Rabbits may become more aggressive to their companion rabbit or to people – they may chase and mount them more and may ‘chin’ to mark their territory more frequently. Neutered rabbits may show social, sexual, or even mild aggressive behaviours in the spring. This may also explain why male–female pairs are easier to bond and less likely to fight than single-sex pairs – the sex hormones cause different motivations and need for resources between male and female rabbits, and so there is less competitiveness between rabbits of the opposite sex. These persistent levels of sex hormones in neutered rabbits explain the sex-specific behaviours that we see. Neutered rabbits have higher levels of sex hormones than neutered animals of other species (like ferrets, cats, and horses) – this would indicate that the adrenal gland produces a fairly substantial amount of sex hormones (House Rabbit Society, 2004). Some rabbits will show more sexual behaviours than others – this seems to be because some adrenal glands produce more testosterone than others, and in some rabbits, the adrenal glands may increase production of testosterone when the testes are removed. Although the rabbit cannot produce sperm or egg cells, the adrenal gland can still produce some sex hormones – especially during the spring. Not all sex hormones are produced by the ovaries and testes, so when we remove these, the adrenal gland will continue to produce some. Why do some behaviours persist after neutering? Additionally, given the adhesion risk in rabbits, the increased pain with a more complex surgery, and the increased surgical time, many sources now recommend ovariectomy rather than ovariohysterectomy in companion animal species – providing the ovaries are removed, there is no increased risk of stump pyometra. In the UK, most older vets will try to do ovariohysterectomy but it can be hard to get right down to the cervix, so in practice, many are ovariectomies. Some vets will remove the uterus as well, though the benefits of this are debated. When a vet neuters a female rabbit, they make an incision in the abdomen and take out both ovaries.
When a vet neuters a male rabbit, they make an incision in the scrotum and remove both testicles, the blood supply, and some of the spermatic cord (though not all of it, which is why male rabbits may still be fertile for 4-6 weeks after neutering). When we neuter a rabbit, we remove the sperm and egg-producing organs. This means that these hormones don’t just come from the ovaries and testes. The adrenal gland releases a variety of different hormones, two of which are oestrogen and testosterone. Rabbits are seasonal breeders – when the days start to get longer in spring, their brains start to produce more gonadotrophin-releasing hormones, and this seasonal rhythm drives seasonal sexual behaviour.īut these gonadotrophins don’t only act on the ovaries or testes – they also act on the adrenal gland (the gland that most people know produces adrenaline). These gonadotrophins then act on the ovaries or testes (the gonads) and make them produce more oestrogen or testosterone. These gonadotrophin-releasing hormones tell another part of the brain, the pituitary gland, to release hormones called gonadotrophins. When an animal reaches puberty, the part of the brain called the hypothalamus starts producing more of a hormone called gonadotrophin-releasing hormone. These behaviours are driven by the sex hormones oestrogen and testosterone. The testicles of male rabbits descend around 10–12 weeks of age (female rabbits reach sexual maturity around a month later), and both sexes start to show sexual behaviours. Sex-specific behaviours start at puberty. Finally, they include mating behaviours – mounting rabbits or people. They also include courtship behaviours, such as circling around people or rabbits and making a humming sound. Sex-specific behaviours include scent-marking behaviours, such as spraying urine on other rabbits, people, or objects and leaving dry faecal pellets around their enclosure to mark territory.
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Finally, I’ll advise on how to manage these behaviours. I’ll describe what neutering does and why it doesn’t prevent all of these behaviours. In this article, I’ll explain what sex-specific behaviours are, when they start and why they happen. Owners often worry that the rabbit wasn’t neutered successfully, but these behaviours are not just driven by hormones from the ovaries or testicles.
However, even after neutering, many male rabbits will still mount their companions and many female rabbits will continue to dig large holes (some males also). By Guen Bradbury, Rabbiting On Veterinary AdviserĪt RWAF, we advise that all rabbits should be neutered to prevent unwanted litters and unwanted sexual behaviour, such as mounting and spraying.
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