A spay or neuter procedure is often called castration orchiectomy, a surgical procedure in which a male’s testicles are removed or a female’s reproductive organs are removed. Spaying or neutering your pet rabbit is just as important as having your dog or cat neutered, which many rabbit owners overlook. Should you spay or neuter your rabbit?
There are many benefits to spaying a rabbit. A spayed rabbit will live a long and healthy life while being easier to manage. Spaying fixes overpopulation, so they can safely have a friend, as rabbits are social animals. Spaying is also safe, and you’ll be able to bond more with your furry friend.
Spaying or neutering your pet rabbit is one of the crucial parts of being a good pet parent, and veterinarians and breeders strongly advise it. Stick around to know all about spaying or neutering your pet rabbit!
Contents
Spaying Or Neutering Your Rabbit
When female rabbits reach their sexual maturity, they are old enough to be neutered. Smaller breeds will reach sexual maturity at four months, while it could take up to six months for bigger breeds.
Generally, a male rabbit will be old enough to be spayed or neutered around three to five months. Rabbits reaching their middle age, ranging from five to six years, are considered too old to be altered, while younger rabbits are also at risk for complications from the surgery.
There are countless benefits to spaying or neutering a rabbit, and every pet parent wants the best for their companion! Continue reading to find all the benefits you can expect when having your pet bunny spayed or neutered:
A Spayed Or Neutered Rabbit Lives Longer And Is Healthier
Spaying or neutering your rabbit will significantly add to their life expectancy while providing benefits to their general wellbeing and health.
Did you know that reproductive cancers cause the most common death in unaltered rabbits? This includes uterine, ovarian, mammary, as well as testicular cancers.
Studies have shown that unspayed or unneutered female rabbits have a 65% chance of developing uterine adenocarcinoma by the age of only four years, which is seen as a very high risk in any species.
Unfortunately, most rabbit owners will only notice the signs of cancer when it becomes too late, causing them to have no other choice but to euthanize their beloved pets at a very young age.
Luckily, all these health problems can be solved by spaying or neutering a rabbit and getting rid of the problem before it starts!
A Spayed Or Neutered Rabbit Is Calmer And Easier To Manage
Secondly, a spayed or neutered rabbit becomes so much calmer, and they will lose their destructive habits to an extent, without losing their charming and mischievous nature that any pet parents can’t help but deal with!
Spaying or neutering is also the best way to reduce any unwanted behaviors in rabbits. Additionally, spayed or neutered rabbits are also easier to potty or litter train than others.
An unspayed rabbit will try to flatter you by spraying you with their urine, and most rabbit owners, or any pet parent, are not overly pleased with this expression of love.
Spaying Or Neutering Your Rabbit Fixes Overpopulation
Overpopulation is an ever-growing concern for thousands of animal shelters, and every year, over seven million cats, dogs, and rabbits are killed in shelters all over the US. There’s a reason for the saying, “Breeding like rabbits!”
In addition to the problem of overpopulation, loads of unwanted pet rabbits are abandoned in cities, parks, and fields, leaving them to fend for themselves.
Many domesticated rabbits do not have the advantage of being able to feed themselves, leaving them to die from starvation, sickness, and falling prey to traffic accidents and predators.
Those rabbits who are willingly sold to pet stores don’t have a much better chance of life either, as most pet stores don’t do house checks and do not care about the kind of home they go to.
This results in many rabbits being sold to small children who will outgrow them or sold as snake food. By spaying or neutering your pet rabbit, you will help and already make an enormous contribution to fixing the concern of overpopulation.
Spayed Or Neutered Rabbits Can Have A Friend To Play With
Rabbits are known as highly social animals, and they enjoy the company of one of their own. Rabbits who are not accompanied by a friend are more likely to die because of depression or loneliness.
However, unless your rabbit is spayed or neutered, it can’t have a friend. It doesn’t matter if it’s a friend of the same or opposite sex due to aggressive behaviors.
Aggressive behaviors are mainly triggered by hormones, which are solved by spaying or neutering. Altered rabbits tend to be friendlier and much more affectionate towards new rabbits and are easier to introduce to each other.
The Spaying Or Neutering Procedure Is Safe And Harmless
Spaying and neutering rabbits have become both a safe and standard procedure when experienced rabbit veterinarians perform it.
When you decide you want to spay or neuter your pet rabbit, you need to make an appointment with your local vet for a checkup, where a date will be confirmed for the spaying or neutering procedure to take place.
Always be sure to go to a registered professional, and never place your rabbit’s safety and life in the hands of an unprofessional. That way, you can rest assured and know your bunny is being handled with the utmost care and sterile equipment.
Spayed Or Neutered Rabbits Will Bond Easier With Their Owner
Spayed and neutered house rabbits are easier to bond with due to their calmer nature. And of course, an altered couple will not end up with a litter of babies, and you need to look after them and find suitable homes!
Conclusion
Spaying or neutering your rabbit should be one of the first things you decide when you’re thinking of adopting or rescuing a pet rabbit!
Like any pet parent, you want your companion to stay by your side and live a long and healthy life, and you can achieve this by spaying or neutering!
