Can you Overiectomy a rabbit?

RE: Can you Overiectomy a rabbit?

Marie Kubiak — Thu, 27 Feb 2020 11:16:26 GMT

In mainland Europe ovariectomy does seem to be more common for cats and dogs and this approach seems to be taken more commonly now in rabbits from chats with colleagues abroad. It is still too early to see whether there is still a potential for uterine adenocarcinomata following removal of ovaries alone as will be a few years till we have a significant aged population of ovariectomised rabbits. I have always erred on the side of caution and carried out OVH given it's a fairly quick procedure in the rabbit, especially if done in young, slim animals. In mature rabbits (>18months) I'd definitely be hesitant to leave the uterus in case of preneoplastic change already being present but have no scientific basis for this age cut off and it probably is excessively cautious!

Deslorelin in rabbits is interesting as there are conflicting papers. One study found it ineffective in male rabbits (Goericke-Pesch et al, 2015), one effective in some females (Geyer et al, 2015) but other studies and case reports found it effective in females and males for stopping reproductive activity. Discrepancies may be dose-related as 2.1mg didn't work in one group but 4.7mg implants did (Phungviwatnikulet al, 2011). Ignoring the contraception aspect, Geyer et al, 2016 suggest that implants don't stop the age-related pathology in females so currently this doesn't seem a justifiable alternative to surgical neutering.

Marie

RE: Can you Overiectomy a rabbit?

Sheryl Calway — Thu, 27 Feb 2020 09:25:58 GMT

I’m guessing a suprelorin implant as in ferrets etc is what is being proposed.

If doing ovariectomy only, we would surely need to consider what effect exogenous and food-linked phytoestrogens could still exert on uterine tissue

RE: Can you Overiectomy a rabbit?

janine redman — Wed, 26 Feb 2020 23:56:26 GMT

what implant?

RE: Can you Overiectomy a rabbit?

Neil Wheadon — Wed, 26 Feb 2020 22:44:24 GMT

[quote userid="2185" url="~/001/veterinary-clinical/exotics/f/discussions/28920/can-you-overiectomy-a-rabbit/219851"]Maybe being a bit thick here but rabbits get uterine carcinoma.[/quote]

No you're not thick, what I wrote was totally illogical. If you remove organ of course it won't get a disease.

Can i rephrase the question 'If you remove the ovaries, will you avoid uterine cancer' That I suspect is what the rabbit expert stated.

Looks like Mark has replied in a more eloquent fashion

Neil

RE: Can you Overiectomy a rabbit?

Utlendigur — Wed, 26 Feb 2020 21:04:22 GMT

Maybe being a bit thick here but rabbits get uterine carcinoma. Spaying removes the uterus. Surely that would reduce/remove risk of carcinoma. Is the rabbit specialist saying they get carcinomas elsewhere eg cervical remnant, vagina?

RE: Can you Overiectomy a rabbit?

Mark Rowland — Wed, 26 Feb 2020 20:34:09 GMT

I agree.

If I had one research project to go on it would be

Spey (ovariohysterectomy)

Ovariectomy

Implant

Nothing

And wait for the results. Im so surprised its not been don already

RE: Can you Overiectomy a rabbit?

janine redman — Wed, 26 Feb 2020 20:23:45 GMT

This is something I asked about following a discussion on ovariectomy in bitches. With my own dog I opted for ovariectomy only . Slightly shorter surgery , should be less risk of haemorrhage from cervical vessels . From there having done a rabbit spay it would seem safer and simpler to just ovariectomise rabbits . Especially , as you say they have a bicornuate uterus

RE: Can you Overiectomy a rabbit?

Mark Rowland — Wed, 26 Feb 2020 20:10:25 GMT

Sorry don't agree

Would need some proof before I stop spying rabbits. Seen enough of the contrary to dispute this

RE: Can you Overiectomy a rabbit?

Neil Wheadon — Wed, 26 Feb 2020 16:52:13 GMT

I would have thought that removing just the ovaries would be far better for the rabbit as you are handling/damaging so much less tissue, therefore long term it's better for the rabbit.

A certain eminent rabbit vet has recently said that spaying doesn't reduce carcinomas, but i'm pretty unconvinced by that having seen loads of bunnies 15 years ago and if they were over 5 and sick they had a mass in the abdomen, almost guaranteed (before spaying was so popular)

Neil

RE: Can you Overiectomy a rabbit?

Mark Rowland — Wed, 26 Feb 2020 16:44:30 GMT

You can, just as you can anything female

The issue is does it prevent uterine neoplasia and the next question would be if so can you use implants so you don't have to open them at all and therefore reduce morbidity associated with adhesions.

Sure that would spey them but last time I checked the other questions remained unanswered...

Ill check again though :)