ll NEED work to keep me from absolutely going crazy worrying about him and calling the vet office 1000 times asking if he’s ok..
- 12/27/2011 at 5:59 PM
  Stickerbunny
  Participant
  4128 posts
  Ask the vets office when you get him done to call you when he’s through, my vet does this with all surgery, so owners don’t have to worry longer than they have to.
- 12/27/2011 at 6:02 PM
  bunnnnnnie!
  Participant
  1491 posts
  Posted By Stickerbunny on 12/27/2011 05:59 PM
  Ask the vets office when you get him done to call you when he’s through, my vet does this with all surgery, so owners don’t have to worry longer than they have to.
  
  Yeah I’ll definitely be asking for that.
- 12/27/2011 at 6:15 PM
  equalsign
  Participant
  220 posts
  If you’re interested in pain meds, be sure to ask. Some vets don’t give them for neuters. My rabbits eat Metacam like it’s candy. I don’t have to force it at all.
  
  Be prepared for hormone blowout, just in case. My little boy is still a psyco bun and it’s been like two or three months! Not as bad as he was for the first month though. Some days he was all “hide in a box / loneliest bunny in the world” and others he was all “Bite everything I can! Shoes? YES! Door? YES! Hand? YES!”
  
  Honestly, some days he was just MEAN! You could feel the bad vibes.
- 12/27/2011 at 11:11 PM
  MimzMum
  Participant
  8029 posts
  Remember not to let Zeus jump up or down from anything too for about a week post-op. No need for extra wear and tear on the surgical site. I had to take Mimzy’s favorite shelf away and BOY was he MAD.
  I am curious though…is Zeus displaying unwanted behaviour? Or did you find a bun you wanted to give him for company?
  Mimz was maybe a year or possibly more when I had him done so he doesn’t count, but other than that the only animal I ever had neutered late was one of my dogs and he was 12. He did swell and need antibiotics but I don’t know if that was due to his age or that he wouldn’t leave the stitches alone afterwards.
  
  They have nice soft cones for buns now so they don’t chew that spot, but don’t know how these affect cecal consumption. :-/
- 12/28/2011 at 12:02 AM
  kinggoblin
  Participant
  416 posts
  I was so worried about my bunny’s neuter, but everything went fine, they let me take him home an hour after he was done and when he heard me outside the door the vet tech said he jumped into his crate immediately, lol! He wanted to GO!
- 12/28/2011 at 4:11 AM
  bunnnnnnie!
  Participant
  1491 posts
  Posted By MimzMum on 12/27/2011 11:11 PM
  Remember not to let Zeus jump up or down from anything too for about a week post-op. No need for extra wear and tear on the surgical site. I had to take Mimzy’s favorite shelf away and BOY was he MAD.
  I am curious though…is Zeus displaying unwanted behaviour? Or did you find a bun you wanted to give him for company?
  Mimz was maybe a year or possibly more when I had him done so he doesn’t count, but other than that the only animal I ever had neutered late was one of my dogs and he was 12. He did swell and need antibiotics but I don’t know if that was due to his age or that he wouldn’t leave the stitches alone afterwards.
  
  They have nice soft cones for buns now so they don’t chew that spot, but don’t know how these affect cecal consumption. :-/
  
  No unwanted behavior, he’s never shown any intact male behavior minus the occasional humping, and he has a toy he uses for that, never humans. I don’t have a bun in mind for a friend for him right at this time, but I want the option of getting him a friend before he gets older and qualifies as a “senior bun”. I also have the finances and time off for it right now, so everything just kinda fit into place.
  
  Luckily in his cage it’s all one level, but out of cage I’ll have to somehow convince him not to get up on the futon or the windowsill.. the windowsill is his favorite place!
  
  If I have a choice I’m going to try to ask for the dissolving stitches so the chance of him chewing it and having an issue is lessened.
- 12/28/2011 at 4:12 AM
  jerseygirl
  Moderator
  22356 posts
  I ditto MMs question as I’m curious too.
  
  I am curious though…is Zeus displaying unwanted behaviour? Or did you find a bun you wanted to give him for company?
  
  You mentioned better quality of life also. I know we normally advocate spay and neuter on here but as far as i was aware, Zeus is a gem and his being intact has not caused any issues. I’m not well versed on leaving a male rabbit intact health wise.
  
  I don’t mean to make you think I don’t think your doing the right thing with my question!!! I’m just curious as to why you are considering his being neutered now is all.
  
  Anyway, if you haven’t asked the vet yet, you can have some pre bloodwork done. That might be another step that would help ease your mind somewhat. Also, there is something about the actual neuter technique. I’m sorry, i’ll have to look up the terms again. I think most vets that are up with modern practices would be doing the type that has them bouncing back in no time.
- 12/28/2011 at 4:12 AM
  jerseygirl
  Moderator
  22356 posts
  Argh! I’m really sorry. I hope my post has not caused you more concern.
- 12/28/2011 at 4:12 AM
  bunnnnnnie!
  Participant
  1491 posts
  Posted By kinggoblin on 12/28/2011 12:02 AM
  I was so worried about my bunny’s neuter, but everything went fine, they let me take him home an hour after he was done and when he heard me outside the door the vet tech said he jumped into his crate immediately, lol! He wanted to GO!
  
  Haha cute bun. Yeah Zeus usually doesn’t like to hop right into his carrier but at the vet he sure does.
- 12/28/2011 at 4:14 AM
  bunnnnnnie!
  Participant
  1491 posts
  Posted By jerseygirl on 12/28/2011 04:12 AM
  Argh! I’m really sorry. I hope my post has not caused you more concern.
  
  No need to apologize. Refer to my reply to MM to see why I’m doing it now. .
  
  I’ll ask about bloodwork. Can they do bloodwork and the neuter all in one day? I know some vets have to send out bloodwork and it takes a few days.
- 12/28/2011 at 4:18 AM
  bunnnnnnie!
  Participant
  1491 posts
  Oh and as for quality of life, I was referring to the humping he does. He must be doing it because he still has that drive to mate, and no real way to express it. So I think if he didn’t have those urges and nowhere to express them, he might be happier. I also don’t want to discover him getting lonely at like 6 or 7 years old and then being REALLY wary of a neuter. That’s my main fear, I don’t want to regret leaving him intact when it’s too late.
- 12/28/2011 at 4:21 AM
  jerseygirl
  Moderator
  22356 posts
  Ah, ok I see. (I think we might have posted same time).
  
  It’s definitely forward thinking of you to consider having him fixed now so your options are open for getting a 2nd rabbit. He’s at a good age. : )
- 12/28/2011 at 4:24 AM
  jerseygirl
  Moderator
  22356 posts
  Posted By bunnnnnnie! on 12/28/2011 04:18 AM
  
  Oh and as for quality of life, I was referring to the humping he does. He must be doing it because he still has that drive to mate, and no real way to express it. So I think if he didn’t have those urges and nowhere to express them, he might be happier. I also don’t want to discover him getting lonely at like 6 or 7 years old and then being REALLY wary of a neuter. That’s my main fear, I don’t want to regret leaving him intact when it’s too late.
  
  . I understand. I hope things do align where you can go ahead with it all successfully. You have us here for support. We love the Zeuster too!
- 12/28/2011 at 4:25 AM
  LittlePuffyTail
  Moderator
  18092 posts
  Just want to offer some (((Positive Procedure Vibes))))).
  
  It’s hard not to worry when bunny is going under. I can relate. Just try to R-E-L-A-X!
- 12/28/2011 at 4:30 AM
  bunnnnnnie!
  Participant
  1491 posts
  Posted By jerseygirl on 12/28/2011 04:24 AM
  
  Posted By bunnnnnnie! on 12/28/2011 04:18 AM
  
  Oh and as for quality of life, I was referring to the humping he does. He must be doing it because he still has that drive to mate, and no real way to express it. So I think if he didn’t have those urges and nowhere to express them, he might be happier. I also don’t want to discover him getting lonely at like 6 or 7 years old and then being REALLY wary of a neuter. That’s my main fear, I don’t want to regret leaving him intact when it’s too late.
  
  . I understand. I hope things do align where you can go ahead with it all successfully. You have us here for support. We love the Zeuster too!
  
  Aw well thanks! I’m glad he has a fan club. . And luckily BinkyBunny isn’t blocked at work so I can post here the day of the neuter.. not that I’d EVER post here at work.. nope, never.. .
  
  Another factor is also within the next year or so, I’ll be moving out of my studio apartment and into a house again. In the studio, Zeus can be with me 24/7, because it’s basically one giant room he has access to. When I’m cooking, he’s with me. When I’m watching TV, he’s with me. When I’m sleeping, he’s there. When I’m showering, he’s there. In the house, he won’t be able to have free roam of the whole house, so he won’t be able to follow me wherever I go like he does now and have constant companionship from me. With 2 bonded buns, they ALWAYS have each other. I want him to have that.
  
  I have quite a few reasons for considering the neuter I guess. Sorry my thoughts are kinda scattered.. it’s not even 630am here yet, well before sunrise, I’m sleepy.
- 12/28/2011 at 4:31 AM
  bunnnnnnie!
  Participant
  1491 posts
  Posted By LittlePuffyTail on 12/28/2011 04:25 AM
  Just want to offer some (((Positive Procedure Vibes))))).
  
  It’s hard not to worry when bunny is going under. I can relate. Just try to R-E-L-A-X!
  
  Thanks. I really hope to hear from the vet today, so I can get my questions asked. I wonder if the vet can give ME something to not panic about the neuter?! Maybe a little bit of cat sedative?!?
- 12/28/2011 at 4:43 AM
  jerseygirl
  Moderator
  22356 posts
  Maybe the vet will need that after you grill them. They’ll be shaking in their boots.
- 12/28/2011 at 4:50 AM
  bunnnnnnie!
  Participant
  1491 posts
  Posted By jerseygirl on 12/28/2011 04:43 AM
  Maybe the vet will need that after you grill them. They’ll be shaking in their boots.
  
  Should I make them sit in the middle of a dark interrogation room with a light shining on them?
- 12/28/2011 at 4:53 AM
  jerseygirl
  Moderator
  22356 posts
  Yes.
  
  You should make them lie on the theatre table in the surgery. With that overhead light.
  
  Zeus is worth it.
- 12/28/2011 at 9:20 AM
  Stickerbunny
  Participant
  4128 posts
  Posted By bunnnnnnie! on 12/28/2011 04:50 AM
  
  Posted By jerseygirl on 12/28/2011 04:43 AM
  Maybe the vet will need that after you grill them. They’ll be shaking in their boots.
  
  Should I make them sit in the middle of a dark interrogation room with a light shining on them?
  
  Haha yes you should! … no, good vets don’t mind being grilled and it even made my vet voluntarily give me MORE information about EVERYTHING he does to my buns. Any medicine he gives, I get a full run down – anything he does during a checkup, he tells me what he’s doing, the least medicine he gives them, I get told the name of. Some vets really like owners taking the initiative
- 12/28/2011 at 9:26 AM
  bunnnnnnie!
  Participant
  1491 posts
  Posted By Stickerbunny on 12/28/2011 09:20 AM
  
  Posted By bunnnnnnie! on 12/28/2011 04:50 AM
  
  Posted By jerseygirl on 12/28/2011 04:43 AM
  Maybe the vet will need that after you grill them. They’ll be shaking in their boots.
  
  Should I make them sit in the middle of a dark interrogation room with a light shining on them?
  
  Haha yes you should! … no, good vets don’t mind being grilled and it even made my vet voluntarily give me MORE information about EVERYTHING he does to my buns. Any medicine he gives, I get a full run down – anything he does during a checkup, he tells me what he’s doing, the least medicine he gives them, I get told the name of. Some vets really like owners taking the initiative
  
  Yeah I love vets who will walk you through the whole process, they’re great.
- 12/28/2011 at 4:42 PM
  LBJ10
  Moderator
  17244 posts
  Wooly didn’t get neutered right away because the vet wanted him to be a little bigger. Still, he was only 10 months old when we had it done. I don’t have any experience with having an older rabbit neutered, but it looks like others here do. I do remember being worried though. The vet was so nice though. They called twice, once when they couldn’t find one of his marbles and once when they were done. My vet is pretty good though, so I suppose there wasn’t much to worry about.
- 12/29/2011 at 4:11 AM
  LittlePuffyTail
  Moderator
  18092 posts
  Should I make them sit in the middle of a dark interrogation room with a light shining on them?
  
  Yup! And you gotta play “Good Bunny Owner/Bad Bunny Owner”.
- 12/29/2011 at 6:30 AM
  bunnnnnnie!
  Participant
  1491 posts
  Posted By LittlePuffyTail on 12/29/2011 04:11 AM
  
  Should I make them sit in the middle of a dark interrogation room with a light shining on them?
  
  Yup! And you gotta play “Good Bunny Owner/Bad Bunny Owner”.
- 12/29/2011 at 2:03 PM
  bunnnnnnie!
  Participant
  1491 posts
  I heard from the vet. She did a good job answering my questions. I made a seperate thread for it in the Care section:
  
  https://binkybunny.com/FORUM/tabid/5…fault.aspx
Author

Messages