Would you happen to know about if and the rules to neuter a pet?.i took my rabbit in to the city to see a exotic specialist (because he is suffering from a myriad of ailments multiple infections etc.) he noticed what a previous vet had seen is that one of his testicles is enlarged.he says he wants to neuter him as soon as possible and its possible its cancer and he wants to nip it in the bud.he also said the testicles could be causing a hormonal imbalance which could be causing other problems.i am leaning heavily towards doing it(and i am thinking in such a situation it would be allowed) i just wanted to check just to see where it stands in Jewish law.(also the doctor is Jewish from Israel.) and my rabbit is 8-9 years old and this vet is an affordable exotic specialist and i wouldn’t have the founds to really go anywhere else and neutering a rabbit is something that should be done with somebody experienced with rabbits otherwise they can botch the operation and kill the animal. i found myself in an interesting predicament, maybe you can offer some insight. Thanks in advance.
Answer:
There is a prohibition against neutering an animal (whether male or female). This prohibition applies even after the animal has had litters. However, indirect methods of causing infertility are possibly permitted (avoiding actual physical surgery), and in cases of need they should be used.
Best wishes.
For modern methods of potentially permitted sterilization, see McRae, G.I., et.al. “Long-term Reversible Suppression of Estrus in Bitches with Nafarelin Acetate, a Potent LHRH agonist,” Journal of Reproductive Fertility,(1985) 74 389-397; and Olson, P.N., et.al. “A Need for Sterilization, Contraception, and Obortifacients: Unwanted Pets Part IV. Potential Methods of Controlling Reproduction,”Compendium of Continuing Education, Vol. 8, No. 5, May 1986, 303-307.
