do i need to get our rabbit spayed?

[mumandlovingit]

hi

we've got a female rabbit today and have had it checked over and its first myxy injection, another injection in 2 weeks for something else. the vet hasn't mentioned anything about getting her spayed but ive read alot online about it being dangerous of cancer if a female rabbit isnt spayed. does anyone have any knowledge?

i read something about as a rabbit is supposed to reproduce loads of times it can get very ill if it isnt spayed.

ive never had female rabbits before, only male and we now have guinea pigs so any advice/knowledge is gratefully received. i dont want to have to spend a fortune if it isnt really necessary. she's in a hutch on her own so wont be with other rabbits.

thank you

ive just gone to take some of the wood shavings out of her food bowl (shes in the lounge in a hutch till we can get plastic sheeting tomorrow to cover the hutch from the rain) and she ran towards me and grunted at me like she was angry as i was touching the food. i quickly pulled my hand out.do rabbits get funny over their food? im hoping it isnt a sign that she will get nasty when we're giving her food etc.

shes also trying to tear up all the paper used to line the hutch and digging her way out every so often but then lays there calm.

she was fine earlier and ok when i put my hand in etc, just when i was taking the woodshavings out of the bowl so she could get to the food she didnt seem to like it.

thank you

I was told that female rabbits are often less friendly than male rabbits.

Do you have a male rabbit with her?

I personally wouldn't bother to have her spayed if she is on her own as the anaethetic is quite a risk anyway and its a big op. We have had several female rabbits and haven't ever had any problems with them in that area. We did have our male rabbit neutered thou when he was in with his sister.

HTH

we have her on her own.shocked me a minute ago though as she seemed to have settled really well.might be nerves or that she's been fiddled about with alot today really compared to what she's used to and she's grouchy.

wait and see what she's like tomorrow and when the hutch is outside.

i hope she wont get funny towards people touching her food or it will make it very awkward. she cant have a food bowl thats covered with wood shavings!

glad to know you've had female rabiits without being spayed. just wondered how much of a problem it is really. dont want to not do it and she's almost certain to get cancer when we could have prevented it.

thank you

You should definitely have her spayed. Female rabbits will almost definitely die of uterine cancer if they're not spayed.

I've always had all of mine, whatever sex, done to be on the safe side.

The RSPCA won't give you a rabbit unless they've spayed it first or agree to spay it when it's old enough.

just looked up growling rabbot and it says that they lunge and growl when they're annoyed, territorial or hormonal.i will see what the vet says and how much it is to get her spayed. i didnt know anything about it before getting her. we had male rabbits before and never had any of them done and they were fine. i cant have her growling and lunging at me though.

i will see how she gets on and if it happens again. it might have been just a stressful day for her

anyone got any idea how much it is to get a rabbit spayed? we are in the uk

It was about £50 for mine I think

thank you.i will see how she settle onces outside and consult the vet about getting her spayed. if it will keep her calmer and prolong hr life it will be worth doing.

bump-anyone else got a female rabbit that hasnt been spayed? how is their temprament etc?

ours is now ripping the paper lining of the hutch to bits and throwing it round.not sure if this is play or frustration!

going to have to google alot tomorrow after work i think!

My first two female rabs did the 'nest making' before they were spayed - sounds like she's broody.

Stopped a few weeks after the op.

Hi mumandlovingit

I had a female rabbit (unspayed) a few years ago and she was vicious! She was exactly as you've described above when putting food in the cage and was aggressive at other times too. She even growled which was quite disturbing to hear from a cuddly looking bunny!

In the end she died of natural causes but looking back, I really think not having her spayed is what affected her temperament. She used to build nests constantly in her hutch, obviously wanting babies.

I've had male rabbits in the past and they were lovely and kind.

So I would recommend spaying and hope it does help her temperament.

I was told that 80% of female rabbits will die of uterine cancer before they are five if not spayed. Also female rabbits are much more hormonal than male rabbits so it is worth getting her done.

How old is she?

thank you for your responses. she is now 6 months old but i only got her yesterday. i put food in her hutch today using a plastic bowl a let her sniff the bowl before emptying it into her food bowl. she was fine with that. ive stroked her tody and she seems fine.

ive rung the vets and it is £87 to get her spayed. they said let her settle in and see how she gets on, if she starts being aggressive/nesting etc in the next few weeks then best to get her done but if not i can wait until when i want really. i think i will end up having her done for her health and frame of mind poor thing

I've has several femal rabbits as pets (not to breed from) and I have never had them spayed. I think it's not nice to put them through such a big operation if they will not be around males. Some have been friendly and placid, but many have done the lunging that you decribe, with the grunting and growling. Keep handling her, even if it means grabbing her quite quickly. I find that onc eyou have them and are stroking them they are fine, but it's the getting hold of them that is a pain in the bum.

My bunny (Tinker Bell) was spayed as soon as she was old enough. She's a house bunny and had started a very odd habit of hopping out of her cage, over to me and piddling on me then hopping away again . Stopped once she was spayed.

I would get her insured if you haven't already. Tink ate her stitches after her spay (despite wearing a plastic collar) and ended up with staples etc. Would have cost me at least another £70 if she wasn't insured.