Various negative behaviors can be seen when rabbits are sexually mature, for example, frequent soiling or circling their owner’s legs. They may also become more aggressive; attack other rabbits, bite people or objects and try to dig.

Female rabbits can also experience false pregnancy and will pull out their fur and produce milk. They often become more aggressive at this time. After sterilisation the hormones should balance out within a couple of weeks and behavior often improves. Unfortunately if the negative behaviour has become habitual, then surgery may not greatly improve anything. Therefore we encourage sterilisation of both male and female rabbits at an earlier stage.

On the day of surgery, the vet will explain the procedure, risks and post surgery care to the pet's owner and will ask that the owner signs a consent form. The vet will weigh the rabbit and may conduct a blood test (if necessary) before the surgery. This gives a final evaluation on the rabbit's condition and suitability to proceed with the surgery. Generally, if the rabbit is dehydrated, diseased or suffers from liver, kidney, heart, lung or respiratory disease, the surgery should be postponed. If the rabbit is healthy and not overweight, then the earlier the surgery takes place, the less risks there are and the quicker the rabbit will recover.

The digestive system in rabbits is different from cats and dogs; rabbits can still keep their regular diet before surgery. After surgery, the rabbit will be tired and sleepy because of the anesthetic. The rabbits could wear a restraint collar to prevent the rabbit licking it’s wounds. The pain will continue for some time after the surgery and it will probably affect the rabbit's appetite. The vet might prescribe painkillers, antibiotics or Critical Care to help reduce discomfort. If the rabbit does not consume any food after surgery, you should feed the rabbit Critical Care with a syringe according to your vet's instructions. You should also prepare some hay, vegetables and pellets so that they can be given to the rabbit at regular intervals. Try to encourage the rabbit to eat by feeding hay in abundance. The situation should improve and be back to normal within one or two days.

The digestive system in rabbits is different from cats and dogs; rabbits can still keep their regular diet before surgery. After surgery, the rabbit will be tired and sleepy because of the anesthetic. The rabbits could wear a restraint collar to prevent the rabbit licking it’s wounds. The pain will continue for some time after the surgery and it will probably affect the rabbit's appetite. The vet might prescribe painkillers, antibiotics or Critical Care to help reduce discomfort. If the rabbit does not consume any food after surgery, you should feed the rabbit Critical Care with a syringe according to your vet's instructions. You should also prepare some hay, vegetables and pellets so that they can be given to the rabbit at regular intervals. Try to encourage the rabbit to eat by feeding hay in abundance. The situation should improve and be back to normal within one or two days.

After surgery please let the rabbit rest and keep the cage clean to avoid any infection. You should inspect the wound every day; if the wound is swollen with blood or other secretion leaking from it, you should seek immediate advice from your vet and have your rabbit examined. The rabbit should recover in a couple of days. For the first month after surgery, please keep male rabbits isolated from intact females as there may still be some sperm remaining in the male. If the female has been spayed then this is not a problem.

• Research suggests that 80% of female rabbits will suffer from diseases like tumours in the uterus, ovaries or breast gland by three years old; male rabbits are also exposed to the risks of testicular cancer. Therefore sterilisation could decrease the likelihood of these cancers or other related diseases.
• If sterilisation surgery is performed after diagnosis of these diseases, the chances of survival are lower, the risks of surgery are higher and the rabbit will need longer to recover. Surgery fees will also be more expensive.
• Since sterilisation often lowers the chance of cancers in the sexual organs; sterilized rabbits will generally live longer than unsterilized rabbits.
• Without raging sex hormones, many rabbits will become less aggressive and exhibit less destructive behaviour, like urinating, biting, fighting or emotional problems. Many rabbits become more placid and are friendlier with people and other rabbits.
• Sterilisation prevents unwanted pregnancy which might cause further abandonment because of difficulty caring for so many rabbits.
• Sterilisation can stop behavioural problems in female rabbits due to false pregnancy.