Fixing a rabbit means the removing of gonads, which are organs that the rabbit needs in order to reproduce. Spaying is the surgical removal of the ovaries and uterus of a doe. Neutering, or, castration, is the surgical removal of a buck's testes. These procedures are done under general anesthesia by veterinarians.
Why do so many websites, books, veterinarians, shelters and rescues tell you that you HAVE to spay/neuter your animals? Think about it logically. Those websites, books, and veterinarians for the most part are EXTREMELY pro-rescue. The rescues and shelters are flooded with unwanted pets more and more each day, and they desperately need a method to control the population of unwanted animals. This is the only method, apart from euthanasia, that the shelters and rescues can use. Therefore, it is in their best interests to spread a bunch of propaganda to scare pet owners into spaying and neutering their animals. For example, veterinarians used to recommend fixing dogs at sexual maturity, but in 1993, there was a resolution passed by the American Veterinary Medical Association, which supported fixing at 8-16 weeks old. The intention was to "promote higher owner compliance and reduced pet overpopulation." The intention was not the best interests of the animals' health.
If your rabbit has no chance of being able to breed with another rabbit, or if it is only breeding under controlled circumstances by a breeder who is aiming for improvement of the breed, then why should it be spayed or neutered? It is my personal opinion that a rabbit should not be spayed or neutered, unless in the following circumstance:
-The rabbit has a form of cancer in their reproductive organs that could be cured through spaying/neutering.
Of course, if you plan on bonding your rabbit to another, you would need to spay/neuter them, but I personally do not support the idea of bonding, as rabbits are territorial animals by nature, and prefer to live on their own.
Most, if not all, rescues and shelters adamantly insist that rabbits should be spayed or neutered at a disgustingly young age, sometimes as low as 3-4 months of age. This is equivalent to spaying or neutering a 9-year-old child. Imagine the devastating impact that would have on their development. Hormones produced in the gonads (sex organs) not only control reproduction, but many aspects of development. The rabbit's fur will decrease in luster, the bone will weaken, and the muscling will be poorer. There is also weight gain in spayed animals, as the sex hormones play a key role in regulation of metabolism.
Gonads don't just make babies. They play a key role in the body as endocrine glands, which means that they make and regulate hormones. Hormones maintain homeostasis, which is basically how your body maintains normal levels and balances. Hormones control and maintain everything in an organism's body, including body temperature, hunger, mood, thirst, sleep, sex drive, calcium levels, insulin levels, immune system function, T-Cell production, reproduction, metabolism, heart rate, stress levels, growth, and development.
Testosterone, the male androgen, which is primarily produced in the gonads of both males and females, regulates growth, development, energy level, brain function, bone strength, heart health, growth plates, RBC production, and development of muscle. The female androgens (progesterone and estrogen), which are primarily produced in female gonads, regulate growth, development, metabolism, bone formation, growth plates, immune response, cardiovascular health, serotonin levels, and lung function.
Think about it. Does it seem logical to remove an organ that controls so many key body functions?
The propaganda from rescue advocates also claims that spayed animals live longer. We hear all the time that 80% of unspayed does develop uterine cancer by age 5. It is logical that a rabbit be spayed in order to prevent uterine cancer, but unfortunately, this statistic is fairly incorrect. I have only ever known of one doe develop a *possible* uterine cancer, and she was spayed soon thereafter. The doe died of another form of cancer a few years later, which I suspect was linked with the damage done to her from being spayed.
There has been little to no actual research done on life expectancy of fixed vs. unfixed rabbits, but there has been a bit of research done on dogs. In a famous study of spayed versus unspayed Rottweilers, the researchers found that the spayed dogs had:
~Increased risk of orthopedic injuries
~Increased risk of cancer
~Increased risk of hypothyroidism
~Increased risk of urinary incontinence
~Increased risk of obesity (which increases stress on bones and joints)
~Increased risk of hip dysplasia
~Increased risk of osteosarcoma (bone cancer)
~Increased risk of hemangiosarcoma (cancer in blood vessels)
~Prevents peak bone density
~Shorter life expectancy. Unaltered dogs lived an average of 13 years, while spayed dogs lived an average of 9 years.
~Three times less likely to reach exceptional longevity.
The growth plates, which are the soft tissues at the ends of bones, close when the animal is fully mature. Not sexual maturity, but actual full maturity. The growth plates are responsible for bone growth. Growth plates are regulated by the sex hormones. Without sex hormones, the growth plates may close late or prematurely, which means that the bones would continue to grow bigger and heavier than they should have, changing the angles of the limbs. This increases stress on ligaments and joints and can actually change the anatomy of the joints themselves. This can lead to serious orthopedic issues later down the road.
Also, think about the fact that this is a surgery. It makes no sense to perform an elective surgery on a young animal. Here's an example. Humans have appendixes. Do humans need their appendix to survive? In theory, no. Sometimes, people have issues with their appendix, so they have it removed because it is the safest option for them. But does that mean that EVERY human should have their appendix removed at 9 years old, just in case? Of course not, that would be seen as ridiculous. It's the same thing with spaying/neutering, only far, far worse. You could argue that an appendix isn't a particularly necessary organ for humans, given our lifestyles in the current day. But could you really, truly argue that it is healthier for the sex organs to be removed than for them to be present?
Do you think that Mother Nature designed it so that animals are healthier if they are spayed/neutered? Organs exist for a reason. The European rabbit is the ancestor of all domestic rabbits. Evolution selected for the healthiest, strongest European wild rabbits, just like a good breeder selects for healthy and strong domestic rabbits. For the most part, European wild rabbits with health issues, such as uterine cancer, didn't survive to reproduce and pass on their poor genes. That doesn't mean that evolution makes it impossible for uterine cancer to occur. It just means that the risk is low in rabbits, especially as they have only been domesticated for about 500 years, which is a very short time in the timespan of evolution. In natural selection, unhealthy lines of animals are killed, and in artificial selection, poor health is not promoted or desired, so these animals cease to be bred.
Rescues like to spout that rabbits that are spayed/neutered make better pets. Their argument is that with reduced sexual drive, the animals will be friendlier, and make better pets. In my 13 years of owning rabbits, having had both spayed, neutered, and intact bucks and does, I have noticed zero link between spaying/neutering and improved behavior. In fact, one of the most badly behaved, obnoxious rabbits I have ever had was fixed. The calmest, most docile rabbit I have ever owned was unfixed. You should never fix a rabbit for the sole reason of changing its temperament, because there is a pretty substantial chance that it will not make any difference whatsoever. It might, you never know. But it probably won't.
The Humane Society of the United States touts that "neutering male rabbits can reduce hormone-driven behavior such as lunging, mounting, spraying, and boxing." Aside from spraying (which can in theory be stopped by neutering, although only a pretty small percentage of bucks actually spray), these are ALL learned behaviors. They are taught by people who don't understand how to properly handle a rabbit. None of my bucks lunge, mount, or box me. They never even want to try. They understand that bad behavior is against my rules, and so instead, they act loving and sweet.
I seriously doubt that spaying a territorial doe would make any lasting positive impact on her behavior. Some does go through a brief grumpy phase as they grow up, and some get a bit nippy or protective of their cage. This behavior GOES AWAY or doesn't even occur in the first place if you always act confident and nip bad behaviors in the bud. Because I handle my rabbits well, their teenage grumpy stage either never comes, or lasts under 1 week. My rabbits do not show territorial behavior because I don't accept it. I teach them to behave in a sweet, loving way from a very young age. If you have a badly behaved rabbit, you should really think about teaching your rabbit good behavior instead of going for the 'convenient' option.
Also, and I cannot stress this enough, spaying is not a safe procedure. Rescues want you to think it is. Of course they do, they want you to spay/neuter your animals so that they don't breed. Rabbits are extremely sensitive to anesthesia. Even a pro-rescue rabbit vet will tell you that. Not only that, but many rabbits die of stress or complications during or after surgery. This is a risk even under the best rabbit veterinarians.
Here's what I think you should do. Unless your rabbit has a medical condition that means that it has to be spayed/neutered, just don't spay or neuter. Be careful that the rabbit doesn't mate with another rabbit. This isn't hard to do if your rabbits live in separate enclosures, or if they are an 'only child'. Just be a responsible owner and don't let your rabbit run wild with the neighbor's rabbit.
Spaying or neutering your rabbit is not a decision to take lightheartedly. You must have VERY good reason either way before you make a decision. Don't only take your advice from me. Look at both opposing viewpoints (keeping in mind that rescues run the internet) and make a decision on what you think is the best course of action for your animal. Whatever decision you make, as long as you put time, thought, and consideration into it, is the right one. :)
Why do so many websites, books, veterinarians, shelters and rescues tell you that you HAVE to spay/neuter your animals? Think about it logically. Those websites, books, and veterinarians for the most part are EXTREMELY pro-rescue. The rescues and shelters are flooded with unwanted pets more and more each day, and they desperately need a method to control the population of unwanted animals. This is the only method, apart from euthanasia, that the shelters and rescues can use. Therefore, it is in their best interests to spread a bunch of propaganda to scare pet owners into spaying and neutering their animals. For example, veterinarians used to recommend fixing dogs at sexual maturity, but in 1993, there was a resolution passed by the American Veterinary Medical Association, which supported fixing at 8-16 weeks old. The intention was to "promote higher owner compliance and reduced pet overpopulation." The intention was not the best interests of the animals' health.
If your rabbit has no chance of being able to breed with another rabbit, or if it is only breeding under controlled circumstances by a breeder who is aiming for improvement of the breed, then why should it be spayed or neutered? It is my personal opinion that a rabbit should not be spayed or neutered, unless in the following circumstance:
-The rabbit has a form of cancer in their reproductive organs that could be cured through spaying/neutering.
Of course, if you plan on bonding your rabbit to another, you would need to spay/neuter them, but I personally do not support the idea of bonding, as rabbits are territorial animals by nature, and prefer to live on their own.
Most, if not all, rescues and shelters adamantly insist that rabbits should be spayed or neutered at a disgustingly young age, sometimes as low as 3-4 months of age. This is equivalent to spaying or neutering a 9-year-old child. Imagine the devastating impact that would have on their development. Hormones produced in the gonads (sex organs) not only control reproduction, but many aspects of development. The rabbit's fur will decrease in luster, the bone will weaken, and the muscling will be poorer. There is also weight gain in spayed animals, as the sex hormones play a key role in regulation of metabolism.
Gonads don't just make babies. They play a key role in the body as endocrine glands, which means that they make and regulate hormones. Hormones maintain homeostasis, which is basically how your body maintains normal levels and balances. Hormones control and maintain everything in an organism's body, including body temperature, hunger, mood, thirst, sleep, sex drive, calcium levels, insulin levels, immune system function, T-Cell production, reproduction, metabolism, heart rate, stress levels, growth, and development.
Testosterone, the male androgen, which is primarily produced in the gonads of both males and females, regulates growth, development, energy level, brain function, bone strength, heart health, growth plates, RBC production, and development of muscle. The female androgens (progesterone and estrogen), which are primarily produced in female gonads, regulate growth, development, metabolism, bone formation, growth plates, immune response, cardiovascular health, serotonin levels, and lung function.
Think about it. Does it seem logical to remove an organ that controls so many key body functions?
The propaganda from rescue advocates also claims that spayed animals live longer. We hear all the time that 80% of unspayed does develop uterine cancer by age 5. It is logical that a rabbit be spayed in order to prevent uterine cancer, but unfortunately, this statistic is fairly incorrect. I have only ever known of one doe develop a *possible* uterine cancer, and she was spayed soon thereafter. The doe died of another form of cancer a few years later, which I suspect was linked with the damage done to her from being spayed.
There has been little to no actual research done on life expectancy of fixed vs. unfixed rabbits, but there has been a bit of research done on dogs. In a famous study of spayed versus unspayed Rottweilers, the researchers found that the spayed dogs had:
~Increased risk of orthopedic injuries
~Increased risk of cancer
~Increased risk of hypothyroidism
~Increased risk of urinary incontinence
~Increased risk of obesity (which increases stress on bones and joints)
~Increased risk of hip dysplasia
~Increased risk of osteosarcoma (bone cancer)
~Increased risk of hemangiosarcoma (cancer in blood vessels)
~Prevents peak bone density
~Shorter life expectancy. Unaltered dogs lived an average of 13 years, while spayed dogs lived an average of 9 years.
~Three times less likely to reach exceptional longevity.
The growth plates, which are the soft tissues at the ends of bones, close when the animal is fully mature. Not sexual maturity, but actual full maturity. The growth plates are responsible for bone growth. Growth plates are regulated by the sex hormones. Without sex hormones, the growth plates may close late or prematurely, which means that the bones would continue to grow bigger and heavier than they should have, changing the angles of the limbs. This increases stress on ligaments and joints and can actually change the anatomy of the joints themselves. This can lead to serious orthopedic issues later down the road.
Also, think about the fact that this is a surgery. It makes no sense to perform an elective surgery on a young animal. Here's an example. Humans have appendixes. Do humans need their appendix to survive? In theory, no. Sometimes, people have issues with their appendix, so they have it removed because it is the safest option for them. But does that mean that EVERY human should have their appendix removed at 9 years old, just in case? Of course not, that would be seen as ridiculous. It's the same thing with spaying/neutering, only far, far worse. You could argue that an appendix isn't a particularly necessary organ for humans, given our lifestyles in the current day. But could you really, truly argue that it is healthier for the sex organs to be removed than for them to be present?
Do you think that Mother Nature designed it so that animals are healthier if they are spayed/neutered? Organs exist for a reason. The European rabbit is the ancestor of all domestic rabbits. Evolution selected for the healthiest, strongest European wild rabbits, just like a good breeder selects for healthy and strong domestic rabbits. For the most part, European wild rabbits with health issues, such as uterine cancer, didn't survive to reproduce and pass on their poor genes. That doesn't mean that evolution makes it impossible for uterine cancer to occur. It just means that the risk is low in rabbits, especially as they have only been domesticated for about 500 years, which is a very short time in the timespan of evolution. In natural selection, unhealthy lines of animals are killed, and in artificial selection, poor health is not promoted or desired, so these animals cease to be bred.
Rescues like to spout that rabbits that are spayed/neutered make better pets. Their argument is that with reduced sexual drive, the animals will be friendlier, and make better pets. In my 13 years of owning rabbits, having had both spayed, neutered, and intact bucks and does, I have noticed zero link between spaying/neutering and improved behavior. In fact, one of the most badly behaved, obnoxious rabbits I have ever had was fixed. The calmest, most docile rabbit I have ever owned was unfixed. You should never fix a rabbit for the sole reason of changing its temperament, because there is a pretty substantial chance that it will not make any difference whatsoever. It might, you never know. But it probably won't.
The Humane Society of the United States touts that "neutering male rabbits can reduce hormone-driven behavior such as lunging, mounting, spraying, and boxing." Aside from spraying (which can in theory be stopped by neutering, although only a pretty small percentage of bucks actually spray), these are ALL learned behaviors. They are taught by people who don't understand how to properly handle a rabbit. None of my bucks lunge, mount, or box me. They never even want to try. They understand that bad behavior is against my rules, and so instead, they act loving and sweet.
I seriously doubt that spaying a territorial doe would make any lasting positive impact on her behavior. Some does go through a brief grumpy phase as they grow up, and some get a bit nippy or protective of their cage. This behavior GOES AWAY or doesn't even occur in the first place if you always act confident and nip bad behaviors in the bud. Because I handle my rabbits well, their teenage grumpy stage either never comes, or lasts under 1 week. My rabbits do not show territorial behavior because I don't accept it. I teach them to behave in a sweet, loving way from a very young age. If you have a badly behaved rabbit, you should really think about teaching your rabbit good behavior instead of going for the 'convenient' option.
Also, and I cannot stress this enough, spaying is not a safe procedure. Rescues want you to think it is. Of course they do, they want you to spay/neuter your animals so that they don't breed. Rabbits are extremely sensitive to anesthesia. Even a pro-rescue rabbit vet will tell you that. Not only that, but many rabbits die of stress or complications during or after surgery. This is a risk even under the best rabbit veterinarians.
Here's what I think you should do. Unless your rabbit has a medical condition that means that it has to be spayed/neutered, just don't spay or neuter. Be careful that the rabbit doesn't mate with another rabbit. This isn't hard to do if your rabbits live in separate enclosures, or if they are an 'only child'. Just be a responsible owner and don't let your rabbit run wild with the neighbor's rabbit.
Spaying or neutering your rabbit is not a decision to take lightheartedly. You must have VERY good reason either way before you make a decision. Don't only take your advice from me. Look at both opposing viewpoints (keeping in mind that rescues run the internet) and make a decision on what you think is the best course of action for your animal. Whatever decision you make, as long as you put time, thought, and consideration into it, is the right one. :)