Welcome Aboard, black_jack,
They usually don't want much to do with you after the operationanyway. As long as you just put newspaper in where hislitterbox is instead of litter to make sure nothing can irritate theincision, I'm sure your little guy will be okay to have no one aroundhim on Xmas Day.
The odds, as have been stated in previous replies, are very good thesedays for neutering rabbits. Neutering is far less invasivethan spaying.
If your rabbit is healthy, at a good age to do the operation, and youtrust your doctor, try not to worry too much. Wealways do, of course, but 99% of the time, these operations aresuccessful.
I had posted the following list in another area of thisboard. It's not a bad idea to go through the list with yourdoctor so that you are comfortable that they have hadexperience. Don't be afraid to ask questions of them, and dokeep us posted.
-Carolyn
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Some vets are good, some arenot. Take time to research and interview before an emergencycomes up. Some of the questions Ive asked, I already knowthe answer to, but I want to see what the vet says about it just totest them a bit on the small stuff. Here as someexamples.
Everyone please participate with questions you feel relevant.[/i]
[/i]
-Carolyn
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? How many rabbits do they treat each week?
? How long have they been in practice and treating rabbits?
?What are the common ailments rabbits are treated for at their hospital?
? Have they treated for G.I. Statis, e.cuniculi, Pasteurella, tumors, abscesses, fly strike?? How do they closeincisions?
? Do they spay and/or neuter rabbits at their hospital?
? Knowing how stress can be deadly fora rabbit, what accommodations are made for rabbits? (Myanimal hospital has a room just for small exotic animals, away from allthe cats and dogs.)
? Do they recommend stopping feed onthe night before a surgery. (Answer should beno.)
? What do they recommend you do to prepare a rabbit for surgery?
? What type of anesthesia do theyuse? (Isofluorane or Sevofluane is commonly used thesedays.)
? What are some of the antibiotics theyuse on rabbits? (Amoxicillin, lincomycin, and clindamycincould be deadly with one dose. Penicillin, actually anycillin could be fatal to a rabbit. Baytril or Maxaquin orBactrim is commonly used and is okay for your rabbit.)
? What are their hours and how do they handle emergencies after hours?
? What are the most common surgeries they perform on rabbits?
? What does a visit cost and what does it include?
? What methods of payment do they take,and will they bill if one cant pay upfront?
? What do they recommend for hairballs and the treatment and prevention of them?
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