Sometimes these hard choices just get a bunny down.
There are many myths and concerns about spaying or neutering your rabbit. Some of the myths are:
- My rabbit will become fat and lazy. This is not true. Altering your rabbit does not make your pet fat or lazy. Too much food and not enough exercise are the causes of obesity.
- A female should have one litter. Not true. It is actually better for her not to have a litter.
- I will be able to find good homes for all the babies. You may be able to place your bunnies, but will they go to good and permanent homes?
Each time you place a bunny from your litter, somewhere a bunny is killed because there was no home. Yearly, thousands of adorable, adoptable rabbits are destroyed at animal shelters because no one wants them. Thousands more are abandoned in fields and road sides to suffer and die.
You may have no trouble finding homes for your adorable babies, but who will care for them once they outgrow their cute bunny phase and the novelty wears off? Once spayed or neutered, rabbits can live over ten years. They are not just a temporary pet. The unfortunate fact is there are many more wonderful rabbits than there are wonderful long-term permanent homes for them.
Facts you should know
- An unspayed females has an 80% chance of developing uterine or ovarian cancer between two and five years of age.
- Rabbits are induced ovulators, which occurs only after sexual activity has occurred. Rabbits do not "go into heat" in the standard dog or cat sense.
- Rabbits can become pregnant immediately after giving birth. With a gestation period of about 30 days, one female can produce as many as 12 litters per year. A stressed over-bred mother may re-absorb the fetuses or eat the newborns.
- Altering your rabbits rids you of the worry of what to do with unplanned litters of bunnies, eliminating all of the problems and potential risks involved in pregnancy and birth.
- Reduces aggression against other animals, decreasing fights, thus saving expensive veterinary bills and aggravation.
More reasons to spay or neuter
Most people are unfamiliar with rabbit behavior and may feel their cute little bunny turned into the "Rabbit from Hell". When a female rabbit matures, she MAY become very aggressive and may circle and spray just as males do. She may bite and start frenzied digging (which may be into your carpet). This behavior goes away when she is spayed.
Unfortunately, so many rabbits are given up between the ages of six months and one year, because owners don't know that what their rabbit is experiencing is normal and not fun for the rabbit. There is an answer... spay and neuter!
General Rules to Follow
The smaller breeds of rabbits up to the size of Holland Lops mature at about 3 ½ months of age. The larger breeds, such as Flemish Giants, mature around 5 to 7 months. Medium sized breeds mature somewhere in between.
Aggressive behavior and negative sexual activity will lessen in about two weeks after surgery. The larger breeds may take from four to eight months before signs of negative activity diminish.
Keep in mind males are still viable for about 2 weeks after surgery. After this time has passed, neutered couples can live together and may occasionally mount each other. This is normal.
Neutering your rabbit is the best gift you can give him. It will make him a better companion and someone you and your children can hold and love.
Rabbits are very special animals. If you have never lived with one, your life will be changed forever. They are interesting, curious, loyal and very affectionate.
Because they give us so much we owe it to them to learn everything we can so that they can live long and happy lives. Locating a veterinarian that specializes in rabbit care in addition to dogs and cats is the first step, spaying or neutering your rabbit is the next and finally, just love and care for them each day.