Why should you neuter your rabbit?

Neuter your rabbit to prevent reproduction

When adopting a rabbit, you may be wondering about the benefits of having it neutered. The main reason for this neutering is to prevent rabbits from reproducing. It is mainly the adopter’s choice. If you already have several rabbits, neutering is necessary and allows everyone to live in harmony without any problem. Neutering may also have other reasons, including medical and behavioral ones. The recommended age for neutering is between 6 months and 1 year and must be done under gas anaesthesia.

Neutering your rabbit for behavioral reasons

One reason to neuter your rabbit is to avoid problematic behaviors, quite embarrassing ones, especially at home. This may involve the territory marking with urine spurts for the male or dirtiness for the female. Similarly, in the case of cohabitation between two rabbits of the same sex, conflicts can arise and lead to serious injuries. Neutering will prevent these issues. In males, behavioral problems also relate to their constant need to seek mating. This can be embarrassing on a daily basis. In females, this behavioral aspect is less common, but they may sometimes seek to mate incessantly or initiate phantom pregnancy. Neutering a rabbit put an end to this type of behavior related to the rabbit’s hormonal production as soon as it reaches puberty. Count about 3 weeks after the operation to find a more cuddly and sociable rabbit, but don’t expect miracles either, neutering doesn’t radically change rabbits’ behavior!

Neutering your rabbit for medical reasons

Medical issues often occur in females rabbits and are less common in males. However, for males, a testicular cancer can arise and are often benign. Incontinence is the most common reproductive pathology in male rabbits. For females, on the other hand, it is essential to neuter them since all vets agree that they are 3 times more likely than males to develop a uterine or an ovarian cancer. It is a disease called uterine adenocarcinoma. This condition progresses rapidly until it causes bleeding from the uterus walls or pain that leads to loss of appetite, slow digestive system and sometimes even depression. This tumor can also spread and cause breathing difficulties. This is caused by hormonal activity, which is widely considered to be a triggering factor in the development of cancer. The sooner you have your rabbit neutered, the more you will protect him/her from this type of medical problem.

The best time to have your rabbit neutered

The best way to neuter a female rabbit is as soon as possible. Indeed, the longer you wait, the more likely its uterus will be damaged. It’s better to do it before her first year. If your rabbit’s behavior is unbearable, do not to wait too long: the sooner you do this operation, the better your rabbit’s behavior will improve. However, it is strongly not recommended to have your pet neutered before it is 6 months old. Early neutering can have an impact on your rabbit’s health, especially its endocrine system. If in doubt, wait until it has reached adulthood.