Rabbits are very adorable creatures and are great pets. But, sometimes, their behavior surprises their parents. As a result, many owners could find it confusing to see their rabbit spaying urine around their house, even after being neutered. So, the question is, do male rabbits spray after neutering? Is it normal? How long after neutering will my rabbit stop spraying? Let’s find it out in this article.
Male rabbits can spray after neutering due to unsettle hormones which takes four to six weeks. However, marking or spraying urine too much could be concerning, as your rabbit can feel worried or insecure. Consider consulting a vet if your neutered rabbit is still acting out heavily due to hormones.
This article will briefly discuss why neutered rabbits spray their urine, the reasons behind the spraying, when and how to fix them, and what happens after neutering. So, let’s get into it.
Contents
Will my male rabbit spray after being neutered?
Your male rabbit will spray even after being neutered as it takes some time, around 4 to 6 months after neutering, to settle down its hormones.
In addition, it’s natural for a neutered rabbit to spray throughout those 4-6 weeks, but the spraying frequency will decline afterward.
Neutering a male rabbit stops not only urine spraying behaviors but also reduces the risk of testicle cancer and aggression and improves their healthy life span.
Spraying urine is a natural way for rabbits to express anger or dominance and communicate with each other.
Unneutered male rabbits spray their urine in the areas as a mark of their territories. In addition, they frequently mark female rabbits as well.
Moreover, male rabbits may spray females during courting or lower-ranking males during aggressive behavior.
Urine spraying behavior occurs in male and female rabbits due to stress, aggression, or dominance behavior.
Urine is intentionally released during spraying, generally onto a vertical surface.
In addition, it shouldn’t be mistaken with either atypical urination brought on by a medical condition or psychological issue, when urine is typically spilled onto a horizontal surface.
A rabbit may use urine spray to identify specific sections of its surroundings, people in its territory, or other rabbits.
Other rabbits may smell the distinct smell of the pee discharged during spraying.
Why do rabbits spray their urine?
Both male and female rabbits spray their urine in the area, on each other, or even on their owners to mark their territories.
It is a natural behavior but could be problematic or frustrating for the owners.
Sex hormones like testosterone and estrogen in rabbits produced during mating cause spraying urine and other territorial behaviors.
In addition, when the rabbit enters puberty, these hormones start to be generated and released.
The average age at which male and female rabbits reach puberty is 10 to 12 weeks for males and 16 weeks for females.
Other hormonally influenced behaviors by rabbits include aggression towards other rabbits and courting behaviors like circling and mounting.
Also, here are some reasons why your rabbit sprays its urine:
- Marking territories: Due to their strong sense of smell, rabbits can communicate with one another through urine odor. In addition, they do this by the scent they leave on their enclosure and other areas of the house, marking the zone they claim to own.
- Stress: Stress is another factor that could cause your male rabbit to spray. Stress can quickly develop from irritation with another rabbit, causing it to urinate everywhere. In addition, stressful conflicts over dominance fights can occur.
- Dominance behavior: Rabbits are social creatures. They need a way to identify the strong rabbit because they live together. In addition, the dominant bunny gets the first pick of food, the best place to sleep, or the right to claim a mate. The part of displaying dominance is spraying. They spray other rabbits to show that they are in leadership.
- Mating habit: Male rabbits can spray urine on females as a gesture of courting during mating. Yet, in addition to spraying other rabbits, it may also observe the rabbits spraying other animals. It might be an indication of security, just like cats. In addition, if your rabbit sprays on you, it indicates they like you.
- Insecurity: If your rabbit is marking or spraying frequently, it could be a cause of concern as your rabbit is feeling worried or insecure. If your rabbit continues peeing on you often after you just introduced a new animal into the house, it’s conceivable that they feel unsafe around it. It would help if you worked to correct the rabbit’s emotional imbalance, which is a sign of it.
It could be challenging for rabbit parents to identify its urine and spraying, so there are two ways to identify spraying.
Firstly when you notice the signs all around your house, and secondly, your rabbit sprays its urine on your firsthand.
To identify spraying, you will notice urine stains on your furniture, walls, floor, other pets, and more.
In addition, the odor of rabbit urine will also begin spreading throughout your home.
Even if you clean it up, your unneutered or spayed rabbit may continue spraying its urine all around the home.
Many vets suggest that neutering and spaying your rabbit reduces the spraying, aggressive behavior, and cancer risks.
Also read: Are Rabbits Aggressive?
When and how should I neuter my rabbit?
Male rabbits as young as four to six months old can be neutered, whereas females can be spayed once they become sexually mature around four months.
However, many veterinarians advise neutering male rabbits between six and eight months to allow for healthy bone development.
Neutering your rabbit stops unwanted pregnancy and reduces cancer risks and undesired hormone behavior like spraying, mounting, or aggression.
In addition, neutering makes rabbit calmer, more stable in litter box habits, easier to handle, and improve their healthy life span.
It is essential to have your rabbit’s treatment done is visit a skilled veterinarian to take your rabbit to get neutered.
The night before surgery, unlike with dogs and cats, you should not fast your rabbit.
Before the operation, your rabbit will get a physical examination.
Your veterinarian may suggest specific pre-surgical blood tests to help discover any pre-existing conditions that could impair your rabbit’s ability to tolerate anesthesia and the surgical process to ensure it is healthy enough to undergo surgery.
As determined by your veterinarian, your rabbit may be discharged home with medicine after receiving pain medication while being treated at the hospital.
Try to limit your rabbit’s frequent running, jumping, or rough play that could put stress or pressure on the surgical incision.
Maintain your rabbit in a tidy, peaceful environment and regularly feed it, as it must follow regular eating and drinking routines at home.
Also read: Should I Neuter Or Spay My Rabbit?
What will happen after neutering your male rabbit?
After surgery, male rabbits tended to recover faster than females and return to practically normal conditions in 24 to 48 hours.
In contrast, females recover more slowly and may take 2 to 4 days to resume regular exercise progressively.
Your rabbit’s core personality won’t alter due to neutering; it’ll still be kind and affectionate towards you and other rabbits.
Some rabbits will still engage in mating behaviors like circling and honking.
The hormones of rabbits don’t start to diminish right away, as a male rabbit can mate and get a female rabbit for up to three weeks after neutering.
When introducing a neutered male and a spayed female, waiting until this behavior has decreased at least four weeks after fixing is essential.
In addition, it could take a few weeks or even months for other behaviors to stop or settle down, like mounting and spraying.
The testicles are entirely removed during the neutering process while the pet is under general anesthesia, leaving only a few small stitches on its skin.
They are often taken out one to two weeks after the procedure.
Your veterinarian might let the rabbit go home the same day if he heals from the procedure well enough, pooping and eating normally.
Also read: How To Take Care Of A Rabbit After Neutering?
However, if not, the vet may keep your rabbit overnight for observation.
Taking care of your rabbit after taking them back from the hospital is essential.
Give your rabbit some tasty food, and if after 4 or 5 hours it still doesn’t eat or poops, call your veterinarian.
Reduce dry food of your rabbit intake and ensure it has access to plenty of hay because neutered rabbits tend to eat less and gain weight more quickly.
Also, most bunnies lick their stitches, but you must see that it doesn’t twist on them or try to take them out.
In addition, if you have any concerns, take them back to the doctor immediately.
Is it normal for a rabbit to spray after neutering?
The hormonal changes in behaviors like spraying can still be seen in neutered rabbits and are considered normal.
In addition, the adrenal gland can substitute for the testicles or ovaries in producing minimal sex hormones.
However, neutered rabbits’ behavior is less frequent and severe than unneutered ones.
In the spring and summer, neutered rabbits are more prone to exhibit hormone-induced behaviors.
It is essential to consult your veterinarian about other causes if your neutered rabbit is still acting out heavily due to hormones that upset you or the rabbit.
How long after neutering will my rabbit stop spraying?
After neutering, settling, or stopping your male rabbit’s hormonally influenced behaviors could take four to six weeks.
In addition, even after neutering, many hormones can still be in your rabbit’s system, which causes behaviors like mounting or spraying.
When the testicles responsible for generating particular hormones associated with reproduction are removed, the hormones won’t be produced.
Although every rabbit has a different personality, most owners will notice a difference in their pet’s behavior four to six weeks after the operation.
So, keeping your neutered rabbit separated from the female rabbit is essential, as their reproductive hormones take four to six hours to die.
Also read: Can I Let My Rabbit Play Outside?
Conclusion:
- Your male rabbit will spray even after being neutered as it takes some time, around 4 to 6 months after neutering, to settle down its hormones.
- Spraying urine is a natural way for rabbits to express anger or dominance and communicate with each other.
- Urine spraying behavior occurs in male and female rabbits due to stress, aggression, or dominance behavior.
- Sex hormones like testosterone and estrogen in rabbits produced during mating cause spraying urine and other territorial behaviors.
- Even after neutering, many hormones can still be in your rabbit’s system, which causes behaviors like mounting or spraying.
Reference: NCBI, researchgate