Castration of rabbits is aimed at removing the reproductive organs of the animals, which eliminates the sexual activity of pets. This manipulation is carried out for ornamental or farm animals. To prevent it from leading to negative consequences for your pet’s health, it is important to choose the right method and provide him with adequate care.
Advantages and disadvantages of castration
Neutering rabbits has certain pros and cons.The indisputable advantage of the technique is that the pet does not experience sexual heat. Thanks to this, he becomes calmer and stops fighting for the rabbit. This procedure also helps strengthen the immune system and increase life expectancy. Castrated rabbits are less susceptible to inflammation and malignant lesions of the genital organs.
Such animals gain body weight well and acquire smooth fur. Carrying out the procedure helps make the animal more clean. He will stop marking his territory.
At the same time, performing the manipulation also has many disadvantages. If you do it without anesthesia, there is a risk of severe stress and even painful shock. The procedure using an anesthetic does not cause discomfort. However, rabbits do not respond well to anesthesia.
Also, after castration, there is a risk of inflammation of the damaged area, damage to the digestive organs, and dysbacteriosis. During recovery, your pet may try to scratch the affected area. This often causes infection and disruption of the suture structure.
At what age are rabbits neutered?
To ensure that castration does not cause negative consequences for the health of pets, it is important to choose the right time for the procedure.
Optimal age
It is recommended to castrate the female at the time of puberty, which begins at 4 months. However, most veterinarians prefer to wait six months. Carrying out the procedure on animals that are too young is considered dangerous.
Males should be castrated at the moment of testicular descent. This period occurs for 3-4 months.In Europe, rabbits are often castrated as early as 6 weeks of age. At the same time, it is advisable to carry out the procedure not only for farm rabbits, but also for decorative rabbits.
When not to do it
It is important to neuter rabbits at the right age. Violation of this rule may provoke negative consequences. Removal of reproductive organs from animals over 4 years of age can cause serious deterioration in health. If the procedure is carried out at the age of more than 6 years, there is a high risk of death.
Also, contraindications to the manipulation include individual sensitivity to analgesics. Allergies to such drugs do not occur very often, but before carrying out the intervention it is worth consulting a veterinarian and eliminating possible restrictions.
It is not recommended to castrate if the rabbit is overweight. First, the animal must be brought into proper shape and only then the reproductive organs must be removed.
Rabbit castration methods
There are 2 main methods of carrying out the procedure - closed and open. Each of them has some features.
Closed method
With closed sterilization, it is not necessary to cut the skin. If this is not done, it is recommended to fix the rabbit's paws vertically. It is important to ensure that his head is on top.
The scrotum must be pulled horizontally to the side and then tightened tightly with a surgical knot. This is done until a crunch is heard in the spermatic cords. No further action should be taken. On days 3-6, the scrotum and testes will dry out and fall off.
Open way
To sterilize a rabbit with a cut in the skin, it is recommended to wipe the treatment area with tincture of iodine. Its concentration should be 5%.Then a small longitudinal incision should be made between the 2 poles of the testis. After this, squeeze out the testis with the vaginal membrane. It is necessary to apply a surgical knot near the external inguinal ring and cut the testes using scissors or a scalpel.
When carrying out this procedure, it is important to maintain a certain height distance from the dressing area. It should be 2-3 millimeters. After this, it is recommended to treat the damaged area with an antiseptic and antibacterial drug. “Streptocid”, “Tricillin” or another composition are suitable for this.
If a rabbit has an inguinal-scrotal hernia, you need to twist the common vaginal membrane with the spermatic cords several times.
Preparation
The rabbit should be stopped feeding 12 hours before the procedure. If the animal eats as usual, there is a risk of complications. One of the most common disorders is intestinal prolapse. As a last resort, it is permissible to give your pet a little hay. It is also allowed to use dried grass. In this case, there must be a lot of water in the drinking bowl.
Before the operation, the cell is disinfected using special chemicals. You should also wash the feeder and drinker and change the bedding.
A few days before the procedure, the pet should be given acidophilus in dry form. This will help prevent the development of dysbiosis after surgery. Before carrying out the manipulation, the animal must be examined to ensure its health.
Carrying out surgery at home
Castration can be done with your own hands. To do this, it is recommended to prepare tools. You will also need silk or nylon thread.The scalpel and needle should be thoroughly disinfected. The treatment of the operating table is of no small importance. Hands should be washed well and treated with iodine solution.
Then place the rabbit on the table with its belly up and securely fix it. Take the scrotum with your left hand and then pull it down. Make an incision in the skin from the top back, pull out the testes, bandage them and cut them off.
Sprinkle the damaged area with Streptocide and stitch it up. The operation must be carried out extremely carefully. It is forbidden to pull on the tubules. This will help avoid damage to the abdominal cavity.
What care does the animal need to provide?
Open castration is usually used for decorative pets. After surgery, the rabbit should be fed in small portions and its condition monitored. Usually the procedure does not cause complications. After just a few days, the rabbit is ready to return to its normal lifestyle.
Sometimes after castration there is prolapse of the omentum or intestines. In such a situation, the help of a veterinarian will be required. If the pet bites or tries to scratch the wound, a plastic collar is put on it. In this case, it is recommended to treat the damaged area with hydrogen peroxide.
How much does the procedure cost?
The cost of castration depends on a number of factors. If the procedure is performed in a clinic, it can cost 700-3000 rubles. Castration of a rabbit is considered an important procedure that helps eliminate sexual desire and make the animal calmer. It is recommended to choose the right method and strictly adhere to the rules of preparation and care.
