Herbert was Fixed

[Sugar Plum]

I wanted to update you that I took your advice and on Friday morning, Herbert was neutered!

Well, sometimes I am feeling like I rather regret it when I see him looking rather poorly. The vet seemed to think things went quite well, but later I found out from my Mom (who had to pick Herbert up while I was at work)that Herbert nearly stopped breathing when they gave him the anaesthetic!!! On the other hand, we had to make a make-shift mini pen (Herbert usually has the entire kitchen as his pen at night and then gets a good portion of the house during the day) and he staged an escape into the living room Friday night (while looking pretty doped up). So, we made a compromise and expanded him to the full kitchen. Since then, though, he has busted out into the main house (despite numerous gates and heavy weights against the gates) several times!

I am rather worried that he could open up his surgery site and he seemed quite swollen last night (though, he seems improved today. He is still large down there, but instead of big and round with incisions clearly visible, they look medium-large and tear drop shaped with incisions sort of being...sucked in.). Mind you, the vet said that Herbert had the biggest er...nuts he has ever seen! Well, maybe that is envy? Or maybe he has just fixed younger rabbits previously? Anyway, I hope Herbert is okay--he is still insanely hard to handle if there is any medicine or looking at of sore spots involved (two or more person job).

I guess the one good thing about Herbert busting out is that the little miscreant went to the bathroom all over his three favourite marking spots. Today, we were worried he might have a blockage because he was eating a fair amount, but there wasn't any more poop coming out than what was there from the previous day. Turns out that he was saving all the poops to make in the living room! Ahhh, I thought that sort of thing would start to improve...

Actually, another good thing is that he binked (binkied?) twice today, where he hasn't done any full on binks pretty much since he matured.

So...was any one else's rabbit full of vim and vigour pretty soon after the surgery? I really wanted to follow the guidelines that were listed in RO's library, but he is simply too fiendish.

 

[ZRabbits]

My boys were back in action in 4 days. Sounds like Herbert is doing well. You try your best to follow the guidelines but you know your bunny. And guidelines are just that, guides. Recommendations, that's all they are.

What works for you and your bunny, that's what you stay with. Guidelines are good, and lots of good guidelines here, plus the posting from others appears to be superior information. There is a lot to offer here, BUT, again, rabbits are such individuals that one thing might work for one and not the other.

You need to know your bunny. Hoping Herbert is back to his ole self (without the hormones) in no time.

K

 

[LakeCondo]

I'm sure improvement will come in time. He's still got hormones in his system, now.

 

[Nancy McClelland]

Some of our were like nothing happened to the other end of the spectrum where one didn't do much till 3 days after. All came out alright though.

 

[mrbunny]

Glad to hear that your bun is doing well after the surgery!

Bighead was binkying after he came home from his neuter as well. He was quite energetic. Eating and chomping hay down vigorously. It was like he didn't even notice he had surgery done on him. Apparently he was flopped over at the vets, too, before we picked him up. I took this all to be good signs.

Just monitor Herbert's condition, make sure he has pain meds, and check his incision daily (or however often prescribed by your vet), and he'll be fine. Good luck.

 

[ZRabbits]

How's Herbert doing today? Hope all is well.

K

 

[Sugar Plum]

Thanks for the comments and the tips, everyone. On Wednesday, my Mom ended up taking Herbert to the vet (since there had been some swelling). It was our vet's partner and,I guess he couldn't handle Herbert properly to look there, so my mom lifted Herbert and the vet stretched his legs out really far (). Herbert was healing fine, but the vet wanted him to be confined to the carrier! Fat chance! He gave Herbert some more painkillers (which were supposed to make Herbert sleepy to help keep him resting in a smaller area...but fat chance of that, too!).

It's been a little over a week and in the last couple days, Herbert has been really sleepy. I hope he is just having some healing time and it isn't a permanent behaviour change. He also comes to visit us, but won't let us pet him sometimes and seems extremely aggressive about protecting his sleeping area(I think he doesn't trust us right now from administering the meds and trying to check his healing...). Well, on the plus side I haven't been sprayed since the surgery. I rather miss the old him, as he was much more affectionate, but maybe that will return in time? No binks to report since those two early on.

 

[ZRabbits]

Sounds like he's on the mend but that last vet visit and the tussle with the Vet could have stressed him out so now he's a little tenative about it all, and will protect the place he sleeps. I know you miss the old him, but he'll come around. Let him take his time coming to you again. It's only been a week, and unfortunately bunnies can hold grudges. And IMHO, he really had a rough experience.

Poor baby. He had a tough time with it all. Hopefully you will be on here talking about the antics of the Happy, Calm, not spraying Herbert.

K

 

[LakeCondo]

I agree.