Rabbit Neutering

The word neuter refers to the surgical removal of the reproductive organs of either a male or a female.  The term ‘Spey’ is often used to refer to the neutering of a female. The ‘scientific’ terminology is castration for the neutering of a male and in the female ovariohysterectomy   

Reasons why we would advise neutering your pet.

Prevention of pregnancy

This is the most common reason that rabbits are neutered particularly if there are both male and female living in the same household.

Prevention of uterine cancer

The incidence of development of uterine tumours within unneutered female rabbits is very high approximately 80%, the most common form of tumour is a uterine adenocarcinoma this is a malignant aggressive form of cancer that often spreads normally invading the lungs.

Other uterine disorders

Although uterine cancer is the most common reproductive disorder in rabbits, it is not uncommon to see pyometra (pus filled uterus) and endometritis (inflamed uterine lining) as with uterine tumours these conditions are more commonly seen in rabbits over 2 years of age.

Prevention of false pregnancies (pseudopregnancies)

Following a failed or infertile mating, either by a neuter male or mounting by a female, the ovaries produce hormones to prepare the body and uterus for pregnancy.  The body then acts as if it is pregnant but there is in fact no pregnancy present.   Behaviour may change to include nest building, by pulling hair from the abdomen and adding to bedding. Milk may be produced and your pet may display aggressive behaviour, as she becomes territorial, this may be directed either toward yourself the owner or other rabbits. 

Mammary tumours

Mammary tumours are not common in rabbits but when they occur they can spread rapidly and be difficult to treat. They are preventable if neutered before 2 years of age, as they are believed to be hormone related, the most common tumour being a mammary carcinoma and are usually associated with the presence of uterine tumours.

Prevention of aggressive behaviour

Both males and females may display aggressive behaviour when sexually mature.  In personal experience I have found females in particular to become very aggressive once they reach about 12months of age. They may bite, scratch, strike, chase and lunge it is therefore best to neuter just before or shortly after sexual maturity in order to keep this behaviour to a minimum.

Prevention of urine spraying

Both males and females have the ability to spray urine in order to mark their territory. Unneutered males will have very pungent urine, with a musty odour and will tend to spray more frequently then females. This behaviour can become a habit if allowed to continue it is therefore better to get your pet neutered just prior to sexual maturity.

Prevention of testicular disease

Disease of the testicles is uncommon the most commonly presented problem is trauma to the testicles following a fight with another rabbit, although testicular cancer can occur.

Age to neuter

The best age to neuter either a male of female rabbit is just after or just prior to sexual maturity. Depending on the breed, this time could range from four to six months in the small to medium sized breeds such as the Netherland dwarf or mini lops to up to nine months in the giant breeds such as the New Zealand whites.  It is not recommended to neuter under three to four months of age as this may increase the difficulty of the surgery due to the size of the reproductive organs. There are no health benefits to neutering earlier then this. However there is a benefit in females being neutered before two years of age as this decrease the incidence of uterine tumour development.

Your rabbit should be examined by one of our veterinary surgeons prior to arrangement of surgery. During this examination the surgeon will ensure that your pet is fit and healthy and a good candidate for anaesthesia.

What happens during the procedure?

When a male rabbit is castrated, the testicles are completely removed. There may be either one incision in front of the testicles through which both are removed, or there may be two incisions one in each scrotum. The incision may be left open which is expectable if the incisions are in the scrotum or closed with sutures. The scrotal sacs will swell within 24 to 48 hours after the surgery but within 7 to 10 days the swelling should have subsided. The scrotal sacs will eventually shrink over time. Neutered males should still be separated from entire females for a period of 2-3 weeks post surgery as live sperm may still remain although due to the removal of the testies production will cease. Testosterone blood levels drop slowly after neutering and a male rabbit may still try to mate a female rabbit for a few weeks after being castrated.
 
When a female rabbit is neutered, the ovaries, oviducts and uterus are removed. The uterus is made up of two long tubes with an ovary at one end and a cervix at the other.  An incision is made in the area of the umbilicus (belly button) and the uterus and other reproductive structures are gently pulled out from the abdomen through this incision.  The incision is sutured with two to three layers of suture material. Since rabbits have incisors excellent at cutting through many material some surgeon choose to bury the final layer of sutures under the skin so there is nothing accessible for the rabbit to chew at, these sutures will dissolve eventually over several weeks.  Although some rabbits may have external skin sutures that require removal.

Post surgical care

It is very important after any surgery to examine the wound(s) at least twice daily noting any signs of swelling, discharge or opening of the wound. Many rabbits may be off their food for 24hrs after surgery but they should be encouraged to eat as soon as possible post surgery. If your rabbit is acting very uncomfortably, is extremely lethargic, is not eating at all or is unwilling to move, then you should contact the veterinary hospital. It is usually not necessary to use antibiotics after routine neutering. One may be prescribed if there are other problems or if there were any complications at the time of surgery.
The majority of rabbits return to normal with five to seven days which is a far shorter recovery period then most humans experience! The benefits of neutering far outweigh the temporary discomfort felt after the surgical procedure.