What age to spay?

[LindseyG]

My vet said 4 months old and 3 lbs. Is this right? When do you guys normally spay?

 

[Watermelons]

It really depends on how comfortable the vet is with doing the procedure on a smaller animal. Some vets wont touch animals under a certain weight, others claim 6 months is best regardless, some do a good job and can spay/neuter much younger.

If you vet says that, then thats just fine.
3lbs is a good weight.
Lily and Loki were both around 3.5 months old when they were done and 1kg each so ... 2lbs. And I had to talk my vet into doing them this small, she wont even touch a cat or dog until their 6 months. However I come from a vet that spays/neuters kittens at 8 weeks that may only weigh 1lb.

Its all about the skill and comfort level of the vet preforming the procedure, as well as the health of the rabbit in question.

I say go for it. beats waiting and letting those bad behaviours develop

 

[mrbunny]

Female rabbits mature between 4-6 months, so around that period. I would wait for 6 months to be safe.

 

[mrbunny]

You can also wait longer if you like, I think anytime under 1-1.5 years is safe for female spaying.

 

[LindseyG]

Thanks. Pumpkin is definitely over 3 lbs but she is under 4 months still. I will probably wait till she is 4 months. Cotton though is tiny probably 2 lbs but she might make it to 3 lbs by the time she turns 4 months. Pumpkin showed her first sign of sexual maturity today when I was petting her back she raised her butt up in the air like a female does when she is about to be mated with. Thats why I asked about spaying.

 

[Buttercup n Charlie]

We waited till buttercup was 4 mo as well. She was about 2.5 lbs. Everything went fairly well except for the usual recovery issues.

 

[Nancy McClelland]

We did most at 4 months, but then we had to guess how old most of our herd was. Good luck with your cuties.

 

[LindseyG]

Thanks! Pumpkin is 3 1/2 months old today. I am nervous about her spay! With Frank I wasn't that nervous because he is a male and he bounced right back to his normal self after a day. I looked at his incision today and it looks perfect and healing very well.

 

[Nancy McClelland]

ray:

 

[ZRabbits]

Glad to hear Frank is doing well.

I have to say I don't blame you for being nervous when it's a doe. They have to go through so much more than a buck.

I tried to hit the 4 month mark for my boys but my Rabbit Vet wanted them to be a bit older. Kreacher was just about 1 lbs when he went through his neutering. Came through it just fine. So I'm not sure about weight vs age.

K