Did you know there are many reasons to desex you rabbits? As a rabbit owner whether new or seasoned it is your responsibility to desex your rabbit. It’s a cost many don’t know to take into account when taking on a rabbit that has not had their procedure yet, but it’s important to budget into your care plan when thinking about getting a rabbit. It’s important that you discuss with your rabbit savvy vet when to book in to desex.
About desexing:
The most common form of desexing is when any animal undergoes surgery to remove part of their reproductive tract. It is recommended that both male and female rabbits are desexed, as in most cases it can significantly increase their life expectancy and greatly benefit their general health and wellbeing.
When to desex?
It depends on the size of the rabbit, but it is generally recommended that rabbits are desexed between 4-6 months of age. This can vary depending on the rabbit’s weight, if their testes have descended yet or their gender. Female rabbits are recommended to be desexed from 6 months onwards.
Desexing female rabbits:
The surgical procedure that female rabbits undergo is called a spay (or spey). This term is commonly used when sterilising female rabbits, which involves the surgical removal of the ovaries and uterus.
Studies have shown that up to 80% of female rabbits over two years of age will develop uterine cancer. Desexing eliminates the risk of uterine cancer as well as removes the chance of unwanted pregnancies.
Desexing male rabbits:
The procedure that male rabbits undergo is called a castration. This procedure removes both externally visible testicles from beneath the skin, eliminating the risk of testicular cancer. In some cases, a male rabbit’s testes may not descend which requires a much more involved procedure to remove them.
Accidental litters
They’re more common than people think. It’s as simple as an error made by backyard breeders, pet stores etc. They could advise that two of the same gender are being sold but it is in fact difficult to correctly judge the gender of a juvenile rabbit. By the time it’s established that there is a male and a female being housed together it’s often too late to get them desexed to prevent a pregnancy. Unfortunately, accidental litters can produce an average of 4-8 kits and lead to more rabbits being dumped as the owners are unable to care for so many or simply do not want to.
Behavioural issues
Desexing around the recommended age is considered optimal to prevent behaviours such as urine spraying, humping/mounting, biting and aggression from becoming a normal part of your rabbit’s behaviour. Once your rabbit has been desexed it will take a number of weeks for their hormones to readjust to the change and this can also reflect in their behaviours.
