First checkup for Peaches - that was scary.

[Tweetiepy]

I brought Peaches in for his very first wellness checkup yesterday to check his health before his castration - you should have seen the fur fly! - I was wearing black and Peaches is white, well at the end it looked like I was wearing a white angora sweater!

I walk in the examination room and I'm asked what I feed him, how old he is, stuff like that. Then I get asked if he has diarhea or vomitting - I say that rabbits don't vomit - she says, "Oh they don't, I'll have to check that. It's the basic questions we ask when checking dogs or cats, I don't get many rabbits" - I'm thinking this woman will be doing his castration and she doesn't know this?? Then she tells me she's just the tech and the vet will be coming in after. Whew!

So the vet walks in and starts talking asking me other questions and then she knows her stuff - food & habitat & stuff like that - then tells me that if ever he stops eating for a day to call the clinic and request an emergency appointment - she said the staff/receptionist will tell me it's not urgent but she says they don't know rabbits and that I should insist and come in. (Well that gave me confidence in her)

She mentionned that sugary foods should not be given in excess of course but that they could be given (like carrots are okay on a regular basis but that bananas shouldn't be given that often - and that carrot tops contained too much calcium and should be avoided altogether) she said that it's calcium that should be avoided since it isn't stored in their bones but comes out in their urine - sometimes as stones.

So now Peaches has an appointment for September 17 - they don't keep them overnight since it could be stressful. They only use "glue" to hold the wound shut - and they don't put on a collar since it's stressfull to the bunny - but I may have to insist - cuz I have the feeling that Peaches will lick off that glue pretty fast - they also said that the meds would be for about 3 days (so that gave me confidence). At the end of the exam, she put him on the floor for him to walk around and he wandered back in his carrier and would come out and explore again. When I shut his door, he flopped in the carrier and looked calmer - until I put him in the car (no A/C) - once home he hopped back into his cage & flopped in his litter box and got a few good rubs.

I hope the operation goes well and that I won't have to return because he's licked off his glue -

 

[Luvr of Wabbits and Polar Bears]

Your vet does sound pretty good but a few things are wrong. Carrots are high in sugar like Banana's so they shouldn't be given on a regualr basis but as a treat instead. I don't think Carrot tops that much calcium in them to cause problem's unless given in HUGE amounts.

I haven't experienced the glue for surgery yet but I'm sure it'll dry pretty quick so there's no way Peaches can lick it off.

The Pain meds don't usually last past 12hrs so it's recommended that you get Metacam or Tramadol(sp) to help with the pain management for a few days.

 

[tonyshuman]

Don't worry about the glue coming off. It's basically super glue and will not go away until the skin underneath grows to replace it. It literally sets in seconds. The vet sounds good, not super, but good. He definitely will need take-home pain meds. Rabbits metabolize the opioids they give more quickly so it will not last 12 hours, and even then there's pain after 12 hours. The diet advice is meh.

 

[ra7751]

Don't worry about the glue....it won't be licked off. And you could leavea neuter open. There is almost no pressure on the incisions from a neuter....we use glue on spays with no problems.

I do havea concern about the calcium statement. It is true that rabbits metabolize calcium differently and excrete more than half their calcium intake thru their urine. Most domestic rabbits, especially indoor rabbits, suffer from both dehydration and a lack of Vitamin D. The stone/sludge issue comes from a combination of calcium metabolism and the dehydration. Lack of Vitamin D results in lower amounts of calcium being absorbed. This results in a condition known as Metabolic Bone Disease which can result in a host of systemic problems. In rabbits, the most often presentations include brittle bones, "arthritis" (which is an incorrect diagnosis in most rabbit cases) and dental issues. The bones and teeth in rabbits are lighter, but built basically the same as any other species....and that is calcium. While I don't condone over doing the calcium as there can be too much of a good thing....but as far as stones, just like with people, some rabbits are just prone to them and the dehydration issue from the artificial diet and enironment our rabbits live in can contribute to these calcification issues.

And take home pain meds should be discussed prior to the procedure. Metacam for about 3 days is the absolute minimum. Tramadol is a good one. Buprenex is the best.

Randy

 

[Nancy McClelland]

we've had several of our boys done with no problems and it sounds like you have the right vet.

 

[golfdiva]

RE: Pain med.

When Hershey was neutered, I asked the doc about pain meds and he said it was not necessary as they gave him some at the office and that would last long enough. This vet is a highly respected vet with lots of experience with many type of animals. He also has two house rabbits of his own!

Hershey came home and acted a little groggy and moved like he felt different, but ate, drank and pooped fine and was active in just a few hours. He sure didn't act like he was in pain!

 

[tonyshuman]

The experience golfdiva had with Hershey is not typical. Our Benjamin was in a lot of pain and would not eat after surgery. We had to give him Metacam and ice the area several times a day for about a week after. I have also helped many forum members' bunnies through bouts of not eating and being in pain after neuters. There are many different opinions but it is best to have the medicine on hand in case you end up with a very unhappy bunny who is in pain and won't eat. Instead of having to take an emergency vet trip, you can treat him at home.

I guess Hershey is just one tough little guy because that is not the experience of most bunnies post-neuter.

 

[butsy]

butsy also had the glue, and was sent home with no meds at all.. she did great tho ! she has no problems, good luck

 

[Flash Gordon]

im not sure if this is a coincidence or not but all of my "older" buns had a rough recovery after their neuter or spay....my younger buns sprung right back no prob...
my "slow" bunny Angel (her air supply was cut off at birth and shes splayed) she tugged on her incision all the time i was so worried i even had to take her back the next day to have them look at her incision cuz it looked funky;..but he reasured me that the glue they use does a phenomenal job..
for her being splayed and slow she really is one of my smartest problem solving bunnies...she taught herself to prop herself up on the litterbox or the side of the cage so she can groom properly..without falling over..shes pretty amazing....ok sidetracked sorry..neuters go alot smoother then spays ..altho i understand ur nervousness hes gonna be fine..
..peaches??...hes a boy right?..

no pain meds ..geez imagine having a hysterectomy and the dr. telling me u wont need any pain meds after surgery...id be grinding more then just my teeth..

 

[BrittanyandFruFru]

My male rabbit Fru was fixed just a few days ago. Since vets in my area don't really work with bunnies I took him an hour away. The car ride was stressful, when I went to get him out at the vet he had his back toward the door shaking, But as far as the procedure it went well and they sent him home with a pain injection given to him while he was still under, so no stress involved. The night he came home he wasn't even groggy. Good luck with your boy

 

[Tweetiepy]

Flash Gordon wrote:

..peaches??...hes a boy right?..

Yeah he's a boy - when we got him they told us it was a girl and after the testicles came in my daughter didn't want to change his name to anything else - so Peaches it is

 

[Sweetie]

Your boy will be fine. Pain meds are a must. Just keep an eye on him for a few days after you get him home after his neuter. Prince was neutered, but didn't get any pain meds. Some rabbits can handle pain while others cannot.