Neutered Bunny Concerns

[Chinchilla_Girl]

Lucky Jack was neutered this morning and the vet allowed me to take him home tonight. They said he wasn't really eating yet but to watch him. He hasn't moved from the one spot I put him in over 2 hours and he hasn't attempted to eat anything...he just closes his eyes when I pet him, but that is the only thing he is doing...he isn't even twitching his nose I'm starting to worry! They did give him Post-Op pain meds and said that might be why he wasn't eating yet, but they didn't give me anything for pain once he was home...Should I be concerned yet?

[veggiegirl]

I don't think you should be too concerned just yet, but keep an eye on him. The info that I got from the rescue when my bunny was spayed was that if they do not eat or go to the bathroom within 12 hours, you should seek immediate veterinary attention. It takes a few hours for the medication to wear off so your bun is probably really doped up. Some handle it better than others, so just keep an eye on him. Mo did fine when he was neutered but Sonora had a harder time. I took her in to the vet the next day because she hadn't gone to the bathroom yet and was still acting totally spaced, although she was eating a little. They gave her fluids and something to get the digestive tract moving. I hope he feels better!

[Chinchilla_Girl]

Thanks VeggieGirl,
I was just concerned because my vet usually doesn't allow bunnies to leave until they start eating well. She knows I'm a bit paranoid with the chinnies and the dogs, so she decided his recovery would be better handled at home. Besides, they have a dog there right now that was howling when I came in this morning and was still howling when I picked him up this evening...It was pretty noisey and a quiet evening at home would be better for him.
Also my vet tech apparently has a friend that breeds rabbits for meat...she was wondering if I wanted a female that although lets the males do what they want, she is producing no babies...She is wondering if the female might be spayed already. She said she would check for me, but what do you think of a neutered male and female being housed together? What are the chances they would get along once Lucky Jack is all healed up? I know it's off topic, but I'm thinking about taking her...she said the female is a little bigger than Lucky Jack, but not by much...If she doesn't start producing babies and they can't find her a good pet home...she'll become someone's dinner! I don't want to see that happen

[veggiegirl]

Would you be getting her spayed? They don't do well together unless both are fixed. If she is going to be spayed then I'm sure they would get along fine. You have to go through the bonding process but bunnies usually do great in pairs. Mo loves Sonora now but he was a big brat when I first put them together LOL.

[Chinchilla_Girl]

Well the vet tech was going to shave her belly for me and find out...If I take her, she would definetly get spayed first...She is apparently a Netherland Dwarf just like Lucky Jack, so I have no idea why a meat breeder would be using her...She said she's really pretty too. I talked to Shane about it and he was like "oh" He didn't really have an opinion...So I'm going to call her in the morning and find out how soon they want to get rid of her and how soon before we know for sure if she's spayed or not...I know I said only 1 bunny, but...she doesn't belong is a stew either!

[veggiegirl]

That is so sad. I can't believe that people can eat rabbits after seeing their cute little personalities. I hope you can save her!

[Chinchilla_Girl]

I'm working on it...I just know Shane is going to start thinking we will need a "Rabbit Room" now too! I'm not looking to get into rabbits, but what is "just one more"?

[veggiegirl]

Quote: Originally Posted by Chinchilla_Girl I'm not looking to get into rabbits, but what is "just one more"?

Exactly!

[RSbunny]

Mandie don't worry about Jack yet......he will be fine! rodger was quiet and still for hours after his neutering!!!
With the female....males and females make the best companions!! Either neither of them is to be speyed/ neutered or both of them have to be cause once the un-fixed one gets hormones it will piss the other one off with it's antics! They should go together quite well....just introduce them in a neutral zone first, like the bathroom or somewhere where lucky Jack hasn't claimed it to be his yet. Then put the girl in the CLEAN (less smells!) cage first for five or ten minutes, take her out put Jack in. If he doesn't stop his feet and grunt then they should be fine!! rodger and shadow lived in their cage together from day one!

[tonifersangel]

I have never heard of fixing rabbits. Do they act better or live longer once fixed? I ask since you only had one bunny so obviously it's not to stop mating.

[RSbunny]

It calms them down sooo much and you get a much friendler and happier bunny....not to mention not as destructive!!! It does make them live longer too by eliminating cancers! Unspeyed female rabbits are almost certain to have cancer of the uterus by the age of three if they haven't had a litter! It helps health wise with males too!

[tonifersangel]

I can understand that. . .I had bunnys when I was about 10 and they were mean little buggers. They were sooo jumpy and I could never play with them

[Chinchilla_Girl]

Well, Jack started eating, but the little bugger is being really picky! He'll only eat dark Romain lettuce! He's literally turned his nose up at pellets, collard greens, parsley, cilantro, carrots and even both timothey and alfalfa hays! The other thing is he'll ONLY eat the romain lettuce as long as I hold it for him! Can you say spoiled rotten? He's sitting here in my lap as I type...he has no interest in going anywhere else...he's being Mommas little bunny!

[RSbunny]

don't give him too much lettuce if that is all his eating...it might give him diarrhoea!! He is probably enjoying all the moisture in the lettuce!! Try him on a piece of tomato...see if that sparks his interest!

[Chinchilla_Girl]

I only gave him about 1 leaf's worth...I want him to eat other things too and I don't want him to get use to me holding his food for him...he's spoiled enough! LOL! He'll have to wait for tomorrow for tomato though...we're all out!