Trying to do the right thing...What is it?!

[Mybunnybella]

Well, I have a 10month old lop ear rabbit, when i got her i was quite clueless about rabbits as i got her for easter as a suprise (i didnt like the prospect of having a rabbit thrown at me but ohwell.) The cage i was given was much too small and so i bought a double decker with a ramp and run down the bottom. Today I rang and booked her in for a spay as i am more educated about the chances of uterine cancer and things like that, but with me being 13 and showing this initiative, mum told me that she read that having a bonded pair was very beneficial to the heath (phisically and emotionally) of my rabbit. I was just wondering if two females would still bond if they were both spayed, so i rang the breeder i got her off and she said that she would fight with (and kill) another rabbit... But I didnt mention that she would be spayed. The lady (lets call her "rose") seemed very niave about rabbit overall health as none of hers were spayed and were kept in less than perfect conditions with no other protection than a small wooden cage on stilts and a mozzie net draped on the top. So, If both my bunnies were spayed, both female, would they bond? She is already 10 months old, will she bond with a baby? If they would bond, but not with a bub, should i adopt one? Oh god im only 13 and a half and i dont want her hurt, I just want her to have the best life possible and that seems to lead to her having a mate... I just want the best, but i dont know what that is. Help?[align=right][/align][align=left][/align]

 

[agnesthelion]

Bella is adorable!! You sound like such a good bunny momma to want what is best for your bun

It is correct that buenvies benefit from having a friend of their own species. Rabbits are social animals and don't like being alone.

The first step to bonding your Bella is getting her spayed, which it looks like you have the appt set, that is great!

After your Bella has healed and hormones are all gone, you can work on finding her a mate. The most likely combination is male/female, both fixed. Two spayed females can bond too. It just depends on each individual rabbit. What people do alot of the times is bunny dating at a local rescue. That is where you would take your rabbit in and have her meet potential rabbits for adoption to see which one she likes. So instead of buying another baby from the breeder, can you adopt and go that route? You will have more success bombing her with an adult already fixed than a baby who will go through sexual maturity eventfully, need fixed and then risk breaking a bond.

I'm currently bonding my female Agnes with a neutered male Archie that I adopted from my local shelter.

Good luck and let us know if you have any other questions. Also, here is a link to a great article on bonding that can help you too.

http://www.rabbitnetwork.org/articles/bond.shtml

 

[littl3red]

I agree, it is easier to bond male/female, but same sex pairs can be bonded too, it might just take more time. I'm in the process of adopting a spayed female to bond to my current spayed female. I know someone on the forum, ldoerr, recently bonded two females, so you might send a message her way. (If she doesn't post here, and she may.)

 

[BugLady]

It's wonderful you are trying to do the best for your bun!

I also recommend taking her to a rabbit shelter for some "bunny dates" after her spay (wait about a month for her hormones to completely die down).

Male/female pairs seem to work the best, but female/female can be done.

Shelters will have the rabbits spayed/neutered already, and the adoption fee is much less than what a regular vet would charge you for fixing a rabbit. You won't be getting a baby, but you'll be able to ask about their personalities and behaviors at the shelter.

It was a lot of fun taking my Rascal to the shelter to look for a partner, took home a beautiful girl about his age. They get along well and are slowly bonding more closely. I can tell they are happier having each other for company.

Good luck!

 

[OakRidgeRabbits]

Mybunnybella wrote:

I was just wondering if two females would still bond if they were both spayed, so i rang the breeder i got her off and she said that she would fight with (and kill) another rabbit... But I didnt mention that she would be spayed. The lady (lets call her "rose") seemed very niave about rabbit overall health as none of hers were spayed and were kept in less than perfect conditions with no other protection than a small wooden cage on stilts and a mozzie net draped on the top.[align=right][/align][align=left][/align]

There are many different ways to keep bunnies, just because hers are kept differently doesn't mean she is naive. A breeder cannot spay their rabbits since they're breeding them. But even so, some owners make the educated decision not to spay their rabbits. Our pet does are not spayed. It's a very invasive procedure and none of the vets in our area are particularly rabbit savvy. So it would be more dangerous for us to have that done than just let them live out their lives. In my experience, the risk of any type of cancer is not as prevalent as many websites say.

I know that wasn't exactly your question...I think the others have given some good advice already. Just wanted to point out that husbandry practices vary and you can gain a lot of knowledge by talking to many different rabbit owners. Reputable breeders work with a lot of rabbits in their time, so they will often have good recommendations for general care and nutrition. And pet owners will often have great suggestions for incorporating a bunny into your home. Everyone has good advice to give!

 

[agnesthelion]

But even so, some owners make the educated decision not to spay their rabbits. Our pet does are not spayed. It's a very invasive procedure and none of the vets in our area are particularly rabbit savvy. So it would be more dangerous for us to have that done than just let them live out their lives. In my experience, the risk of any type of cancer is not as prevalent as many websites say.

^^^^^are you trying to deter this young girl from spaying her rabbit?

 

[Mariah]

Hello! Congratulations on getting your first bunny Bella! Great name choice too! My dogs name is Bella

Yes, first and foremost, Bella should be spayed before trying to bond with another rabbit. With the risks of cancer there is also the territorial part as well. I found with my two females that I had, they were very aggressive before they were spayed. Kiwi still can be but it's more of a warning to me to get out of her space! She will take my finger I'm her mouth gently and say move mum, your in my way! But she never bites. If she wasent spayed I think she would be a lot worse.

I har always been told that bonding a male and female is the easiest route to go! Mind you, for my two it took me 5 months to bond them!

My previous two bunnies were bonded from day one and that was also male and female!

Good luck and keep us posted on what you decide!

 

[LakeCondo]

I know it's hard at 13 to look ahead, but if in 5 years you're going to be away at college, what will happen to your rabbit or rabbits? I don't know if getting another will be better or worse with that situation, but it's something to think about.

And s single rabbit can have a very happy & contented life.

 

[gmas rabbit]

Just had my daughters rabbit, Elmira in for spaying. She is already 3 years old and had several litters. The vet who is very rabbit savy was glad to see her come in. She has seen lots of does with cysts and cancer that have not been neutered. Most rabbit savy vets give female rabbits intervenous during the surgery to prevent shock and keep them overnight. Personally I would high recommend spaying. As for bonding, I agree, go with a neutered male, possibly one you get from a shelter. good luck

 

[ajohal]

Bonding an existing doe to a new doe would be very difficult.
I recommend a buck and if you go to rescue shelters they usually give you a lot of advice and help!
Take your rabbit along when she's spayed.
Good Luck!

 

[ldoerr]

I recently bonded my two does. At first they HATED eachother and tried to kill eachother. I started the process in early August and it has only been in the last week where they are fully bonded. They are now inseperable. It is really hard to bond 2 girls. I also HIGHLY recomend getting them both spayed/neutered.

 

[OakRidgeRabbits]

agnesthelion wrote:

But even so, some owners make the educated decision not to spay their rabbits. Our pet does are not spayed. It's a very invasive procedure and none of the vets in our area are particularly rabbit savvy. So it would be more dangerous for us to have that done than just let them live out their lives. In my experience, the risk of any type of cancer is not as prevalent as many websites say.

^^^^^are you trying to deter this young girl from spaying her rabbit?

Of course not. My point was that it's important to talk to and learn from a variety of people and sources before making decisions about our pets. It may be very common in one community of people to have rabbits spayed or neutered, but that may not be the right option or safest option for everyone.

I always encourage animal owners to learn from all sides, that was my reason for posting. She mentioned that the breeder seemed naive for not recommending spaying or bonding, but a difference in opinion or husbandry doesn't necessarily mean the person is wrong. By gathering information from multiple resources and applying it to our own specific situations, we can make the most informed decisions for our own animals. That's all.

 

[luvthempigs]

Well said Julie, and good point

 

[agnesthelion]

I agree it is good to learn from all sides. But if someone is interested in bonding, then spaying is most usually needed. Her breeder may not be "naive" but the fact that she didn't explain that more in depth to a 13 year old girl speaks volumes if you ask me.

It just sounded like you were defending breeders and because she called hers naive you jumped to explanation mode and dismissed cancer statistics and talked about how it might be safer for some people to not spay. If I were a breeder and a young girl came to me asking questions, I would encourage fixing, not explain away why some people choose not to. But that's just me. Thanks for clarifying your point of view.

 

[majorv]

agnesthelion wrote:

I agree it is good to learn from all sides. But if someone is interested in bonding, then spaying is most usually needed. Her breeder may not be "naive" but the fact that she didn't explain that more in depth to a 13 year old girl speaks volumes if you ask me....

Actually, I wasn'tfamiliar with bonding rabbits until I got on this forum, but our rabbits are not normallyintendedas pets. I'm not sure how many breeders could provide the explanation you expect...possibly a breeder who only sells pets?The OP didn't mention what type of breeder she was.

 

[agnesthelion]

majorv wrote:

agnesthelion wrote:

I agree it is good to learn from all sides. But if someone is interested in bonding, then spaying is most usually needed. Her breeder may not be "naive" but the fact that she didn't explain that more in depth to a 13 year old girl speaks volumes if you ask me....

Actually, I wasn't familiar with bonding rabbits until I got on this forum, but our rabbits are not normally intended as pets.  I'm not sure how many breeders could provide the explanation you expect...possibly a breeder who only sells pets?  The OP didn't mention what type of breeder she was. 

I'm not talking about being familiar with the detailed process of bonding rabbits but a breeder should know that if you want a friend for your bunny, if you don't want a litter, and don't want them to fight, they should be fixed.

Look, I'm not sure what the point is here. A 13 year old girl posted on here about how to get her bunny a friend. The answer is simple, get your bunny spayed. Her breeder couldn't answer that question. Whether that makes her naive or not I don't know, but I don't think we should dissuade her from getting her bunny spayed if she wants to bond her.

 

[OakRidgeRabbits]

agnesthelion wrote:

It just sounded like you were defending breeders and because she called hers naive you jumped to explanation mode and dismissed cancer statistics and talked about how it might be safer for some people to not spay. If I were a breeder and a young girl came to me asking questions, I would encourage fixing, not explain away why some people choose not to. But that's just me. Thanks for clarifying your point of view.

There is no need to defend breeders as a community, I just don't think this individual's advice should be dismissed just because it wasn't popular opinion.

In some areas, rabbit savvy veterinarians are very difficult to find. Spaying is an invasive surgery and not as routine for rabbits as it is for cats and dogs. Rabbits require more specialized care. This could be one reason that a breeder (or anyone, really) may not recommend having the surgery done. Mybunnybella is from Australia. I'm not familiar with that area, so I am not sure whether rabbits are as common in Australia as companion pets. If they're not, the breeder may have made a very informed decision in not encouraging spays because it would not be as likely that rabbit savvy vets are accessible in the area if companion rabbits are not as common there. I know they've become sort of normal in the U.S., but there are many areas around the world where rabbits have not really transitioned into the regular house pet category.

Like I said, that is only an assumption on my end, it could be totally wrong. But that's why further research is important rather than jumping to the conclusion that spaying is a definite best option.

For someone who wants to bond rabbits, altering them will certainly help with the process. Whether that is a safe possibility depends on the resources available. All I'm recommending is an open mind and consideration for other opinions. None of us have all the answers...proper care is very circumstantial.

 

[majorv]

agnesthelion wrote:

majorv wrote:

agnesthelion wrote:

I agree it is good to learn from all sides. But if someone is interested in bonding, then spaying is most usually needed. Her breeder may not be "naive" but the fact that she didn't explain that more in depth to a 13 year old girl speaks volumes if you ask me....

Actually, I wasn'tfamiliar with bonding rabbits until I got on this forum, but our rabbits are not normallyintendedas pets. I'm not sure how many breeders could provide the explanation you expect...possibly a breeder who only sells pets?The OP didn't mention what type of breeder she was.

I'm not talking about being familiar with the detailed process of bonding rabbits but a breeder should know that if you want a friend for your bunny, if you don't want a litter, and don't want them to fight, they should be fixed.

Look, I'm not sure what the point is here. A 13 year old girl posted on here about how to get her bunny a friend. The answer is simple, get your bunny spayed. Her breeder couldn't answer that question. Whether that makes her naive or not I don't know, but I don't think we should dissuade her from getting her bunny spayed if she wants to bond her.

I think you missed the point of what I wassaying. I said I'd never even heard of "bonding" rabbits before I got on here, and it's very possible the breeder didn't catch on to that either. The breeder voiced the most logical concern and that was that they would fight...what the breedersaid to the OP wasin line with the question asked, given that she never mentioned spaying.

 

[Rescuemom]

I don't believe she was telling her NOT to spay her bunny, but rather, pointing out that she should look into what's best for her bunny. If that's spaying/bonding, that's awesome! Sometimes it comes down to the individual pet, owner and often times, area too. If bonding, I do agree that she should be spayed - but that is irrelevant to her question anyway, as she already has an appointment set.

He's not a rabbit, but often people push for dogs to be spayed/neutered too. My dog is not neutered and never will be. This was a personal choice due to my weighing of the pros and cons on BOTH sides of intact vs neutered. My dog has epilepsy and the risks of putting him under anesthesia or on meds is not one I am willing to take with him. Not to mention the fact that neutering wouldn't change a thing about his temperament or personality, or health risks either anyway.

If I was in a non-rabbit-savvy area like Julie, I likely wouldn't get my rabbit spayed either. Granted, I'm not a fan of getting any female animal spayed unless it's for health reasons anyway(my reasoning is the found connection in a study of female Rottweilers regarding a shortened lifespan when their ovaries were removed, in comparison to those who remained intact beyond the age of six - one Vet even stated that it was 'akin to that of takingg a Caterpillar out of an environment and watching that environment suffer or have unforeseen issues because of it'.)

I AM NOT however, saying spaying is unsafe - it is, in fact, extremely safe. Humans have hysterectomies all the time, tubes tied, etc. So do many animals too - horses, dogs, cats, rabbits, etc. So to say it's an unsafe procedure would greatly depend on the Veterinarian and the animal itself.

I do, agree, all in all, that a spayed bunny will be easier to bond, particularly if you want another female.

But I do also agree that having an array of opinions(which is just that - opinions), as well as information will greatly help in finalizing a GOOD decision for any persons animal.

Thank you, darlin' for caring enough to try to be the best mama you could be for Bella, even if she wasn't something you were expecting! You're an angel.

 

[agnesthelion]

I think you missed the point of what I was saying.  I said I'd never even heard of "bonding" rabbits before I got on here, and it's very possible the breeder didn't catch on to that either.  The breeder voiced the most logical concern and that was that they would fight...what the breeder said to the OP was in line with the question asked, given that she never mentioned spaying.

^^^^ok, thanks for clearing that up. Going forward i will now realize it can be common for breeders to not have knowledge in this area or sometimes not even have heard of it. I will keep that in mind. Thanks for giving me the heads up.