Spay/Neutering

A group of our rabbits at HAWS was being fixed

To spay or neuter your rabbit is not cruel, but is one of the kindest gestures you can make. A rabbit’s behavior is affected by hormonal compulsions to breed rapidly: males may spray and mount constantly, while females can be highly territorial and attack hands that enter cages. Female rabbits are highly susceptible to uterine cancer (adenocarcinoma). This adenocarcinoma is aggressive and highly malignant; often by the time it is diagnosed, it has already spread to lungs, lymph and breast. We recommend spaying females at about 5 to 6 months of age and neutering males once the testicles have descended(usually by 4 months of age). Spay/neuter will remove behavioral problems but will not alter your rabbit’s basic sweet personality. Indeed, in our experience most “aggression” in rabbits is cured by spaying. We maintain a list of experienced rabbit vets in the state and nation (www.rabbit.org), and are happy to refer you to one nearest you.