Hey Peeps

[Viki]

Hey ,

I’m Vicki from Northern Ireland I have two beautiful mini lops Sparkles and Thor you probably know the question coming after the names lol

Well I couldn’t find anywhere to post this so I do have a question I had been advised to breed these pair as I was told if a doe isn’t bred once she is more prone to uterine cancers I have never owned rabbits before so I have read up on line that there can be complications in breeding and I wanted to know if that risk is very low or from experience what any breeders on here have done to ensure that they did not lose there doe from breeding sorry long read just want to keep my girl safe

 

[Popsicles]

There is absolutely no benefit to having a litter first. You should get her spayed, that is the only way to prevent uterine cancer. It is not worth the stress for her and for you in breeding her when you are not an experienced breeder. It isn’t all cute baby bunnies, things can go wrong and you are likely to have some babies not make it and complications with your doe which can be very distressing for people without experience. You’d have to find homes for the babies, it could cost you more money in vet bills etc, and there are enough rabbits in shelters without homes without adding more in.
In summary, don’t breed her, get her spayed and stick to the two happy healthy bunnies you already have

 

[Preitler]

Well I couldn’t find anywhere to post this so I do have a question I had been advised to breed these pair as I was told if a doe isn’t bred once she is more prone to uterine cancers

That is a myth, you can also find the opposite myth out there in the internet. And it is not a good reason for breeding.
Breeding means a lot of work, you'll need a lot of space, and young rabbits pee and poop everywhere. And you would need a viable plan for what to do with the offspring beforehand.

Although there is that risk of UT cancer, that topic is somewhat blown out of proportion as a deadbeat argument by people with the agenda to get everybunny spayed, but it's valid to some point.

Apart from that, spaying actually is a good idea for pet rabbits - some does are really driven by her hormones, with moodiness, false pregnancies, terretorial marking etc. (I had such a cutie for a house bunny for 8 months, destroyed everything, she's a very happy outdoor bunny now)

 

[Popsicles]

I agree with preitler that the main reason to spay should be behavioural, I can also vouch that my female rabbit was a demon before I got her done. She was also having false pregnancies every couple of weeks, she had bald patches all over from pulling out fur to make nests.
Regardless, you will have to spay her if you wish to keep her with your male rabbit (and/or castrate him)

 

[Nancy McClelland]

Everyone one of ours were neutralized--makes them easier going and takes care of the cancer risk.

 

[Viki]

Thank you everyone for your responses

Is it easier surgery wise to get the male neutered than the female just I’d imagine it would be easier on the male assuming the surgery is external?

 

[Nancy McClelland]

It was easier and way less expensive, but you should get the female done too.