Introduction to rabbit castration – RAW23
We are now on day three of Rabbit Awareness Week 2023, which is running from the 26th until the 30th of June. If you have been following us, you will have seen we have completed day one and two already where we have been looking at this year’s theme, which is neutering, protect, and prevent.
Today’s topic is castration. We have once again spoken to the very knowledgeable Katy Mackenzie who is a veterinary surgeon at our NAWT Watford centre. Katy has touched on some of the commonly asked questions, in the hope to educate, and raise awareness of the positives that surrounds castration in male rabbits.
What is castration and what does it involve?
Castration is the surgical removal of both testicles and is done via one or two small incisions in the buck’s scrotal area. Fur around the wound must be clipped off, so there will be a bald patch on the tummy. The skin stitches are normally done so that they are hidden inside the wound and dissolve (meaning there is nothing for the bunny to nibble on and no fiddly stitches to remove). The operation is done under general anaesthetic.
What are the benefits of castrating a male rabbit?
It removes the possibility of impregnating a bonded female and reduces undesirable behaviour such as aggression and mounting. It also prevents testicular tumours.
How long will males still need to be separate from females after castration?
Males can remain fertile for several weeks after castration, so it is recommended to not allow contact with an entire female for 6 weeks. If the female has already been neutered, then there is no need to keep the rabbits separate if already bonded.
Some other positive reasons to have your rabbit castrated include:
- Makes bonding easier.
- Can have a companion rabbit.
- Improves litter training.
- Reduces or eliminates unwanted behaviours.
Do you have an unanswered question about neutering? Make sure to get in touch via our contact page.
Keep an eye on our social pages over the last two days, where we will be talking about post-operation care, and then on Friday it is rescue day!