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World Spay Day: The Importance of Spaying & Neutering Rabbits
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World Spay Day: The Importance of Spaying & Neutering Rabbits

As fur-parents we want the best for our pets, including their longevity and overall health. Spay and neuter surgeries go beyond controlling the pet population but also benefits animal health. 

According to The Humane Society of the USA, rabbits reproduce at a higher and more frequent rate than cats and dogs. The importance of spay and neutering rabbits goes beyond controlling the pet population but also improves the health and welfare of the animal.

After spay and neuter surgeries, there is a decrease in aggressive behaviours among male and female rabbits. This includes a reduced risk of biting or lunging and a decrease in sexual aggression, that typically causes rabbits to fight with other animals (rabbits, cats, etc).

Studies show that the risk of reproductive infections or cancers, including ovarian and uterine, in female rabbits is virtually eliminated with a spay surgery. Neutering or spaying your rabbit also greatly reduces the risk of a urinary tract infection. With a vast variety of health benefits, a fixed rabbit is likely to live a longer and healthier life than an intact rabbit. 

In fact, an intact female rabbit is able to get pregnant at about just 3 to 4 months old, with a gestation period of just 28-30 days, meaning she can have one litter of babies per month! According to the University of Miami, over the course of 7 years, one intact female rabbit and her descendants are able to produce 184,597,433,860 rabbits.

The good news is that many shelters, including Humane Society London & Middlesex, understand the importance of spay (or neuter) surgeries and invest in the proper medical care in order to have a proactive approach to pet overpopulation. However, a spay or neuter surgery for a bunny averages at $200, leaving many shelters the financial burden of funding these surgeries. 

When you choose to support HSLM, you’re not just providing shelter and food to the animals; you’re also supporting their health by ensuring a spay or neuter surgery for every bunny prior to finding their forever home. Together we will reduce pet overpopulation and provide necessary care to animals in need. 

Please make a donation to HSLM to help cover the cost of a spay or neuter for a bunny in our care!

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