recognition

Question
My 6 year old rabbit constantly sprays urine, but only around me. He has behaviors that obviously show he doesn't like any one else and only allows me to hold him. Is there anything I can do to stop him from spraying urine besides neutering? Besides, it's a little too late since he's already 6.

Oh, one more thing he has a couple of lumps on his body and on his testicles. Is this something to be concerned about?

Thanks a lot,
Emily  

Answer
Hi Emily,

six is not too old for neutering.  Rabbbits can easily live 12 years.  He's only halfway through his lifespan as a house rabbit.  Now is better than later.

The lumps are a cause for concern.  They would be in your body.  They also are in his.  They could be abscesses, or they could be cancer.  Rabbits as they get older have higher rates of testicular cancer.  Nothing says it couldn't spread to other parts of the body.

Because he is six, and a rabbit, neutering will curb this spraying behavior.  Spraying is a hormonally-driven behavior.  But because he's six, you only want a good, rabbit-savvy vet to do the surgery.  For boys the procedure is much less invasive and traumatic than for female spays, so he has an excellent prognosis if he is otherwise healthy and has a good rabbit vet to do the procedure.  

If you don't have a good rabbit vet, go to:

www.rabbit.org/care/vets.html

and find a House Rabbit Society recommended vet in your area.  If none are in your area, call up local rabbit rescue groups and humane societies and ask them who they would go to if they had a rabbit that needed surgery.  

The vet should do a pre-op exam.  this is when you can point out to him the lumps and hopefully get a better idea of what they are.  If they are abscesses (infections) he may put your boy on antibiotics to clear them up before surgery.

Write back anytime.  Lee