Castration of rabbits (sterilization): for what and how is it done

Breeding rabbits with the right approach can become a very profitable business. But, of course, only with good care of animals. The owner of the mini-farm needs to know not only how to properly feed the animals and conduct mating, but, for example, how to castrate. This procedure is in many cases considered necessary and carried out in most rabbit farms.

Why castration should be done?

Rabbits are very active and mobile animals. During sexual hunting, males can fight with each other, bite themselves and even attack the surrounding objects. As a result, their skins deteriorate. Castration of rabbits can completely solve this problem.

Also, the benefit of such an operation is as follows:

• In a fast set of weight. Because neutered rabbits are calm, muscle mass and fat increase in them much faster. At the same time, the amount of food consumed is reduced (up to 30%). In addition, meat from such animals becomes much more tender and tasty.

• In increasing the cleanliness of animals. Rabbits stop marking the territory, do not leave "horizons" anywhere.

• In improving the appearance of the skin. The fur of castrated becomes smooth and clean, does not fall down.

• In raising the animal's immunity. After castration, rabbits are less sick, and the duration of their life increases (which is important, especially for decorative rocks).

At what age is the operation performed

Do not castrate all rabbits. An animal older than six years is completely contraindicated. As a result of castration, the old rabbit may even die. It is not recommended to do this operation for animals older than 4 years.

In the scrotum testes in young small animals (butterfly, california) descend in 3-4 months, in large (rabbits giants white and gray, flanders) - in 4.5-5 months. It is this time that is considered optimal for castration. Most rabbit breeders believe that later this operation is even impractical. Animals older than two years before castration should be examined for the presence of disease of the cardiovascular system. Operation of such rabbits is usually done only for medicinal purposes. For example, if you have such health problems as dropsy, scrotal hernia, varicose veins, etc.,

Methods of castration of rabbits at home

The operation to remove the testes can be performed using two main technologies:

• Open method;

• Closed.

The first method is most often applied to young animals. Mature rabbits castration is best done in a closed way.

Preparatory activities

12 hours before the operation, the rabbit must stop feeding. Otherwise, after castration, the animal may fall out of the intestine. It is allowed to put a bit of grass or hay in the cage to the rabbit. Water should be left in the water bowl. Before castration, the cell should be thoroughly disinfected with the use of special preparations or simply the means "whiteness" and replace the litter.

Actually castration of rabbits itself is performed using:

• Strong, thick yarn;

• Alcohol;

• Napkins or a piece of cotton wool;

• 5% tincture of iodine;

• Scalpel, scissors and special powders (for the open method).

Put on your hands new rubber gloves. Thread, scissors and a scalpel before castration should be placed in alcohol for several minutes.

Open operation

Castration of rabbits - the procedure is relatively simple. But to perform it best with an assistant who will keep the animal. If a friend, a consonant to assist in the operation, there is no, it is possible to use and improvised funds. It can be, for example, a can or an old boot. The animal should be placed in them with the head down, so that the legs and the place of manipulation are left outside. But of course, you need to do this carefully (rabbits have a very sensitive nose and weak cervical vertebrae).

Anesthesia is usually not used when performing an operation at home. But, if you do everything quickly and sharply, the rabbit will hardly feel pain. In any case, a characteristic squeal and special attempts will not break out. The fact is that the pain threshold in these animals is quite low.

Actually castration of rabbits by the open method is carried out as follows:

• Testis neatly pulled out (rabbits can draw them).

• Lubricate it with iodine tincture.

• Rapid movement cuts the skin in the longitudinal direction.

• Take the testis out.

• The ligament and the vascular bundle are bandaged with a disinfected thread (three knots).

• Cut the bundle and the bundle above the thread with scissors.

• Tuck the remainder of the bundle and the bundle back into the scrotum.

Sometimes castration in the open way is done and a little differently. In this case, the vascular node and the ligament are twisted into several turns (about 10). Further firmly holding the right hand twist, left sharply tear off the testis. This method allows you to make castration faster. However, experienced farmers advise the testes to still bandage. In this case, the risk of undesirable bleeding decreases after surgery.

Castration in an enclosed manner

In this case, the scalpel is not used. The rabbit needs to be held vertically, head up. With this position of the body, the retracted testicles descend into the scrotum. If the animal is very frightened and this does not happen, it should just be slightly shaken in a relaxed state.

Castration of rabbits is carried out in a closed way using very simple technology. Those who are afraid of blood should use this method. The descending testicles along with the scrotum in this case are simply pulled aside horizontally and tightly bandaged with a thread of alcohol (until the crunch of the spermatic cord). After that, the place of manipulation is smeared with iodine. Then the animal is released into the cage. After about 3-6 days, the bandaged testes dry out and fall off themselves.

Postoperative care

According to the technologies described above, it is possible to perform an operation by animals of any breed. This is how the rabbits of giants, rex, flanders, shishillas, etc. are castrated. After carrying out the procedure for removal of the testes, the animal must, of course, be provided with proper care. In the cage to the neutered rabbit, you should definitely put the food (a little less than usual). Next for several days for the animal you need to watch. More often than not, the castration operation of rabbits does not cause any negative consequences. Already on day 2-3 the animal departs from stress and begins to behave in the usual way.

In the case of the appearance of any complications - loss of intestinal loops, omentum, etc. - you should call a veterinarian. If the operation was performed by an open method, the wound should be inspected twice a day. Sometimes it happens that the rabbit after castration themselves damages them (combing or biting). If such attempts are noticed, the wound should be treated with hydrogen peroxide, and on the animal itself, put on a plastic collar. Another problem that can occur after castration is a violation of the intestinal microflora. If this happens, the animal must be treated with acidophilin.

Cost of rabbit sterilization

As can be seen, the procedure for removing testes in rabbits is relatively simple. Most farmers spend it on their own. However, inexperienced rabbit breeders castration of animals is still better to contact a veterinarian. In this case, the farmer will have the opportunity to observe the actions of a specialist. Having received visual experience and appropriate recommendations, in the future such operations can already be carried out by himself.

Cost castration at home is not too expensive - about 500 r. For the procedure itself and another 500 rubles. For the departure of a veterinarian in the daytime. This simple and almost safe operation lasts only about 5-10 minutes.