Genre: Information/Explanation

Rabbits are social animals and should therefore preferably be kept in pairs or groups , ideally reared together from birth . When you get a new rabbit or a pair of rabbits together , it is wise to get one , or ideally both , of the rabbits neutered . If opposite gender rabbits are kept together with no intention of breeding then one or both will need to be neutered from 4 months old . Watch for the male's testicles to descend from 3 months old and separate the rabbits immediately this is seen , keeping them in sight and sound of each other . At Wendover Heights Veterinary Centre , our vets and nurses are experienced with rabbit anaesthesia and surgery , and we will be happy to discuss with you what having your rabbit neutered involves . Reasons for spaying Does : prevention of pregnancy if kept with male prevention of uterine cancer ( some statistics suggest as many as 80 % of entire does may develop uterine cancer over 5 years of age ) to eliminate aggression which may develop at puberty to eliminate false pregnancy to prevent spraying if kept indoors The best age is 5-6 months old . Reasons for castrating Bucks : to prevent pregnancy if kept with a Doe to reduce aggression to prevent spraying if kept indoors The best age is as soon as the testicles descend into the scrotum , around 4 months old . Remember that Bucks may still be fertile for about a month after castration . Anaesthetic considerations : It is generally appreciated that anaesthetics in rabbits and small mammals are higher risk than many other animals , and unfortunately have a higher rate of anaesthetic deaths compared to dogs and cats . Although this risk is still very small , it is enough to warrant a careful cost-benefit analysis for each procedure . The reasons for this increased risk are as follows : Rabbits , as prey animals , are notorious for hiding signs of disease . For example , there may be pre-existing pneumonia with substantial lung disease without the rabbit ever having shown clinical signs . In combination with the rabbit 's particularly narrow airways this can produce breathing difficulties under anaesthesia . With outdoor rabbits , observation may not be as good as it could be , and so early signs of illness may be missed Rabbits are particularly susceptible to stress and the huge surge of adrenaline they produce when stressed can affect the heart . Having said this , rabbit anaesthesia is safer than it has ever been before , with improved knowledge and skill and state-of-the-art anaesthetics . Our vets and nurses are very experienced and confident in anaesthetising small mammals , using the very best in anaesthetic drugs . For many procedures , where possible , we will place a tube into the airway to allow better oxygen supplementation ( compared to using a face mask ) . Very often the procedure recommended will greatly improve the animal's quality of life or even save it , making the procedure more than justified . Please note that there is no need to withhold food or water prior to surgery as rabbits do not easily vomit , and will continue to eat their faecal pellets ( caecotrophs ) through the night anyway . In fact , withholding water would be detrimental to the animal's condition . Sexing rabbits over 12 weeks old is simple as the buck's testicles descend visibly into the scrotum and the penis can be extruded . Sexing of younger rabbits is notoriously difficult and you may need expert help , and preferably several littermates for comparison ! Females have a pointed genital opening closer to the anus , and males , a more rounded orifice further away . Sexual maturity occurs between 3 – 10 months of age with smaller breeds earlier . Breeding should not be attempted except by experienced breeders , as there are lots of possible complications . Please bear in mind before breeding that there are hundreds of rabbits in overflowing rescue centres , including baby rabbits , that need homes . The doe has a period of receptivity to the buck every 5 days from January to June , which may not be obvious . Rabbits are induced ovulators ( meaning they ovulate only after mating ) with a gestation ( pregnancy length ) of 32 days . The buck should be removed towards the end of gestation as the doe can be fertile immediately after giving birth . Sometimes rabbits can have a false pregnancy after an infertile mating or even from being mounted by other does . She will pull fur from her dewlap ( the lump under her neck ) for about 15 days to line an imaginary nest .