Rabbit spay? Told by vet she cannot eat before they surgery??

[TheBuns]

hi everyone!
So January 2nd my bun is getting spayed, and I was told that she can not eat before her surgery something like that or the night before, I’m confused because I thought they need to have hay 24/7? I feel like it’s messed up if I don’t feed her! Is that what everyone else did before there buns spay/neuter not feed them?

 

[zuppa]

Hi. No that's true for dogs, not for rabbits maybe your receptionist is just new to rabbits, if it was vet who told you that maybe look for a rabbit-savvy vet if possible in your area. There's a list of rabbit-savvy vets on the top of health forum with all links may be useful to you

 

[hunnybunny254367819364]

Is this a rabbit vet? Usually you wouldn’t feed a dog or cat (or human for that matter) before a surgery using anesthesia. During her spay your bun will be put under anesthesia- the process of this usually causes vomiting. So the reason we don’t eat before surgery is because if we vomit while under anesthesia the vomit may cause us to choke. However rabbits are unable to vomit. Both of my rabbits got spayed and neutered and both ate their pellets, hay and water the same morning they had their surgery and were great. You’re instincts are right you absolutely should not starve your bunny as this could cause GI stasis. And I’m not trying to scare you but please please make sure that you’re vet performing the surgery knows rabbits very well because they should not have made this comment. I really hope she recovers well!!!

 

[taylor_wt]

hi everyone!
So January 2nd my bun is getting spayed, and I was told that she can not eat before her surgery something like that or the night before, I’m confused because I thought they need to have hay 24/7? I feel like it’s messed up if I don’t feed her! Is that what everyone else did before there buns spay/neuter not feed them?

Definitely feed her up until the surgery! The lady at the front desk at our vet told me not to feed my bunny before his neuter as well, but I knew this was wrong since I did research before. Sure enough when I talked to the Doctor she said they aren’t supposed to fast before surgery. Like others have said, rabbits don’t have the reflex that allows them to throw up so eating before surgery is not a problem.

 

[JBun]

If it's the receptionist saying this, you need to call and ask her/him to clarify the instructions with the vet(the receptionist will need to learn to give the correct instructions for rabbits). If the vet is saying this, DO NOT let this vet perform surgery on your rabbit. Find a different vet! A vet that recommends fasting for a rabbit means that the vet is inexperienced with rabbits and likely should not be performing surgical procedures on them until they have properly educated themselves. Also make sure they give you take home pain meds after the surgery, to give to your rabbit. I would want at least 3-5 days worth as a spay is an invasive and painful surgery.
https://rabbit.org/vet-listings/
http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/opcare.html

 

[hunnybunny254367819364]

Also just a tip- when you bring her home make sure she’s in a cool, dark, quiet environment to rest in. I also found that putting my bun’s food, hay and water in a location that is close to where she chose to be was helpful so that she didn’t have to move around too much at first

 

[JBun]

You actually don't necessarily want a cool environment. Following anesthesia, their body temp usually drops and they often need a heat source to help keep their body temp up that first day. Otherwise they can become hypothermic, and when they are like that they usually won't eat or won't eat much. They need to be warm to help get them to eat properly again.

 

[hunnybunny254367819364]

You actually don't necessarily want a cool environment. Following anesthesia, their body temp usually drops and they often need a heat source to help keep their body temp up that first day. Otherwise they can become hypothermic, and when they are like that they usually won't eat or won't eat much. They need to be warm to help get them to eat properly again.

Sorry yeah I don’t know why I said cool- I actually remember giving my bun a towel too because she loves them.

 

[oreo1]

The receptionist told me to fast my bunny before her spaying but Everything I read online said do not do that. So when I called to talk to the vet she said no don’t fast the rabbit I said well you need to talk to your receptionist and inform them they’re giving out the wrong information. I don’t know why this seems to be a common thread I’m reading on this it’s disturbing that false information is being given out.

 

[Donna Standar]

hi everyone!
So January 2nd my bun is getting spayed, and I was told that she can not eat before her surgery something like that or the night before, I’m confused because I thought they need to have hay 24/7? I feel like it’s messed up if I don’t feed her! Is that what everyone else did before there buns spay/neuter not feed them?

That's definitely not true. Rabbits cannot vomit. I just had my bunny neutered two weeks ago and they told me I can feed him. He had some apple and pellets and was just fine.

 

[katlupe]

When I had "Rabbit" (that's his name) neutered the vet's receptionist told me not to feed him anything from midnight on. I had researched getting him neutered due to not having a rabbit specialist vet in my area and I knew that was not right. I took a chance and let him eat his hay. Talking to vet, who it turned out had owned his own house rabbit in the past, so I felt a bit better about the operation. When he came home he was fine and I did not have to do anything special for him. Never had a problem.

 

[HeyHo]

I agree with the other posters -- rabbits can eat before surgery and my two girls had a big breakfast before they were spayed (and then came home and had a big dinner!). Good luck to you and your girl in this time. It is certainly odd to see them shaved and walking (like a cat) instead of hopping like a bunny. I also agree with the others, keep everything easy. Mine usually use a water bottle, but after surgery I gave them a bowl and they seem to appreciate not having to work for it.

 

[TheBuns]

Thank you all for a response, I knew it I was starting to question myself maybe i was wrong . And yes, it was the receptionist I think he might have been new hopefully. How long was your buns surgery also do I stay at the vet till it’s done? Thank you once again for the help everyone !

 

[Katie94]

You normally drop them off early in the morning and then collect late afternoon once they’ve had time to come round. We dropped ours of at 9am and then collected them at 4pm. If they aren’t eating on their own so long after the operation the vets may want to keep them overnight and do some syringe feeding for you. Wishing your bun a speedy recovery

 

[Katie94]

Forgot to say it may also help if you take a favourite food with you and give it to the vets to feed your bun afterwards. We sent ours in with a a little Tupperware container of treats. The vet didn’t tell us this when we had our boys done and they struggled to start eating afterwards so ended up staying in overnight but we were told to do this with the girls and they started eating sooner and were able to come home the same day.

 

[oreo1]

Definitely do not fast them before surgery. Our bunny just got spayed last week. We dropped her off in the morning and the vet called us after the surgery. They kept her overnight in a small heated cage to keep her calm/limit movement. Once she was assessed and ate some critical care we were able to pick her up. She’s recovering nicely and goes next week for post op visit to get the all clear to resume activity.

 

[TheBuns]

Forgot to say it may also help if you take a favourite food with you and give it to the vets to feed your bun afterwards. We sent ours in with a a little Tupperware container of treats. The vet didn’t tell us this when we had our boys done and they struggled to start eating afterwards so ended up staying in overnight but we were told to do this with the girls and they started eating sooner and were able to come home the same day.

Thank you for advice I’ll be sure to bring her favorite food!

 

[TheBuns]

Shes at the vet right know I need to pick her up in a bit. I was wonder what should I do if she start to pick, lick or scratch her ears using her back legs?

 

[TreasuredFriend]

How's your girl doing? Is her appetite coming back? Our females took a few days to resume feeling 100% better after their ovariohysterectomy.

Our DVM also advised a one level surface. For 10-14 days post surgery. No jumping to loft shelves, or cardboard boxes, to help the tissue grow in and avoid tears in internal sutures and outer surgical glue.