Getting rabbits spayed

lapetiteanglaise

I have recently adopted three female rabbits from someone who could no longer keep them. They haven't been spayed yet, but I think I might need to get them 'done', as one rabbit keeps on chasing and biting one of the others. Bizarrely, this only happens when the two of them are alone (e.g. when transferring them from hutch to run and vice versa).

Does anyone know of a good, yet reasonably priced vets in Doncaster / South Yorkshire where I could get all three spayed? At the vets we usually use, it costs £70 each (which I understand is about average). However, they're not willing to offer any kind of discount for getting all three done at once and clearly this is going to mean a big bill, which I will pay if necessary, but thought if I could get the same thing done cheaper.......

Thanks

snowman2_2

£70 each is a fair price and I would be wary of anyone dramatically under-cutting that price. Any cheaper and something has to be removed from the treatment and surgery is not something that should be done on the cheap. Also, i wouldn't give you a discount for 3 rabbits, it doesn't take any less time ( 3 vaccines is a different matter as somethings are duplicated and can be reduced). If you like your vets, get the rabbits done there (best check they are all female - a male will be cheaper). If you don't like your vets, move anyway.

viktory

Just to confirm that regardless of cost they absolutely HAVE to be spayed. Whole females are susceptable to cancers of the reproductive organs, which will shorten their lives significantly. They also make for calmer, and happier pets without the urges of reproduction. The phrase "they'll be calmer and live longer" could apply directly to the rabbit. Also, without altering, the rabbits tend to get too aggressive to the same sex.

bagginslover

They won't neccisarily be calmer, and anyone saying they WILL, isn't telling the whole truth (sorry Vicktory, its not personal). If your vet tells you it WILL calm them down, change vets. If he is saying it MAY calm them, he is telling you the truth. From experience with having my own highly aggressive male rabbit neutered, it doesn't always calm them down (we was worse afterwards, not better!), a vet that lies about this isn't worth seeing IMHO.

The cancer risk to females that don't breed is a very good reason for spaying though, rabbits are designed to be permanently pregnant, when pet ones aren't it does cause problems. Apart from the cancers you will get fighting from territorial issues (females don't like other females near their nest)and phantom pregnacies (the rabbit will pluck herself and build a nest, lining it with her own fur, she will become very distressed) are just 2.

It cost me £95 to get my current female rabbit spayed (even though when they opened her up it turned out she has Turners Syndrome and so had no uterus to begin with!!), so I'd say that £70 is a decent price, I wouldn't go lower though.

You want to ask how many rabbits the surgeon has spayed before (and over what period, if he has done 100 in 20 years, thats not may, but the same number in 2 years is different) and what the mortality rate is for the procedure in that surgery.

Will they have someone monitoring the anaesthtic continuosly, and will they be using a bunny safe type? Rabbits are notoriously bad at tolerating anaesthesia, and so should be watched very carefully.

Will you be getting pain drugs to come home with? Many vets don't think rabbits require them as they don't show signs of pain, but that is because they are a prey animal and don't want to be perceived as weak to a preditor, they most certainly do feel pain, and any vet that doesn't give meds is to be avoided. Mine have always been given Metacam.

You'll also want a drug to stimulate gut motility. Rabbits gut can go into stasis from the smallest thing, this can be fatal, operations are known to causes stasis and a good vet will want to preempt this. I beleive the drug I have used before is Baytril, though I have also used Infacol in teeny doses when one of mine has gone into stasis at home after a shock.

All of these things will cost, and thats why you shouldn't be looking to get a bargain basement priced operation done.

Hope that helps.

lapetiteanglaise

Thanks for everyone's help. I'm quite nervous about getting them spayed, as I know it can be risky. However, I'm aware of the consequences if not....

I guess we'll just have to bite the bullet and hope for the best...

Bagginslover - I'm guessing Metacam is safe for rabbits? Is just that I've read that it can be contraversial for cats, as it can speed up kidney failure, so as my bunnies are a lot smaller than my cat (well two of them are anyway!), I'm a bit concerned (not that any of them have kidney failure, but you know what I mean!). Thanks for your advice - I will definitely ask the vet the questions you've suggested.

Nimeth

No might about needing to get them done, you need to get them done. Bagginslover and viktory pretty much covered everything, but I also endorse finding a rabbit savvy vet. This will give you peace of mind as the vet will know what he/she is doing with your pet!

About pain meds and gut stimulation afterwards, some vets may give a hefty, but safe dose of pain meds before they leave the vets office so that you don't have to give it (mine did when I had my girl spayed). I'd ask if they will be doing this and if not, get them to show you how to effectively administer the meds with minimum stress to the rabbit. As for gut stimulation, fresh (not concentrated!) pineapple juice (no sugar in it either) and perhaps some favourite treats (a small piece of banana or some cabbage perhaps) to tempt them to eat. They'll be a bit dozy afterwards and may need a little encouragement to eat and drink. I'd try this method before using gut stimulation meds as rabbits often don't like getting medicated (mine certainly hates it!:o) and the less stress the better if it can be avoided! If they absolutely refuse to eat or drink, then follow bagginslover's advice about the baytril or infacol.

I'd also keep the bunnies indoors for at least 24-48 hours after the spay so you can keep an eye on them. Better safe than sorry.:)

And yes, £70 is pretty reasonable for a spay. It may seem like a good chunk now with 3 rabbits, but a lot less if they got cancer somewhere down the line.

ETA: When you're talking to the vet, ask whether he'll be using glue or stitches to close up the wound. You'll want to check underneath afterwards to make sure that the wound is healing of and has no sign of infection. If stitches are put in you'll want to keep an eye and make sure that the rabbits aren't pulling them out. Mine did, cheeky thing, but it was mostly healed by then anyway, lol.

tankgirl1

A Bunny GA is a lot more risky, intensive and requires more drugs than a cat or dog GA

All the vets I have worked with will give a pre med, fluids, the GA itself, a gut stimulant as it were, an antibiotic and a painkiller - and usually a painkiller to go home on.

Vet nurses monitor the GA - and let me tell you, it is a lot more intensive than a cat spay! You have to ensure they are kept warm throughout, monitoring is difficult and stressful! We get them eating asap post op - dandelion leafs are good!

£70 is a bargin!

PS - Baytril is an antibiotic - metoclopramide is the usual drug to prevent gut stasis, although there are others

lapetiteanglaise

Thanks for all your help!
I've emailed the vets I normally use with my questions, so just waiting for a reply......

amy104

You'll also want a drug to stimulate gut motility. Rabbits gut can go into stasis from the smallest thing, this can be fatal, operations are known to causes stasis and a good vet will want to preempt this. I beleive the drug I have used before is Baytril, though I have also used Infacol in teeny doses when one of mine has gone into stasis at home after a shock.

Baytril is an antibiotic. I've never had this given to any of my buns post spay/neuter (I have 11).

Any of my buns who've needed a gut stimulant have had Metaclopromide or Zantac but fourtunately I've normally managed to get them all eating by tempting them with fresh grass, strong smelling herbs or dandelions.

Primarily the Pain Killer is the most vital part, especially for girls as the operation is more invasive than with boys. My vets normally give a long lasting injection and then give me some oral metacam to give at home. Metacam is a NSAID (Non steroid anti inflamatory).

Rabbits must be feed right up to the op. If you are told to starve them then find another vet.

You'll also need to keep them indoors overnight (if outside buns) as they cannot regulate their temp post GA.

Also you'll need a supply of towels, vet bed or puppy training pads to line the cage with afterwards as you'll need to avoid more traditional bedding for a while to avoid it iritating the wound.

lapetiteanglaise

Thanks to everyone who helped me out with the 'issue'. All three bunnies were spayed yesterday and (touch wood!) appear to be doing well. All have had something to drink and quite a lot to eat, so fingers crossed.....

Thanks again