Checking incision after spay

[KathyandChanelle]

Hi! My bunny, Chanelle, was spayed yesterday. She's doing well- eating, pooping, peeing, moving around a bit. I'm supposed to check her incision daily but I don't know how to get a hold of her to check without hurting her. She hates being picked up and even putting my hands on both sides of her sends her running. If everything else is going okay, do you think I need to check the incision? If so, how?? Help!

 

[Nancy McClelland]

You'll either have to pick her up or get her standing up in a "Prairie Dog" position. You've got to get her used to being handled--not all come to like it, but they do need to tolerate it.

 

[KathyandChanelle]

I've been waiting and watching for her to "prairie dog" because she often does this in her pen, but so far, she hasn't. I'm sure she's still in pain to stretch like that. OK, I'll try to pick her up. I'm just worried she'll twist and squirm and open her incision.

 

[KathyandChanelle]

OK, so it took two of us, but I got her and lifted her slightly while her hind legs stayed on the ground. My husband looked at her belly with a flashlight. The incision looks nice and dry and just fine. Whew!

 

[HolyHandGrenade]

I used a small piece of fruit or a pellet of food to entice my girl to stand up against her cage door so I could peek at her incision. That bit of movement shouldn't disturb it, and then she got a little treat for letting me look. How big of a space is she being kept in right now? Sounds a little big for post-spay rest from what you said. Just a thought I hope Chanelle heals fast, and that she doesn't chew her incision open like my girl did >_<

 

[KathyandChanelle]

I like the idea of enticement with a treat. So far, she's been okay with how I'm doing it. Her space is not too big, I don't think. She's in our house, in a pen about 5 feet diameter. She's got her carrier, litter box, food, water, toys, etc. She's not super hopping around or anything...and I can pick her up so my husband can check the incision. I don't think she's chewing on her incision. Sometimes I see her licking the area, but not chewing. Fingers crossed.