At What Age Can I Have My Rabbit Spayed or Neutered? By Lianne McLeod, DVM Lianne McLeod, DVM Lianne McLeod, DVM, is a small animal and exotic pet expert with over a decade of experience writing about veterinary care. After caring for animals in her veterinarian practice, Lianne went on to study biology and research water quality and chronic disease at the University of Saskatchewan. Learn more about The Spruce Pets' Editorial Process Updated on 05/16/22 Reviewed by Natasha Diehl Reviewed by Natasha Diehl Dr. Diehl is a passionate veterinarian pursuing specialty medicine with over 6 years' experience with exotic pets. She now works with a team of other experienced vets to provide the best advice and care for their clients' pets. Learn more about The Spruce Pets' Veterinary Review Board Credit: Elizabeth Fernandez/Moment/Getty Images You can have your pet rabbit spayed or neutered at about the age it reaches the age of sexual maturity. For the majority of rabbits, this means at about 3 to 6 months of age. Giant breeds of rabbits may reach maturity a couple of months later, so the surgery might be done a little later in these breeds if necessary. According to a study published by the Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine in 2022, female rabbits are at higher risk for development of reproductive disease if they remain intact past 3 year of age—19 times more at risk, in fact! The Right Age to Spay or Neuter An immature rabbit will have structures that are not well developed, making the surgery more difficult (and in males, the testicles do not even descend until about 3 months). You should consult with your vet about the proper age to do your particular rabbit. With males especially, your vet should be able to tell from a quick examination whether your bunny is ready by the presence or absence of testicles in the scrotum, but a general exam can give your vet a good idea about the maturity of your rabbit and readiness for surgery. If your rabbit is 4 months or older and exhibiting behavioral changes that include increased aggression or marking the behavior, he or she is ready to be neutered or spayed! Explore more: Small Pets Pet Rabbits Sources The Spruce Pets uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Nina Airas, et. al. Prospective survey of neoplastic and non-neoplastic uterine disorders in 116 domestic rabbits. Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine, vol. 41, April 2022. doi:10.1053/j.jepm.2022.01.001