Spaying Whens the Time???

Question
Mr. Meyer,
My rabbit is about 5 1/2 weeks old, is she ready for spaying? If she is not when would be a good time?

Answer
Hi Aurora,

she is still way too young.  All rabbits need to have hit sexual maturity before being fixed.  It isn't good to do that way before then.

For females, they hit sexual maturity generally between 4 1/2 to 6 months.  Indications that she has hit maturity would be things like being a little more aggressive towards hands inside her cage (when she's in the cage), and she may start marking certain areas of the room while out playing (marking her territory).  Once this starts, you can be pretty sure she's sexually mature and can safely be fixed.

The real key to this is having a good rabbit vet do the spay.  Not all vets are.  You don't want anyone but a good rabbit vet because they are very touchy under gas, and you want someone who regulary does rabbits several times a week, and has a near perfect or perfect record of not losing them for a relatively simple/straightforward procedure like this - meaning not a high-stress, emergency situation where bunny may be ill or injured.

Also rabbit vets know that rabbits need post-op pain meds (to be out of pain to keep eating) and antibiotics to prevent post op infection.  Generally metacam is prescribed for a few days for pain, and baytril is prescribed as the broad-spectrum antibiotic.  If they won't give you pain meds, go to another vet.  Bunny needs to keep eating, and if she's in pain, she won't want to eat or move.  Pain management is critical in rabbits.  They are not like dogs and cats.

So to find a good rabbit vet if you don't have one, start here:

www.rabbit.org/vets/vets.html

to find a House Rabbit Society recommended vet near you.

They will want you to come in before the surgery with her, to give her a wellness exam and make sure she is healthy as they do not like to operate on sick animals unless it's a life/death kind of thing.  If she isn't, they will offer treatment options so that she can get well.  When she is good, they'll schedule a date with you.  

For about a week afterwards you have to make sure she doesn't do a lot of fast running or jumping.  She probably won't want to the first few days, but try to keep her in her cage for the first week.  Then when she is out just watch her so that she doesn't get too energetic.  The pain meds and antibiotics should last somewhere between 3-7 days.  Keep giving it to her daily as directed until they are used up.

Lee