Neutering or Spaying

Spaying female rabbits is done to protect them against diseases of the uterus as well as to prevent conception. Male rabbits, guinea pigs and chinchillas are neutered mainly to allow them to live peacefully with females without the risk of producing babies, or for behavioural reasons.

Female guinea pigs are rarely spayed, although if a caesarian section is necessary the vet will often remove the womb. Interestingly, a breeder I spoke to who had experienced several of her guinea pigs needing caesarian sections, told me that the only one who survived was operated on by a young vet who left the womb intact because the sow was a breeding animal. Not that a sow who has had a caesarian should ever be allowed to get pregnant again, but it was an interesting discovery. The vets at the practice all did everything else the same, good anaesthesia, good surgery, pain relief and warmth, only that was different.

Many rescues will have rabbits spayed or neutered before rehoming and this will of course be reflected in the price.  Vets who regularly neuter and spay rabbits and other small furries normally have a good safety track record but there are always risks attached to operations carried out under anaesthesia.

In rodents such as degus, where the pair bond is strong and the ability to produce regular large litters is a worry, the kindest thing is to have the male neutered and allow him to live with his partner.

EXTERNAL LINKS

Spay or neuter my rabbit? by Dana M Krempels PhD, University of Miami  "Unspayed female rabbits have a very high risk of uterine, ovarian and mammary cancers. Some reports state that more than 80% of unspayed, unbred female rabbits will develop uterine/ovarian cancer by the age of three years. Our vets have seen signs of uterine hyperplasia (a pre-cancerous condition) and even true adenocarcinoma (cancer) in rabbits as young as one year. Leaving your bunny unspayed is just not worth the risk."

House Rabbits UK article on Uterine Cancer by Linda Dykes MBBS (Hons), Owen Davies BVSc MRCVS, Sally Walshaw MA, VMD, Judith Brown BVM&S MRCVS "The vast majority of female rabbits develop cancer of the uterus (womb) in middle age, unless they are spayed."