Recovery after surgery
After spay, neuter, or other surgery, a rabbit should start eating and passing droppings again within a few hours and become brighter over a day or two. Keep your rabbit warm, quiet, and on clean bedding, give pain relief exactly as prescribed, and check the surgical site daily. Contact your vet urgently if your rabbit won’t eat or pass droppings, seems painful, or the wound is open, swollen, or discharging.
Fast answer for owners
- Go now if: Not eating or no droppings for several hours post-op; An open, swollen, or discharging wound; Hunched, painful, or very lethargic.
- Call today if: Eating a little and producing some droppings, a bit subdued; Mild bruising around the site.
- Do not: Ask the vet before giving medicines, forced feeding, home remedies, or delaying care.
- Tell the vet: Record last eating, drinking, droppings, urination, behaviour change, pain signs, temperature, toxins, trauma, and medications.
Go to a vet now if
- Not eating or no droppings for several hours post-op
- An open, swollen, or discharging wound
- Hunched, painful, or very lethargic
Call a vet today if
- Eating a little and producing some droppings, a bit subdued
- Mild bruising around the site
What to tell the vet
- What surgery and when
- Pain medication and timing
- Eating, droppings, and site appearance
- Whether your rabbit is chewing the wound
- Weight changes
- Ongoing conditions
What not to do
- Do not skip prescribed pain relief
- Do not let your rabbit chew the incision
- Do not wait if there are no droppings
What your vet may check
Your vet may recheck the wound, pain control, and gut function, and adjust the plan to keep your rabbit eating.
Recovery support after veterinary assessment
To keep the gut moving and appetite up, your vet may recommend syringe-feeding and support such as RodiCare Appetit, RodiCare Päppelpaste, or WOOLY daily care, with unlimited hay.
Frequently asked questions
Is it normal for a rabbit to be quiet after surgery?
A little quietness is normal, but your rabbit should eat and pass droppings within a few hours. Persistent not eating or no droppings needs a prompt call to your vet.
How do I stop my rabbit chewing its stitches?
Keep the area clean and follow your vet's advice; rabbits usually tolerate dissolvable sutures better than collars. Contact your vet if it's interfering with the wound.
When should I worry after a rabbit spay or neuter?
Worry if your rabbit won't eat or pass droppings, seems painful, or the wound looks open, swollen, or discharging. Contact your vet straight away.
Related emergency guides
Sources & standards
Emergency guidance follows RWAF, House Rabbit Society, and exotic small-mammal medicine standards, source-cited and pending named veterinary review.
Related pages in this emergency hub
Source-cited guidance; pending named veterinary review.