Expert: Dave Lawrence - 10/14/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hi Dave

I emailed a while ago regarding our rabbits fighting, culminating in the death of our dutch female. The other two English (both males we think)seem to get along well with no fighting, but at night there is a lot of feet stamping which is very loud. Do you think they are stamping their authority with each other, and if we get them both neutered will this stop.
The little lion head female we got to replace our daughters dutch is absolutely gorgeous and lives in a cage indoors, with free run around when supervised. Do i need to get her spayed or will she be okay if she lives alone, and when she is out of her cage she does a lot of head bobbing, is this normal?


ANSWER: hi susan yes its right what you say about the bucks and having them neutered will calm them down.
the doe will be perfectly fine as she is and dont worry about the head bobbing its normal in lots of rabbits.
dave.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Dave
thanks for your response, I was concerned about the female Lionhead and if i don't get her spayed are her risks of cancer increased. Obviously with the dutch dying under anaesthetic i am reluctant to put any of them through any unnecessary surgery. Do different species do better with anaesthetic than others. The 2 male English are about 6 months old and the lionhead is about 15 weeks, when is the best time for surgery.
thanks sue

Answer
if you have her spayed the risk of cancer is no greater.if she is kept on her own i would not get her spayed but if she goes with the bucks you will have another problenm with them as they will attack her , they would think she was intruding in there space.
going under anaesthetic mainly depends on how fit the rabbit is wether it will get through it ok
dave.