Rabbits are well known for their rapid reproduction cycles in the wild. In fact, one female bunny can easily give birth to as many as 14 babies in one litter and can technically have a litter every month because she can get pregnant almost immediately after giving birth. If you have a pair of pet bunnies, getting them spayed or neutered is definitely important if you don’t want hundreds of new babies bouncing around in rapid succession. However, beyond the quick reproduction concerns that you may not consider with just one rabbit as a pet, there are plenty of other reasons to have your bunny spayed or neutered.
The Advantages of Spaying or Neutering Your Bunny
- Spaying and neutering can reduce the risks of certain reproductive-related disease, such as ovarian cancer in females, which means your rabbit could live a longer, healthier life.
- Rabbits who have been spayed or neutered tend to be calmer, more docile, and more loving because they are not so concerned with mating.
- Spaying and neutering can deter aggressive behaviours, such as biting or attacking other rabbits and pets.
- Having your rabbit spayed or neutered can prevent excessive chewing, digging, and burrowing.
- Prevent unwanted offspring and control problems with rabbit overpopulation in your area.
- Spaying or neutering allows you to give your rabbit companions without concerns of fighting or trying to mate.
FAQ
Is spaying or neutering your bunny a safe procedure?
A well-trained vet can spay or neuter your bunny with little risk that anything will go wrong. Just make sure you only entrust this task to a true professional.
When should you have your bunny spayed or neutered?
Males should be neutered at the age of full sexual maturity, which usually falls around three to four months of age. Females should be neutered around six months of age, which is a bit after the rabbit reaches full maturity but is a safer age for the surgery.
What aftercare will the bunny need after spay or neuter surgery?
Your vet will go over the specifics with you after surgery, but in general, you should:
- give your bunny a quiet, private place to relax as they will spend a lot of their recovery time sleeping
- check the wound site of a spayed rabbit daily for signs of infection and alert the vet if you see anything
- keep their hutch or enclosure clean to prevent bacteria problems while the bunny heals
- allow the rabbit to be active on their own terms and not force them to play or roam if they don’t yet seem up to it
- give pain medications as recommended by the vet if they were recommended
Even though the option to have your bunny spayed or neutered is a choice you are free to make, the benefits of doing so show that this could be the best decision.