Castration of rabbits: pros and cons, ways and how to do it yourself

Castration of rabbits is aimed at removing the reproductive organs of animals, which eliminates the sexual activity of pets. This manipulation is carried out for ornamental or farm animals. So that it does not lead to negative consequences for the he alth of your pet, it is important to choose the right method and provide him with adequate care.

Advantages and disadvantages of castration

Castration of rabbits has certain pros and cons. The indisputable advantage of the technique is that the pet does not experience sexual desire. Thanks to this, he becomes calmer and stops fighting for the rabbit.Also, this procedure helps to 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 weight well and acquire smooth fur. Carrying out the procedure helps to make the animal more clean. He will stop marking territory.

At the same time, the manipulation has many disadvantages. If you do it without anesthesia, there is a risk of severe stress and even the occurrence of pain shock. The procedure with the use of anesthetic does not cause discomfort. However, rabbits do not take anesthesia well.

Also, after castration, there is a risk of inflammation of the damaged area, damage to the digestive organs, and dysbacteriosis. During recovery, the pet may try to scratch the affected area. This often causes infection and damage to the structure of the seams.

For adult pets, neutering can be harmful and even fatal.

At what age are rabbits castrated

To ensure that castration does not cause negative consequences for the he alth 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 the arrival of puberty, which begins at 4 months. However, most veterinarians prefer to wait six months. Performing the procedure on animals that are too young is considered dangerous.

Male should be castrated at the time of testicular descent. This period falls on 3-4 months. In Europe, rabbits are often castrated as early as 6 weeks of age. At the same time, it is desirable to carry out the procedure not only for farm rabbits, but also for decorative rabbits.

When not to do

It is important to castrate rabbits at the right age. Violation of this rule can provoke negative consequences.Removal of reproductive organs in animals older than 4 years can cause serious he alth problems. If the procedure is performed at the age of more than 6 years, the risk of death is completely high.

Also, contraindications to manipulation include individual sensitivity to analgesics. Allergy to such drugs does not occur too often, but before carrying out the intervention, it is worth getting a consultation with a veterinarian and eliminating possible restrictions.

Neutering is not recommended if the rabbit is overweight. First, the animal must be brought into proper form and only after that the reproductive organs should be removed.

Methods of castrating rabbits

There are 2 main methods of the procedure - closed and open. Each of them has some special features.

Closed method

During closed sterilization, it is not necessary to incise the skin. If this is not done, it is recommended that the rabbit's paws be fixed vertically. It is important to control that his head is on top.

The scrotum should be horizontally pulled to the side, then tightly tightened 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 testicles will dry up and fall off.

Open method

To sterilize a rabbit with skin dissection, it is recommended to wipe the treatment site 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 that, squeeze out the testis with the vaginal membrane. Near the external inguinal ring, it is necessary to impose a surgical knot 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 mm. After that, the damaged area is recommended to be treated with an antiseptic and antibacterial drug. For this, "Streptocid", "Tricillin" or another composition is suitable.

If the rabbit has an inguinal-scrotal hernia, you need to twist the common vaginal membrane with the spermatic cords several times.

Preparation

Rabbit should be stopped feeding 12 hours before manipulation. If the animal eats as usual, there is a risk of complications. One of the most common disorders is intestinal prolapse. In extreme cases, it is permissible to give the pet a little bit of hay. It is also allowed to use dried grass. At the same time, a lot of water must be present in the drinker.

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 dry acidophilus. This will help prevent the development of dysbacteriosis after surgery. Before carrying out the manipulation, the animal must be examined to make sure its he alth.

Surgery at home

Castration can be done by hand. 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 processing of the operating table is of no small importance. Hands should be washed well and treated with iodine solution.

Then lay the rabbit on the table with its stomach up and fix it securely. Take the scrotum with your left hand, and then pull it down. Make an incision on the skin from above, pull out the testicles, tie them up and cut them off.

Sprinkle the damaged area with "Streptocide" and sew it up. The operation must be carried out very carefully. It is forbidden to pull on the tubules. This will help avoid damage to the abdominal cavity.

What kind of care should be provided to the animal

Open method castration is usually used for decorative pets. After the operation, the rabbit needs to be fed in small portions and monitored. Usually the procedure does not provoke complications. After a few days, the rabbit is ready to return to normal life.

Sometimes after castration there is a prolapse of the omentum or intestines. In such a situation, the help of a veterinarian is 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.When performing the procedure in the clinic, it can cost 700-3000 rubles. Castrating a rabbit is considered an important procedure that helps to eliminate sexual desire and make the animal calmer. In this case, it is recommended to choose the right way and strictly adhere to the rules of preparation and care.