Have you neutered your rabbits yet?

I do not currently own rabbits - but if I do own them I wil certainly have them neutered (male or female).

There are so many reasons for neutering:

1) Health.

This is less of an issue for the boys but is literally life or death for females. The single biggest cause of early death in female rabbits is uterine cancer - many entire females die before the age of three from this disease. Spaying completely prevents this disease and a number of others. A female rabbit is therefore far more likely to live a full and healthy life if she is spayed.

2) Social life.

Rabbits are a social species and need the company of their own kind. Very few rabbits prefer living alone. It is impossible to house two adult bucks together unless both are neutered because they will be constantly fighting or humping eachother, and may cause serious injury. Female rabbits are easier to house together, but even they are more likely to squabble unless spayed. The best social pairing is one male with one or more females, but obviously they would need to be neutered to prevent breeding.

3) Behaviour problems

Many entire rabbits of either sex develop behaviours their owners do not like. In females this is often nesting behaviour which comes with aggression which may be very severe. In males problems include aggression, humping everything (toys, legs etc), and spraying urine. Neutering can prevent or reduce many rabbit behaviour problems, and often makes litter training easier.

4) Animal welfare and responsible ownership

There are many thousands of rabbits in shlters and rescues desperate for loving homes - they suffer from overpopulation (more animals than homes) just like dogs and cats do. Breeding more rabbits only adds to this problem - causing more rabbits to be left in shelters or euthanised.

Even if you don't plan to breed your rabbits it is more responsible to have them neutered. Accidents can happen otherwise. What if the pet sitter or a visiting child puts your opposite sex rabbits together? What if you need to rehome you rabbit and the new owner breeds from them? Unless the rabbit is neutered there is no way to be sure they will never be able to breed.

Generally neutering rabbits has loads of benefits to the rabbits, the owner, and the general rabbit population. It is now a fairly simple procedure with very little risk (when carried out by an experienced vet). In the long term it isn't particularly expensive (costs less than a suitable hutch or cage!).

I really do not believe there is any excuse for not neutering a rabbit.

Here is an answer from BOTH sides of the fence...

I was a show rabbit breeder for many years and raised Holland Lops and English Angoras. Most of my rabbits lived in a barn but were cycled through the home as house rabbits on a regular basis.

I volunteer with several cat rescues and currently have a couple adopted pet rabbits.

I think spaying/neutering a pet rabbit is a GOOD thing. Granted, I haven't had any through their whole life span yet, but, so far I would say the overall health is the same if not better in my spayed rabbits and the temperament is MUCH better. I have yet to meet a female rabbit that didn't get moody. There probably are some, but, I haven't met one. They get growly and broody every couple weeks. My spayed ones do not get moody. They still have individual personalities, one likes people more then the other does, BUT, I don't reach my hand over to pet a normally tame rabbit and get attacked by moody 'psycho' bunny. When they're neutered, they're also a lot more likely to get along with another rabbit companion..

What I would suggest doing as there is still more surgical risk with rabbits then with dogs and cats, is get the rabbit fixed immediately after you get it if possible OR adopt one that is already fixed.

Claiming that neutering is BAD for them is an outright lie. The only way it's bad for them is if the react negatively to the anesthesia, otherwise, they can enjoy the same benefits from it as can a dog or cat.

Is neutering necessary in small caged animals? No, not really, you can easily control whether or not they breed. BUT, I think neutering is an excellent choice for an animal that may become moody and to prevent some health problems..

If I had just one rabbit as a pet I would not spay or neuter it. Really no need to. If you are not planning on breeding it it would be a waste of money to do it.

I have been raising and showing rabbits for 16 years now. Our first rabbit was a Mini Lop, we had him for many years as an only rabbit. He lived to be 12 and was never neutered and never saw a vet. he lived a long healthy life and was proof to me that some things just don't need to be done to a pet.

If you want to keep 2 rabbits and have them live together then altering them is advisable, even though it is no guarantee that they will get along. Rabbits (the domestic ones) usually don't get along well.

I do not think it is a false answer just one person's opinion and everyone is entitled to their opinion.

Also too many people assume that having a rabbit is like having a dog or cat. they are not like dogs and cats at all. They have different physical and mental make-ups so to expect them to act and be trainable like a dog or cat is not something that is going to happen.

Just my opinion as a rabbit lover and breeder for over 16 years.

I also eat rabbit meat as we do raise some of the commercial type breeds just for that purpose. And there are many people who feel that is wrong (uninformed people)

I believe that rabbits should be altered.

1. It protects them from any reproductive cancers which are common in female rabbits. Many rabbits die because of this every year, and that could have been stopped if they had just gotten them spayed. They will live much longer if fixed.

2. Your rabbit will become more pleasant. After removing the repoductive organ, your rabbit will have a decreased urge to mate. They will not be as hyper and become more laid-back, making a better companion for you. Before I got my rabbits fixed, they would not sit down and cuddle with me at all; they were much too busy running around, buzzing because they smelled the other rabbits. Now, I can sit down and watch a movie with them, not worrying about what mischief they could be getting in, because they're not running around frantically.

3. They do not smell as much. When you walk into the room, the smell will not hit you in the face after only two days of cleaning their cage. Male rabbits will not spray as much, making it much easier for you with the cleaning of the cage.

4. It's much easier to train your rabbit to use the litter box. They will be less likely to make mistakes and you won't have to worry about cleaning that up.

5. You can get them a friend! Fixed bunnies can be paired with another much easier, they will be happier if they have been successfully bonded and when you're not around, they won't be as bored. Plus, the more the merrier. ;)

6. That is one more rabbit that will not make more babies who could end up with no home, snake food or abandoned. If you ever had to get rid of your bunny for some reason, getting it fixed will ensure that he won't be used as a breeder, in one of those filthy disgusting places called bunny mills.

I hope you decide to neuter your bunny, you'll both be happier. :)

I would definitely spay or neuter your rabbit.

Has similar benefits to spaying or neutering your cat and does them no harm.

The majority of rabbits available at Humane Societies are spayed or neutered, just like cats and dogs are, before being released for adoption. It helps keep pet over population and unwanted litters in check, it's healthier for the pet (helps avoid uterine/testicular cancers etc) and it helps with a lot of behavioural issues (the sooner you get them 'fixed' the better as far as behavioural issues go, males neutered later in life tend to still spray and hump legs etc...).

One google search and I found these resources:

http://www.ontariorabbits.org/diet/behavinfo6.html

http://www.spca.bc.ca/AnimalBehaviour/rabsneuter.a...

http://www.rabbit.org/faq/sections/spay-neuter.htm...

http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/why_you_should_s...

At with regard to the age at which the rabbit reaches the age of sexual adulthood. for the final public of rabbits, this suggests at approximately 4-6 months of age. super breeds of rabbits might attain adulthood a pair of months later so the surgical technique might desire to be carried out slightly later in those breeds if mandatory. With men surprisingly, your vet might desire to have the skill to tell from a speedy examination no rely in the experience that your bunny is waiting via the presence or absence of testicles interior the scrotum, yet a universal examination can furnish your vet a reliable thought with regard to the adulthood of your rabbit and readiness for surgical technique.

Defiently neuter and spay!...it decreases their chances of getting CANCER!!. i just got my 5 month old neutered a few days ago.

I've never had any of my rabbits spayed or neutered.

I breed purebred Mini Lops, So I don't.

I don't think rabbits need to be spayed/neutered. I have never thought of it actually. lol