Rabbit spay/neuter post-op quesitons

Question
I have 2 rabbits a male (mini lop) and female (lionlop) that will be right around 5 months old next week. I got them 1 1/2 weeks and was told they were around 4 1/2 months old. Right after I got them I called around to vet clinics within a 2 hr drive and found 6 vets that do rabbit spaying/neutering. I read on rabbit.org about what questions to ask the vet and find one that I felt comfortable with doing the surgery. After talking to all the vets I decided on 1 vet in particular because: he has done quite a few rabbit spay/neuters, not lost 1 rabbit during or after surgery, doesn't fast before surgery, spayed/neutered 5 rabbits within the last month, removes uterus and ovaries in the females, uses gas anaesthesia, and would put the rabbits in cages next to each other after surgery to see and smell each other. I made the earliest available appointment which this monday the 27th.

Here are my questions: What pain and antibiotic medicines are the best and safest for a rabbits post-op care? Also can I have the rabbits in the same cage after surgery? Because I REALLY don't want to have to separate them since they are so attached to each other.

The vet I'm having do the surgery said he usually doesn't give post-op meds because the rabbits usually jump back right after surgery. He said that if a rabbit seemed in pain and/or uncomfortable he would then give post-op meds. He also said he gives antibiotic and pain shots before and after surgery. I asked him if I wanted meds if he would give them to me and he said yes. I'm going to get pain and antibiotic medicine best I live 1 1/2 hrs from his vet clinic and I feel it's better to be safe and than sorry. I looked on rabbit.org about post-op care but it didn't really say what medicines were okay. I know that metacam (pain) and baytril (antibiotic) are okay, but I'm wanting to know if they are other and/or better medicines that I should get?

I've read on numerous websites to separate male and female rabbits when they get fixed because the male could damage the female if he tried to mate with her. Is there any way that I could go ahead an have them in the same cage while recovering from surgery since they are getting fixed at the same time? I REALLY don't want to have to separate even with just a divide because the male has to be touching or right next to the female or he won't eat. When he sleeps he is either laying on top or underneath the female. If she gets up to eat or use the litterbox and takes very long the male will run over to her and either lay under or right next to her. The male is the more shy and timid of the pair and relies on the female. I'm afraid he would get really stressed and upset if separated even with a divider, which is what i don't want during their recovery. So is there anyway I can house them together after surgery if I constantly watch them which i'm going to do anyways? The male has humped the female only 3 times since i've had them because he is either trying to hide behind her or if he does try to hump her, she runs away and the male just goes and lays next to her. I really don't think there will be a problem of him trying to mate with her after surgery because of him being the more shy and timid of the pair and mainly just wanting to be next to her.

I'm sorry for the extremely long post, but I felt that the information I included might help you in some way with whatevery advice you give me. I greatly appreciate you taking the time to read and answer my questions. I know you probably get alot of them.


p.s. I know that in some of your posts that you recommend looking on rabbit.org under their recommend vets, but I did look there under missouri (where i live) and it listed st.louis and kansas city. When I clicked on both it said page cannot be displayed. Which st. louis is over 2 1/2 hrs away from me and kansas city was 5 1/2 hrs.

Answer
Hi,

metacam and baytril would be what I would have mentioned to the vet.  Metacam, in addition to being a pain med, is also an anti-inflammatory, so it can help reduce swelling from the procedure as well.  A male probably needs a day or two of pain meds, the female, 3-5 days. It is just a more invasive procedure on her, and the anti-inflammatory property of metacam is a good bonus for her.

Baytril is just the general antibiotic they give after surgery to keep any post-op infection from occuring.  

The other deal here is that you aren't just down the block from the vet.  It is good to have both of these items as precautions.  Why wait for them to stop eating or have an infection?  It is a safeguard you are desiring they be given so that you can administer it to them over their recovery time.  You can't easily come back to get them.  And you risk their health by having to wait until there IS a problem.

Normally I recommend they be separate 4-6 weeks afterwards as during this time, their hormone levels are fluctuating and their behavior will be unpredictable.  It is a safety thing.  It takes that long for hormones to stabilize off at their new lower levels.  However, given the relationship and the personalities, you can try to have them recover together, and if there seems to be problems, you will have to separate them 4-6 weeks as normal, and then rebond them.  It is clear she is the alpha bunny of the two, so perhaps they can remain in the same cage while healing without problems.  Just watch them very carefully as time goes into the 2nd, 3rd and 4th weeks because this is when hormone levels are going lower, and their personalities are making decisions - and if one really doesn't like the other, there can be real problems (fighting, injuries) you'd have to separate them.

The first few days after, and for the gal, maybe a week, they should not be doing any hard running or jumping.  I kept my guys in their cages the first few days.  They get a little stir crazy but cut down on their high calorie treats during this time so they don't have so much energy.  

Definitely get the metacam and baytril for 3-5 days for each.  They will be much happier.  Especially the gal.  Lee