Instructions
Browse the SpayCalifornia website, maintained by the North Hollywood-based organization Actors and Others for Animals, for a list of veterinarians throughout the state who treat rabbits and may offer affordable spay-neuter services. More than 25 clinics are listed as serving rabbits in Los Angeles and adjacent areas.
Call clinics to find out their current surgery rates for rabbit spay-neuter. Costs vary widely, but can be as little as $50 at a low-cost clinic. Ask what additional fees apply, such as required vaccinations, post-operative medications or surcharges for rabbits that are overweight, older or have cryptorchidism (males with undescended testicles).
Contact Actors and Others for Animals to request additional financial assistance toward a portion of the cost of rabbit spay-neuter, before you schedule the surgery. The helpline numbers are 818-755-6045 and 818-755-6323, and calls are taken Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The nonprofit limits subsidies to low-income residents of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties.
Feed rabbits prior to surgery. Unlike dogs and cats, rabbits are unable to regurgitate, so fasting (to prevent vomiting) before anesthesia is not necessary or advised. When taking rabbits to the clinic, reduce stress by lining hard-plastic carriers with soft, comfortable bedding, keep vehicle temperatures moderate and arrive as close to surgery time as possible.
Return your rabbit to his or her own familiar environment as soon as possible after surgery, keeping the recovery area quiet and warm (but not hot). Provide fresh water and food, such as fresh parsley, pellets, hay or fresh alfalfa. Rabbits rely on constant eating to keep digestive tracts active, so monitor rabbits closely following surgery to make sure they are eating.
Confine your rabbit after surgery for at least seven days indoors, such as in a kennel, crate or closed bathroom. Prevent rigorous activity, avoid picking up your rabbit, and do not bathe him or her until after recovery.
Check the incision every day for complications. Minor swelling is normal, but contact the clinic if you observe diarrhea, incision discharge, lethargy or pain, or if your rabbit refuses to eat after 24 hours. Do not allow your rabbit to chew the incision area, and do not administer medications unless specifically directed by the vet.
Wait 14 to 21 days for the clinic to remove any stitches (do not remove stitches yourself). Male rabbits may be able to reproduce for up to three weeks after neutering and may be affected by testosterone for up to eight weeks, so caution is advised when putting rabbits together after surgery.
How to Have a Rabbit Neutered With Low-Income in Los Angeles
Rabbits are extremely social animals, and altering males and females allow them to live safely together. In addition to preventing litters, spaying and neutering pet rabbits eliminates the risk of certain cancers and decreases behavioral problems, such as urine spraying for territorial marking and destructive nesting, as well as defensively biting people or aggressively injuring other animals. Pet rabbits can be altered as young as 3 to 4 months of age; older animals may need special vet attention to ensure the safety of the procedure.