How to Prepare for Your Rabbit's Spay/Neuter

Pre-planning and introducing your Bun to some new things ahead of time will help him/her be as comfortable and healthy as possible while recuperating from surgery. These tips are specifically geared towards follow-up care for the spay/neuter, but are helpful any time your Bun might be feeling under the weather or recuperating from a trip to the vet for something more serious.

4 weeks prior to surgery: Order/purchase or otherwise plan for supplies to have available. These supplies include:

• Syringes in varying sizes from 1 mL to 10 mL (Your Bun's pain medication will most likely come with some 1 mL syringes, but it is helpful to have various sizes to help introduce syringe feeding ahead of time.)

• clean, sanitized ice pack

• Sherwood Appetite Restore https://store.sherwoodpethealth.com/appetite-restore/

• EmerAid Sustain Herbivore

• For a doe, you may want to have a stretchy sock that can be cut into bands to cover the incision site if she is prone to licking or chewing at the site. The idea is to limit access to the incision site, while keeping it clean and protected. (We have never needed to use this type of preventative measure for any of the does we have had spayed, but we have read of some situations where it was necessary. Talk with your vet ahead of time so you can be properly prepared in the event that your Bun doesn't leave the incision site alone. Ask for recommendations, just in case, and be prepared to use them should the need arise.)

2-3 weeks prior to surgery: Teach your Bun to take fluids via syringe by introducing the Appetite Restore and the EmerAid (or Oxbow Critical Care) per the mixing directions on the package. Most Buns absolutely love the Appetite Restore and are willing to give the EmerAid a try. Use the 1 mL syringe in the beginning, to keep the mess to a minimum. When offering the syringe to the rabbit, insert the tip in the corner of the mouth and aim towards the cheek before pressing the plunger down. The first taste usually wins them over and they are often eager for another taste. Some Buns take a bit more practice. It's a good idea to alternate between the Appetite Restore and the EmerAid and offer one or the other every 2-3 days so they get accustomed to the syringe and the taste. Once that is mastered, you can offer a bit to your Bun in a small bowl so he/she laps it up.

At this time it is also wise to begin introducing a fresh herb. Parsley is usually enjoyed and tolerated by most rabbits as their first treat. Offer one leafy piece every 2-3 days and gradually increase the amount until he/she enjoys two or three nice-sized stems per day. (If your Bun doesn't enjoy parsley or it causes an upset tummy with soft poo, you can also try basil, cilantro, or dill. Find one that works and stick with it until your Bun is comfortably healed from the procedure before introducing new treats.) Usually this treat will become your bunny's first choice of food following the procedure, and if you use it as a special treat, he/she will be more eager to eat it. The idea is to keep the digestive system working and to prevent GI Stasis.

If your Bun hasn't been in a pet carrier since coming home from HCB, you may want to dust it off (and make sure it's still a comfortable size, allowing plenty of time to order a larger one, if necessary) and take your rabbit for a few short car rides to get him comfortable with the sensation of being in the car.

1-2 Days before surgery: Gather additional supplies such as clean towels, mats, blankets, a fresh supply of your Bun's favorite herbs, chill the ice pack(s).

• Clean the pet carrier thoroughly and inspect your car for a safe spot to put the carrier on the trip home from the vet. Your Bun is going to want to be as still as possible while coming home, so placing her is a location where the carrier won't shift or slide around will help her feel safer. Some blankets or towels positioned around the carrier (being mindful of the bunny's need for good ventilation) can help absorb some of the shifting motions

• If it isn't already, take a few minutes to label your bunny carrier with your Bun's name, birthdate and the best phone number where the vet can contact you. This can be a simple piece of masking or duct tape with the information written with a marker or something longer lasting, like a luggage tag.

• Add a soft towel or mat to the carrier, along with a bit of fresh hay, so your bunny can keep nibbling as long as possible prior to surgery (bunnies should NEVER, EVER fast before surgery) and as soon as he wants to on the trip back home. Most bunnies don't eat on the way home following their procedures, so don't let this concern you.

Day of surgery:

• Arrive in plenty of time for your appointment.

• Thoroughly clean and sanitize your Bun's living space, litter box, and other items. Make sure everything is clean to decrease your Bun's possibility of infection.

• When preparing to take your Bun back home, be sure you understand any additional care instructions your vet recommends for the incision site, when and how to give the pain medication (we like to mix the meds with the Appetite Restore or EmerAid and syringe feed them the first day or two, and then offer them in a bowl the remaining days.)

• Ask your vet if there are any warning signs or behaviors which would indicate your Bun isn't doing well and may need to come back for a re-check.

By preparing ahead of time, handling your rabbit's post-surgical care will be a much less stressful undertaking than it would be if he/she has never taken fluids by syringe before. A few minutes each day will make your life and your Bun's much easier when he/she is not feeling well. The more quickly you can get him/her to accept some fluids and other nutrition, the sooner your Bun will be back to its happy, healthy self again.

Stay tuned for next week's blog post about what to expect while your Bun recuperates from its spay/neuter!