Why Spay/Neuter Your Rabbit?

By Brandee LaCava
VP Hop-A-Long Hollow
www.hopalonghollow.org

So many bunnies and so little time.  We get calls and e-mails everyday for rabbits found outside or people looking to re-home the ones they currently have.  It concerns me to see what people might be teaching their children as far as animal responsibility.  I can understand, having been through it on more occasions than I would like to admit, the frustration over bunny hormones.  Most people that are selling rabbits for $20 in the newspaper and a lot of pet stores I have been to, don’t know what to tell you about rabbit care that is most important to their overall health and longevity.

When a rabbit hits its teen years, approximately 4-6 months of age, this is the time all their bunny hormones start racing.  Females (and males too) will get very cage territorial.  They don’t want hands in their cages when they are in there, and will "box" you or lunge to nip.  Male bunnies (and we have seen females do their own rendition of this) will begin to spray to mark their territory.  What people see as "bad-bunny" behavior is quite simply the same hormonal issues we all go through in life.  Ok, we don’t spray the walls, but still…

When times are tough and you find yourself pulling your hair out, know that there is hope!  Have your rabbit spayed/neutered.  Not only will it help to calm down the hormones (you’ll start to see a difference in about 30 days) but it can help with litter box training and can also increase their life-span (and helps with the over crowded domestic rabbit population).  How is this you ask?  Well, a rabbit’s typical life-span, according to uneducated rabbit sellers, is 2-4 years.  Have you ever heard them tell you that the reason for this is that the biggest killer of rabbits over the age of 4 is ovarian and testicular cancer?  No, because they are uneducated in this area!  You can actually help to increase your bunny’s life span to 8-12 years (depending on the breed size).  We currently have a 16-year-old dwarf that is the beloved pet of the President of The Hollow.

Rabbits are all different, just like cats and dogs, in size, shape, color and personality.  They can be litter box trained and taught to come when they are called.  They are very big heart-stealers, so watch out!  Bring those hutch bunnies indoors and give them a chance at a real life full of love and companionship, you’ll be glad you did!  Please visit www.hopalonghollow.org for information on our organization.

Please make sure that your rabbit has not been living on Pine or Cedar shavings for at least a 1-1/2 months prior to surgery or they will have over a 50% chance of not waking up from anesthesia.  These woods greatly affect their lungs, kidneys and elevate their liver enzymes.  Older bunnies, age 5 and up, should have a blood panel done first.