Reason for having a male fixed

[Tweetiepy]

Well I seem to have gotten quite the surprise when I saw some extra parts on my girl Peaches! I heard that you should have a female fixed if you don't plan on breeding her because of cancers. But what about the boys? Is there an advantage to having them fixed? Right now we only have one but we're in the discussion stages for a second bunny who may or may not be a boy and I wanted to see if it was necessary if we got a second boy to have one or both fixed?

Is there a reason health-wise or behaviour-wise? Will it change something? Right now she/he is very affectionate & licky but s/he's only 15 weeks old (which seems to be in the age for a male to be fixed right?

If Peaches was a girl I would have gotten her fixed, but is there a reason to have a male fixed? I guess this kinda explains the figure 8 sniffing & oinking, the urine spray on the walls…. I just thought this was female behaviour too

Thanks for your help

PS: s/he's the bunny in my avatar, s/he looks like a girl!

 

[pamnock]

I've had a couple older bucks w/ testicular tumors. Neutering would have prevented this health issue.

 

[CoolWaterRabbitry]

I believe from what I've read, that fixing a boy can help prevent certain cancers (though correct me if I'm wrong) and can help stop males from spraying and other hormone related issues.

 

[NorthernAutumn]

With neutering, you'd likely see decreased hormone levels, and hormonal activity would become more limited. Peaches won't be in love with your feet as much

I found that neutering made my male buns more relaxed and approachable. However, it won't necessarily make them receptive to another male rabbit. If Peaches is truly a male, then your best bet would be to find a female for bonding purposes. People seem to have the best luck with opposite-sex bonds.

(Nice to see another Canadian on here, btw )

 

[elrohwen]

It you want to get a second bunny it's important to have him fixed. Unfixed bunnies rarely bond well and the bonds can be volatile.

The biggest thing, besides the litter habits and smell, is his emotional health. I can't imagine being focused on mating at all times, and I think male bunnies are much happier and less stressed when they are fixed and aren't trying to mate with everything in site.

 

[Nancy McClelland]

for us the number one reason was spraying. After that, it moderated their behavior and they became more user friendly.

 

[jcottonl02]

Just in addition to what everyone else has said (behavioural issues/bonding/mating/spraying/cancer prevention etc.) I think that his mating instinct is a high priority.

By denying a male rabbit access to exert his natural behaviour of mating, and NOT getting him fixed, you are keeping him stressed and sexually frustrated etc, and I don't think that is healthy. I have no evidential proof of this (before someone asks me lol! ) but it's what seems natural. Male animals mate in the wild, what....all through the mating season? Female to female to female. That's what they do. So by keeping their mating hormones etc. in check and denying them this behaviour then I think that makes for an emotionally unhappy/unstable bunbun, in my opinion.

Of course, it stops you being driven insane by spraying, bad litterbox habits (that many will definately have- some may just grow out of it) and the constant love oinkings and circling of your feet haha

Jen