If you just have one rabbit, you may believe that you do not need to have it spayed or neutered since there is no possibility of an undesired litter if they do not have a partner. However, this is not the case. However, spaying and neutering are very necessary for rabbits for more reasons than only preventing unplanned pregnancies. These therapies have the potential to avoid significant health problems, remove undesirable habits, and potentially lengthen their lifespan.
The Advantages of Having Your Rabbit Spayed or Neutered
Although spaying or neutering your rabbit may seem to be an unneeded or even cruel act, the reality is that it is a very straightforward medical treatment that may have a significant positive impact on your pet’s overall health and well-being. Some of the most important advantages of having your pet rabbit spayed or neutered are as follows:
Significantly lowers the likelihood of developing reproductive malignancies
Unaltered rabbits have an exceptionally high likelihood of acquiring reproductive malignancies as they get older. According to the data, an unspayed female rabbit has a 65% chance of having uterine adenocarcinoma by the age of 4 years old. This risk is much higher for unaltered male rabbits. When the rabbit isn’t spayed, the owner runs the risk of their pet developing ovarian cancer as well as other common uterine disorders such as pyometra. However, if the uterus and ovaries are surgically removed, there is no chance that the bunny will ever get any of these diseases.
Cancer of the testicles may also occur in intact male rabbits; however, this kind of cancer is far less frequent than cancer of the uterus. The removal of the testicles during the process of neutering will prevent this, in addition to a wide variety of other damaging behaviours caused by sex hormones.
Reduces or eliminates undesirable behaviours that are triggered by hormones
If a rabbit is not spayed or neutered, regardless of whether it is a male or female, the rabbit’s sex hormones will have a significant impact on its behaviour, and this effect will not be a favourable one. Both males and females are capable of becoming highly aggressive, although females are more likely to do so than males. This may result in biting, lunging at humans or other pets, and fighting with other rabbits if you have more than one rabbit. In a similar vein, rabbits that have not been spayed or neutered have a natural need to mark their territory with urine and are likely to urinate all over your home. However, this behaviour is eliminated when the rabbits are changed by being spayed or neutered. It goes without saying that as a result of the hormones, the smell of their urine will be offensive; in fact, it will be significantly more pungent than normal.
When rabbits are fixed, they become friendlier and more loving, they may build significant ties with their owners, and they won’t mind company. However, if you intend on keeping more than one rabbit, you must have them neutered or spayed to guarantee that they won’t fight or breed with each other.
Facilitates the process of training rabbits.
You should get your rabbit used to using a litterbox if you want to keep it inside, since this is what the vast majority of people do with their pets. And if they aren’t changed in any way, it will be hard to complete the task, both because of their need to urinate in order to mark their area and because they won’t be interested in helping in any way. On the other hand, fixed rabbits are considerably simpler to instruct and have a lot better chance of being toilet trained successfully.
Eliminates the need for unwelcome littering
The most apparent advantage of having your rabbits spayed or neutered is the contribution it will make toward addressing the overpopulation problem. When it comes to mating and reproducing, rabbits are quite productive animals; a single doe may produce anywhere from two to four litters throughout the season, and each litter can contain anywhere from five to twelve young. Unfortunately, just like there are simply too many dogs and cats already in need of a good home, there are simply too many bunnies already in need of a good home. It would be irresponsible and cruel to bring new bunnies into the world that you can’t care for, as there are simply too many bunnies already in need of a good home.
When Is the Best Time to Have a Rabbit Spayed or Neutered?
When your rabbit has reached sexual maturity, which typically occurs between the ages of 3 and 6 months old – depending on their size and breed – it is preferable to have them spayed or neutered. Not only does this allow for the early detection and treatment of any possible health issues, but it also reduces the dangers associated with the use of anaesthetic, which may be increased with an older rabbit.
Even though it is a very simple operation, you should look for a veterinarian that specialises in rabbits and has previous experience doing this kind of treatment. This will guarantee that everything goes as planned, and that your rabbit will be back to normal in no time at all. In most cases, the recovery period for the rabbit after the treatment lasts for a few days. During this time, you need to keep a close eye on them and look for any indications that anything could be wrong, such as a change in appetite or unusual stools.