Rabbit Spay & Neuter: What 10 Years Has Taught Me

Rabbit Spay & Neuter: What Ten Years Have Taught Me

Over the past decade, I have carried many rabbits to and from spay and neuter appointments.

Most of those days have ended quietly. A rabbit comes home sleepy, settles into fresh bedding, nibbles hay by evening, and within a few days life resumes its normal rhythm. That steady pattern has been the overwhelming experience, and it is why we continue to require spay and neuter for the companion rabbits we place with loving families.

Ten years of responsible care has also taught me how fragile life can be.

There was Zacchaeus. He made it through his neuter, but during recovery it was suspected that he threw a blood clot. His loss was sudden and deeply sobering. It was one of the first times I understood that even routine procedures still carry an element of the unknown. There are no guarantees.

There was Mango. At two and a half years old, what was expected to be a routine spay revealed significant tumor growth that had already taken hold. We chose to let her go peacefully that day. Mango changed how we do things. From that point forward, retired does were no longer placed without being altered first.

There was Isla. She quietly passed under anesthesia. There were no warning signs and no clear explanation. It was the kind of phone call that settles heavily and stays with you.

And more recently, there was Scuba. She came home from her spay and initially appeared to recover well. Several days later, her family contacted us to share that she had suddenly declined and died. Her loss was a reminder that recovery deserves as much attention and respect as the procedure itself.

These experiences span more than ten years. They are not the norm. The vast majority of surgeries we have walked through have been smooth and successful. Even so, all outcomes are part of our history, and responsible care means acknowledging the full picture, not only the easy parts.

Why we still require spay and neuter

Spay and neuter surgery is considered routine when performed by an experienced rabbit veterinarian. We strongly recommend it for all rabbits, especially for does, who face a significant risk of uterine cancer if left intact. Hormonal stress and the possibility of accidental litters are also important considerations.

Surgery carries risk. Remaining intact carries risk.

There is no path that offers certainty. There is only the responsibility to weigh those risks honestly and choose what best protects long-term health.

What ten years has changed

These experiences have not led us away from spay and neuter. They have made us more intentional in how we approach it.

We ask questions. We ensure appropriate pain management. We choose experienced veterinary care. We monitor recovery closely in the days that follow.

Responsible care does not pretend that nothing can go wrong. It acknowledges the risk, seeks knowledgeable guidance, and makes thoughtful decisions with the rabbit’s long-term well-being in mind.

We approach these decisions with open eyes and steady trust, doing what we believe is right for the rabbit in front of us.