Prepping for my rabbit getting fixed

[Cati]

Hello!

My rabbit, Rune, is almost five months old. Not 100% sure of the sex (breeder said male, vet said female but Rune was still pretty young, my own recent examination of him makes me think male), but I got the quote from the vet for both a neuter and a spay surgery, so we'll see how that goes.

The vet said that they wanted to wait until Rune was six months to do the surgery, so I'm trying to make sure I have everything worked out. He's my first rabbit, so I'm not sure what to expect and what I need to prep.

1. How much monitoring do rabbits need after a spay/neuter? Do I need to take time off work to watch him, or would he be okay on his own?
2. What kinds of medication and medication schedule should I expect?
3. I've read that rabbits might refuse to eat after surgery. I have critical care and syringes already, but at what point do I know I need to use it? How likely is it I will need to use it?
4. Will he need to wear anything like a cone or collar after the surgery?
5. I let Rune out to free roam a lot. Should I restrict him from doing this for awhile, or is it okay to let him out of the cage?
6. Rune's cage has multiple levels (no ramps, he jumps to them). Do I need to be concerned about this, or will he be smart enough to not try it?

Anything else I should know?

Thanks all.

 

[Blue eyes]

Try scrolling down here for pre and post -op care:

https://rabbit.org/faq-spaying-and-neutering/

 

[Cati]

Just an update! Rune was fixed on Wednesday and everything went very smoothly. Confirmed that he is a boy. I made him stay in his cage until today, but since he's been active and very good-natured/acting normal ever since the surgery, I let him out and he's been fine. I'm glad he is doing so well!

He also loves the taste of his pain meds and comes running when he sees me with the syringe, haha. He only has one dose left of it so I'll have to find him a new "treat".

To answer my own questions with my experience:
1. I didn't take time off work, but he was eating/drinking/pooping before he left the vet's office and was fine the whole night before at home.
2. I got liquid medicine in a syringe, once a day for five days. He loves the taste of it so giving it to him was very simple.
3. Didn't come up in my situation.
4. He didn't wear anything and didn't touch the incisions, so lucky me!
5. I did restrict him to his cage for a few days.
6. I left the levels in the cage alone (honestly, it would have been incredibly difficult to remove them), and although he did jump up and down from them, he doesn't appear to have harmed himself at all.