Time to Spay Junie?

[mdith4him]

Hi all,

Junie is just over 4 months old. We were planning to have her spayed this summer when she's around 6 months, but after this week, we're thinking we might need to do it sooner.

Last weekend, Junie started peeing all around her cage. She had been fairly well litter trained, so this was very odd. She's always left poops around, but she's not peed outside of her litter bin since after the first week or so when we got her. We've noticed that she seems to pee more (sometimes just drops, sometimes more) when Nibbles is close by. [They're still not bonded yet.]

Last night she also started chinning things: boxes, stuff in her cage, our feet, etc. She has NEVER chinned us before and we've never seen her chin anything else. Isn't this a sign of sexual maturity?

Anyway, the chinning isn't a problem, but all this peeing is really bad. Hubby is taking her to the vet tomorrow for a nail clipping and we're going to have her weighed. She's a Netherland Dwarf, so she's still fairly small, which is my only concern about a spay surgery right now.

Any thoughts? Does it sound like we should get this done soon? My spring break starts tomorrow at 3 p.m. (I'm not counting down or anything...), so I would be able to take her in for the surgery and keep a close watch on her next week.

 

[LakeCondo]

Many vets don't want to do it until 6 months even with a larger rabbit, so I'd wait unless your vet is both willing to do it & has spayed other animals as small as Junie is. Can you confine her to a mudroom or some such where she can't do much damage?

 

[ZRabbits]

Sounds like the bonding has affected her as she is now being more territorial. The chin marking is a norm here with my boys, even after neutering. My husband moccassins, socks and pants are the major chin marking point and all of them even Luna have now started the game. They all are very possessive of my Husband.

Rabbit Vets are like bunnies, they are all individuals who all have individual views on what's best for their patients. Your husband taking Junie in for nail clipping is the perfect time for a chat with the Vet to find out when Junie can be spayed.

Good Luck with the Vet and Junie. Hoping that this territorial issue can be resolved soon.

Have fun on Spring Break!

K

 

[Jocelbug]

I usually wait for my girls to start making those grumpy chicken noises, which usu happens around the same time theyre girly-parts swell up and turn purple or bright red. my first female was very much like a boy in personality and would lift her leg and send a long arch of pee streaming out of the side of her cage onto the kitchen floor, but she didnt seem to produce much more pee than usual, so i waited until i heard that distinct chattering to take her in. this time around my doe is completely saturating her entire litter box in half a days time (and throwing all the remaining bedding into the air like confetti and spreading it around all over the house) and since im nearly nine months pregnant and not in the mood to deal with this, im gonna go ahead and take her in to the vet here next week. im very glad she started making those indignant chicken noises yesterday, as she is around 6 months anyway,so im not worried about her being too young.

 

[mdith4him]

Thanks for all the opinions and info, everyone! After talking with the vet yesterday, we decided to go ahead and make the appointment for the surgery. Unfortunately, they have doctors out next week and aren't doing surgeries then, but we did get an appointment for April 17th. By then she'll be just over 5 months. We had her weighed and she was 2 lbs, 11 oz. The vet we go to is very experienced with rabbits and we've only seen rave reviews from online review sites. It's the same place we took Nibbles to for his neuter back in January, and they did a great job. When I called, I was surprised to find out that for spays, they keep the rabbits for TWO nights! They kept Nibbles for just one night (since the surgery is less invasive), but I'm glad they'll keep her for the extra night. I'm much more comfortable with an experienced vet watching out for her than having to watch her myself, since I've never had rabbits before!

Anyway, I guess we'll have to put up with all the pee (yuck!) for a couple extra weeks. Maybe after this, she and Nibbles will finally be able to bond!!

 

[Nancy McClelland]

ray: Teenagers!

 

[christinejane72]

Hi.just had my female spayed. Its so traumatic for the girls. Its been 3 days now and she is still in alot of pain. Make sure they send u home with pain medication for her. I went back the day after her surgery and got her some since she was grinding her teeth really loud. I feel horrible for having it done but know its best. Good luck.

 

[patches2593]

i don't think chinning would be a reason to count for her being spayed. chinning makes them feel better and safer. my rabbit is neutered and he still chins EVERYTHING.

but also it could be a problem since she's saying 'this is my territory' towards the other rabbit you have....

sorry I'm in my own little debate about the chinning thing. i only have one bunny so its not a problem

 

[mdith4him]

I don't think chinning alone is a reason to spay/neuter either. Nibbles still chins a lot of stuff and he was neutered a couple months ago (although I do think he chins less than he used to). I only mentioned it with Junie because we had NEVER seen her do that before and now all of a sudden, she's chinning everything. I don't particularly mind it, but I had thought it was just another sign of sexual maturity (wrong?). In any case, she should be ready for the surgery by the 17th and then we'll be done with surgeries!!