Rabbit advice please

gerad_way

Hi just wondered if anyone could offer advice. I would like 2 dwarf lop eared rabbits. Now would it be best to have 2 males or 2 females. I know it is best to have 1 of each sex, but I don't want to breed from them and can't really afford to have 1 neuted.

clutterydrawer

dolally wrote: »

If you think a £60 neuter is expensive try having a dental bun :rotfl:

Really you do need to get them neutered,. there are some vets in the country doing free neutering at the moment so if you 'phone the rspca you should be able to find out which vets are taking part.

I dread to think what I have spent on my dental bun - she's definitely had at least 6 dentals at £80 each, plus followups, meds, x rays and other miscellanous things :eek: terrifying!

dolally_2

If you can't afford to neuter them then I would suggest not getting them at all.

They need injections for myxi and vhd (twice a year if you are in an "at risk" area but yearly at the very least)

Other vet bills ( it is hard to predict certain conditions that would require ongoing treatment)

The initial set up costs can be high too and you really need as much space for them as possible.

Getting rabbits requires a massive commitment and should not be entered in to lightly.

If you are determined to get some buns then your best bet would be a rescue where you may be able to find a bonded pair that are neutered already.

dolally_2

clutterydrawer wrote: »

I dread to think what I have spent on my dental bun - she's definitely had at least 6 dentals at £80 each, plus followups, meds, x rays and other miscellanous things :eek: terrifying!

I feel your pain!! But they are worth it My bun had his incisors removed as they were the worst I've seen but he still needs rasping of the molars which is done under ga but I would love to find a vet that could do the sedation ones, he is such a docile bun that I honestly think they could do it whilst he was wide awake :rotfl:

Rummer

It might be best to get them from a rescue center. We got our rabbit from there already neautred and he has been a joy to us over the last few years. There are always loads of rabbits in rescue centers at this time of year due to people buying them as easter gifts. They quite often have pairs of rabbits too.

clutterydrawer

A male-female pair is the most reliably stress-free combination.

I agree that if you can't afford the neutering, you probably can't afford the upkeep of a rabbit - neutering is about £60 but my rabbit cost me an emergency vets fee of £120 just the other week. You can get them insured, but not all conditions are covered.

It's great that you don't want to breed as there are already too many animals needing homes - but pet rabbits should be neutered anyway. Imagine having all those hormones inside you and no "outlet" for them - you'd be super frustrated! In rabbits this can manifest itself in aggression anddestructive behaviour. Also, unspayed female rabbtis ahve an 80% chance of developing uterine cancer.

If you do get rabbits, a rescue centre is agood way to go - you'll be getting rabbits of known health and character, they'll already be neutered and possibly bonded, and you'll get a nice warm fuzzy feeling from giving needy animals a home. They're not free though - you'll typically have to pay a donation of around £30 to cover the rescue's costs, although i personally like to give them a bit extra as they are notoriously short of funds.

ClareEmily

I agree with what others have already posted on here, in addition please read this leaflet "is a rabbit for me".

http://www.rabbitwelfare.co.uk/resources/content/leaflet_pdfs/iarfm_feb_06.pdf

Please do not ignore the advise from the other posters, sometimes a boy-boy / girl-girl bunny combination can work but only if BOTH are neutered

moggylover

ClareEmily wrote: »

I agree with what others have already posted on here, in addition please read this leaflet "is a rabbit for me".

http://www.rabbitwelfare.co.uk/resources/content/leaflet_pdfs/iarfm_feb_06.pdf

Please do not ignore the advise from the other posters, sometimes a boy-boy / girl-girl bunny combination can work but only if BOTH are neutered

Not disagreeing with any of the rest - but have never had any real problems with girl/girl combinations at all. Have had as many as 5 in a hutch, non were neutered, and they were fine (the odd chasing match, no real aggro) and I have three that are all together now and they were all put together as mature adults recently when I had no choice because I needed space for two rescues (one male, one female so had to do a re-shuffle).

ClareEmily

moggylover wrote: »

Not disagreeing with any of the rest - but have never had any real problems with girl/girl combinations at all. Have had as many as 5 in a hutch, non were neutered, and they were fine (the odd chasing match, no real aggro) and I have three that are all together now and they were all put together as mature adults recently when I had no choice because I needed space for two rescues (one male, one female so had to do a re-shuffle).

I think we were trying to also point out to the orginal poster that neuturing in the long term is important, especially for females, just reading the bit in bold is why my bunny is neutured. It also sounds like you have been extremely lucky I have witnessed a bunny fight and it is not nice.

Sorry to keep quoting from the RWAF but they explain it better than me.


Having female rabbits (does) spayed is even more important. Most females become territorial and aggressive from sexual maturity onwards (4-6 months). They have repeated false pregnancies, and may growl at, scratch and

bite their owners as well as attacking other rabbits. Keeping two females together - even if they are sisters - can make things worse.

Spaying reduces and sometimes eliminates these behavioural problems. Spayed females are likely to live longer then their unspayed sisters. Up to 80% of unspayed female rabbits develop uterine cancer by 5 years of age.

Females who are not spayed when young and in good health may have to undergo the operation in later life if a pyometra (uterine infection) or cancer develops, although usually it is too late and the cancer has already spread. Spaying is a bigger operation than castration. It's usually performed when the rabbit is at least 4 or 5 months old. The uterus and both ovaries are removed via the abdomen.

foreign_correspondent

I agree with those who have said think twice if you cant afford neutering...

iif you cannot afford the small vets bill to have them neutered, have you thought about whether you can afford the initial costs (hutch etc) and the ongoing costs of bedding, food, vet bills and I believe vaccinations are advised now? Also, what if one or both rabbits became ill, could you afford to take it to the vets?