Spaying/Neutering
WHAT DOES SPAY/NEUTER MEAN? Spaying is for a doe (female rabbit), and neutering is for a buck (male rabbit). Spaying is removing the uterus of the doe and can be done as soon as the rabbit reaches adulthood, at 5-7 months for Holland Lops. Neutering is removing the testicles and can be done much earlier, as soon as the testicles descend at as early as 3 months in Holland Lops.
SHOULD I SPAY/NEUTER MY RABBIT? It is really not necessary to neuter a male pet bunny if he is kept alone. Some bucks, though, will spray pee to mark their territory and become aggressive. There is about a 50/50 chance that your buck will or will not do this. Also, neutering a buck will increase his happiness, as he will not be always looking for a mate. With females, if they are not spayed they can develop uterine cancer and have a shorter life then a doe that would be fixed. Of course, some does will be amazingly friendly and may never get cancer so it is up to you if you want to do it at that point or not. Usually getting spayed or neutered helps a doe or buck that is territorial or aggressive at 5 to 6 months of age. MAKE SURE your vet has experience in going through the surgery with rabbits, they are very delicate animals and having them go under is always very risky. More so for females then for males, because in males they only need a small incision to remove the testicles, whereas the females need a larger incision to remove the uterus.
Spaying/neutering your rabbit will also help with potty training. Once your house rabbit reaches a certain age (usually around 6 months), they will start to scatter their droppings to mark their territory. Spaying/neutering the rabbit will stop this, usually.
If you get two rabbits, they will both have to be spayed/neutered or they may fight constantly. It's very rare for unspayed/unneutered rabbits to become friends once they are adults. Read more about that here.
HOW DO I KNOW MY RABBIT IS READY TO BE "FIXED"? Your rabbit will let you know when they want to be bred or need to be spayed/neutered. For bucks, it is a 50/50 chance that they will start to spray pee, get aggressive or territorial, and may become hostile, rather than friendly. For does they may start to get aggressive and territorial. Both genders will start to “chin” objects such as their food dish, toys, even your finger, to let other rabbits know that they are around and would like to mate. Talk with your vet about when is the right time to neuter or spay your pet rabbit. Some vets like to spay before internal fat has settled on the uterus at about 4-6 months in Holland Lops. Depending on the size of your Holland at 4 months, they may still be too small and the surgery could be too risky removing their tiny organs. Some vets like to spay after the fat has settled, at 6 months or later.
The spaying and neutering operations can be very spendy, depending on where you plan on going. The vet we were going to get my rabbit spayed at wanted over $100 for the operation. We didn't end up getting her spayed, and she's pretty old now so the operation could be risky. Here's some places I found that offer cheaper spays/neuters. Make sure the place you decide to get your rabbit fixed specializes in rabbits and has done many successful rabbit spays and neuters.
NW Spay & Neuter Center - $85 for a spay, $75 for a neuter. Site is here
Seattle Humane Society - $60 for a spay, $50 for a neuter. Site is here
Seattle Animal Shelter - $75 for a spay or neuter. Site is here
Spaying/neutering your rabbit will also help with potty training. Once your house rabbit reaches a certain age (usually around 6 months), they will start to scatter their droppings to mark their territory. Spaying/neutering the rabbit will stop this, usually.
If you get two rabbits, they will both have to be spayed/neutered or they may fight constantly. It's very rare for unspayed/unneutered rabbits to become friends once they are adults. Read more about that here.
HOW DO I KNOW MY RABBIT IS READY TO BE "FIXED"? Your rabbit will let you know when they want to be bred or need to be spayed/neutered. For bucks, it is a 50/50 chance that they will start to spray pee, get aggressive or territorial, and may become hostile, rather than friendly. For does they may start to get aggressive and territorial. Both genders will start to “chin” objects such as their food dish, toys, even your finger, to let other rabbits know that they are around and would like to mate. Talk with your vet about when is the right time to neuter or spay your pet rabbit. Some vets like to spay before internal fat has settled on the uterus at about 4-6 months in Holland Lops. Depending on the size of your Holland at 4 months, they may still be too small and the surgery could be too risky removing their tiny organs. Some vets like to spay after the fat has settled, at 6 months or later.
The spaying and neutering operations can be very spendy, depending on where you plan on going. The vet we were going to get my rabbit spayed at wanted over $100 for the operation. We didn't end up getting her spayed, and she's pretty old now so the operation could be risky. Here's some places I found that offer cheaper spays/neuters. Make sure the place you decide to get your rabbit fixed specializes in rabbits and has done many successful rabbit spays and neuters.
NW Spay & Neuter Center - $85 for a spay, $75 for a neuter. Site is here
Seattle Humane Society - $60 for a spay, $50 for a neuter. Site is here
Seattle Animal Shelter - $75 for a spay or neuter. Site is here