My Rabbits Tumor

Question
I have a six year old Rabbit named Max. He lives in a large pen in my garage. Last week I noticed a large lump about the size of a golf ball hanging from his lower stomach in between his hind legs. I took him to the vet and he suggested I have it removed this week. He is acting fine and is completely healthy other wise. He is not in any pain and is eating and playing like usual. I am worried to put a healthy rabbit under surgery if he may not need it. What do you think I should do, should I get it removed immediately, or should I wait to see if it never causes a problem. Also, is it dangerous to put a rabbit this old through a surgery like this?

Answer
Dear Patricia,

If Max is otherwise healthy, I would certainly have this removed and biopsied.  It could be a tumor or an abscess, and this will only get worse without treatment.

I hope you will consider bringing Max indoors and litterbox training him, as a garage life is lonely and boring for a creature as intelligent and social as a rabbit.  They are easy to train, very affectionate, and are wonderful indoor companions, as interactive as a dog or cat.  Please see:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/training.html

for more information on litterbox training.

If you are concerned about Max as a surgical risk, ask the vet to do bloodwork in advance to be sure he doesn't have any cryptic problems that might make him a poor candidate for surgery.  But the golfball sized tumor is not a good thing.

Hope this helps.

Dana