Post-Spaying

[Harley'sMummy]

Harley had her operation today, we received a phone call at 13.30 to let us know she was awake and well and we then picked her up at 17.00.

She looked unimpressed and grumpy when we picked her up but was moving around the carry case more than I expected. Vet said the operation went well apart from the fact that Harley's uterus and ovaries were severely under developed. She would never have been able to have babies and it was very likely she would've had severe health problems related to the under-development later in life. So her spaying was more critical to be done than normal.

She is now settled at home but has not eaten. She has had her evening dose of pain killers (metacam) and is doing a little exploring in her cage but is mostly resting. Her poos are normal.

If she has not eaten by the morning do I call the vets and administer Critical Care?

 

[JBun]

I just had two of my boys neutered and one was starting to eat a little that same night and the other took a whole day before he would really eat anything, because of the nausea from the anesthesia. I had the best luck getting them to eat leafy greens, before they would touch their hay. So you may want to try offering different foods(preferrably ones she is used to), to entice her to eat. If she still isn't eating anything at all by morning, then you probably do want to give some critical care and water. My one boy that took a whole day, was at least nibbling on a little bit of green leaf lettuce, so I didn't resort to feeding him the critical care, but it took 2 whole days before he was back to eating normal.

 

[Harley'sMummy]

Thanks for the tips, she is eating now and is confined to her cage.

She is really antsy to get out and about thought. How long does she need to be confined for?

 

[JBun]

It's usually recommended to limit their space for 7-10 days. You just don't want her hopping up on things, or running and jumping during that time. It sometimes helps to give lots of things for them to do while confined, like things to chew on and toss around, but you don't want her getting too active yet, since it's only been a day since the surgery. I set up a little playpen for my boys, that wasn't too big but had enough space and new things, that they could hop around and explore a little. But if they started getting too active and trying to run around, I would put them back in their cage, but you might want to wait another couple days before you do something like that, as a spay is a more invasive surgery than a neuter, and there would be more of a risk of her injuring something.

 

[Harley'sMummy]

Will bear that in mind and will try the limited release thing in a few days when she has had more time to heal.

Another problem we've noticed is that she isn't drinking anywhere near as much as she was. Her pee has started to change colour too.

 

[JBun]

Does she drink out of a water bottle or dish? Are you feeding her veggies and are they the normal amount as before her spay or are you feeding her more of them?

 

[Harley'sMummy]

She drinks from a bowl, she had more veggies than normal the first day after surgery. I think it is because she isn't eating her hay, that is what normally makes her thirsty. She had her first post-op check today and the vet gave us a fibre supplement to give to her until she starts eating again.

She's lost 100g since she was weighed before the surgery

 

[Watermelons]

Best to keep her confined 10-14 days, no running or jumping!
Keep in mind the belly stretches when they take large hops or run, and theres lots happening healing wise internally.

Sounds like everything is explaining itself.
Just keep offering what you are, as long as something is going in and something is coming out, shes good. Appetite should pick up shortly. But toss something things to her to make the hay seem more fun! or maybe shes just not eating the hay because youre offering a bunch of other stuff.

As per weight loss, if shes not eating a huge ammount like she used too, thats less weight in the tummy upon weigh in, and remember, parts were removed and those had to weigh something.

 

[Zeroshero]

Sorry to war your bunny is having a difficult recovery. Did the vet suggest giving her pedialyte or an electrolyte supplement to get her drinking?

 

[Harley'sMummy]

She's given us the fibre supplement and we've put some 100% pineapple juice in her water (only a few drops) and she seems to be drinking a little more now. Not as much as she was but more.

She doesn't like the fibre supplement though lol Loves her painkillers though

 

[Nancy McClelland]

We gave our some alfalfa for a week an kept them confined to their hutch for the same amount of time too.