Pippin neutered in just over a week

[jcottonl02]

Okay- Pippin is getting neutered in just over a week, and I'm nervous!

I am booking the appointment for when I am working there, so I can be with him and be with him straight afterwards as well (hopefully).

I just want to know what to expect- how long it will take, the risks, how long he will have to stay at the vets for afterwards etc. etc.

I've never had a rabbit neutered before, becuase Benji was already neutered when I got him.

I just want to be completely prepared, so I know exactly what to do and expect before the vets even tell me, so Pippin doesn't have to go through any unnecessary stress- he'll be having a jab and being neutered on the same day, so that will be stressing enough- and being away from home.

Also- maybe a stupid question- but are rabbits sometimes too small to be neutered at 12 weeks? Cos Pippin is a dwarf lop, and I think I might have heard someone say that they need to be about 16 weeks? Not sure about that one.

Thanks

Jen, Ben n Pip

 

[Flashy]

I've never had a bunny neutered, so I can't help with that aspect, but they can be neutered as soon as their testicles drop (but some vets prefer to wait for a bit after that). So as long as Pip has descended, there shouldn't be a problem.

Good luck for it.

 

[polly]

Neutering bucks over here can be done as soon as the testicles have dropped so as long as they are there the neuter can be done.

I don't think the op takes that long to do, and usually with bucks you get them back in the evening sometimes they will keep them till the next day just to make sure they are pooing and peeing. they will be a bit sore for a couple of days and you will see they keep their back legs a bit apart.

The op involves removing the testicle but they leave the sac, so they can be a bit swollen for a couple of days. Over the next week or 2 the swelling will go down and the sac shrivels away. (this is how mine have been done)

The anaesthetics are much safer now so unless there was a major underlying problem your bunny will be fine.

Just make sure to get a towel or a fleece to put down so sawdust and hay won't irritate his bits after the op when he comes home.

I did have 1 bunny that they thought was a bit small but he had huge nads, so they decided to do it anyway cause he was getting a bit vicious and he was fine.

 

[rabb1tmad]

I had Starsky done just before 12 weeks I think. He was small and I was worried but the vet told me they can be done as soon as their testicles drop.

I got him back from the vet the same day as he was eating, pooping and peeing. He was still a little woozy when I got him - he would start eating and stop mid flow just gazing into space! Apart from that he was fine and the next day he was back to normal and wanted to run around everywhere. Getting his stitches taken out wasn't nice but was over in under 10 seconds, most had dissolved but not all.

Don't worry, I'm sure you Pippin will be fine. Good luck. Keep us posted.

 

[jcottonl02]

Heya

Thanks everyone for the tips etc.- they've been really helpful.

Strange question- but I turned Pippin over and had a look down there to see whether I could see whether his testicles had 'dropped' or not- and I can't see any sign of them whatsoever......:S

I mean- the vet had a bit of trouble even finding his parts and confirming he was male, they were so tiny.

All I can see is a little pink bit where I guess his penis is, and then two lines/ pink dips coming out from either side, so it sort of makes a V shape- it seems really strange. :S

Can anyone tell me what this is? :S

 

[rabb1tmad]

Sometimes the testicles will drop and go back up again. I could tell very easily with Starsky that he was a male and Lacey was also easy to sex.

The V-shape sounds like male genitals to me. Is your vet rabbit savvy?Mind you,rabbits can be so difficult to sex that sometimes vets get it wrong.

 

[Flashy]

You bun is young so its very possible that he has not fully descended yet, but equally they can pull them bakc up inside if they feel the need.

The testicles are either side of his 'holes' and are an inch or two long (I know your bun is small so I have based that on my small buns) and wider at top and thin at the bottom. They will also have minimal hair on and will probably, for you, or ratehr Pip, be pink.

Maybe when he is really relaxed hoik him up up and turn him over really quickly before he gets a chance to pull anything up inside to see if they are there. He is still very young (about 12 weeks if I remember rightly) and they can take sometimes as long as four months to descend.

 

[jcottonl02]

Ahh I see.
Yes- my vet specialises in rabbits and exotics and is 'the vet' Greenfields use, so he's very good.

I'll try and have a look really quickly but I think you're right, Flashy, I think he might be too young for them to have descended. I mean- it's not as if he's....hormonal yet- he's not spraying urine around, rubbing his cheeks on anything or being moody and bitey or anything.

Thanks for all the help- I'll keep you all posted when I go to the vets- I think I'm going to wait until he's about 15 weeks until I even bother going to the vet- cos otherwise it's just going to cost me money for the vet to go 'he's not ready- come back in two weeks'.

 

[Flashy]

Yeh, spraying, marking, digging (sometimes), circling, 'talking' all those are hormonal signs, maybe don't make an appointment until you know he is fully descended, that way you know it won't be a waste.

He might start doing the hormonal things before he drops his testicles, (sort of like girls with periods), so don't take spraying, etc, as a sign he has dropped, you will need to check.

 

[rabb1tmad]

Keep a close eye on his nether regions - Starsky didn't display any hormonal signs when his dropped. If I remember correctly, Pippin isn't with any females anyway is he? If he isn't then there is no problem waiting that extra couple of weeks.

 

[jcottonl02]

Thanks- you guys have been so helpful.

Okay- I will continue to check him and check for signs of them dropping, even if he doesn't turn hormonal on me.

And yes- there are no females around- anywhere near me. Only Benji, and he's a neutered male.
The only reason I want to essentially get it done as soon as possible is becuase I want to start bonding them as soon as possible, so they can both move into their new home together (a double storey, big hutch with a big attached run) a new territory, that my dad has just started buying the materials for.

So there'll be no kinda- hostility when put back into another one's hutch- if u know what i mean.