Advice needed- I am totally confused!

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Butch

Butch

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After hearing about board dating for the first time yesterday, I was all set to explore all my options.

[*]1st option: No neutering[/*]
Boar dating in Stoke on Trent- It is bit far for me as I dont have car and dont think train is suitable to take 1 piggie and bring back 2! 

So I called my local RSPCA to check if they would allow me to take Butch to see if he fancies another boar that we could adopt. The email reply was “You really can't put another male guinea pig with yours. They will fight.You will need to have your guinea pig castrated, leave for a few months, then introduce a female. You can put males and females together and by having your male castrated you put females in with him with no risk of them mating.†With this perception they probably wont let me adopt a boar with a possibility of returning him to the rescue if they (Butch and new piggie) don’t gel together.

The only other rescue with guinea pigs in our area say that they are looking to pair the male boars with females and the boars were kept separately as they fought amongst themselves when put together.

[*]2nd option: Neutering[/*]
The only vet I have found so far in Liverpool are the Village Vets in Woolton area who said they had good experience in guinea pigs. Has anyone in this forum been there before?

Also, I am quite uncomfortable with the idea as it might lead to complications. Butch is 2 n half- in most cases I hear neutering takes places around 6 months-1.5years. Will he be able to cope up?

Moreover, will he get along with any sow after this?

I am totally utterly confused :{as to what to do. Where to get male boar from? Or else where to get him neutered if thats the only option left?! My Butch definitely needs a mate one way or another. I’d really welcome your thoughts and advice.x
 
Butch I had the same dilemma as you. One of my local RSPCAs didn't do boar dating and told me that mine would have to be neutered. Another happily had Dansak in for a 2 week long boar date, so keep trying - different rescues have other policies.

I didn't want to neuter so in the end opted to get a baby (not rescue unfortunately) to be his friend and so far so good.

I think if you aren't lucky enough to have knowledgeable rescues within travelling distance who are willing to boar date there isn't much you can do.
 
Oh gosh, thought the RSPCA were more a bit more piggy aware than this - think because you don't have litter brothers any other boars will fight. There would be thousands of single boars if that were the case.
Are there any rescues closer to you than Stoke ?
You could try bonding yourself...a younger boar as long as you have a back up plan if it doesn't work if you don't want to go down the neutering route :{
Keep us updated with your progress :)p
 
1) You really can take a piggy on the train and come back with two (remember, they will be bonded by then!) - even if you are not going to the extremes of flintstones, who went all the way from Glasgow to date her Milo at Suzy's rescue in South Wales (that was a proper weekend away)! rolleyes
I am often taking piggies on meds with me when we go for a two night weekend at my mother-in-law's in Wales, and that is a 2 hours drive each way. I also use the train to see a guinea specialist in Northampton.

2) A 2 1/2 year old boar can be neutered, but his recovery will be slower than a youngster's (most boars are neutered when they are still growing and therefore their wounds will also heal much quicker).
The recommended wait after the operation is 4-6 weeks - you are about 95% safe after four weeks and 100% safe after 6 weeks. Reputable rescues will always wait the full 6 weeks.

If I were you, I would explore that boar dating option first - it is much easier to pursue at no risk for you and Butch.
Keep the neutering option for the case that Butch can't find a congenial friend. Not every sow will accept a neutered boar; especially dominant or older sows won't be so accommodating; most younger sows will unless they are very traumatised. Usually, you will know between 15-20 minutes of them meeting whether a neutered boar has been accepted or not.

Your local RPSCA are obviously not specialising in guinea pigs.
 
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Oooh, one more thing to say. If you can't find a rescue willing to date and you do decide to get a non rescue baby, be cheeky and ask the breeder (or accidental litter owner in some cases) if you can bring your piggy and if they have anywhere like a run where you can speed date them. We spent about an hour at our freeads piggy's house with him and Dansak in a run....bit of a "try before you buy" so to speak.

RSPCAs really vary branch to branch. There are 3 within an hour of me....one said boys fight, neutering and pairing with a female is your only option, one had never heard of boar dating and didn't have facilities, but boys could be put with baby boars, the other offered a full boar dating service (that unfortunately didn't have any matches for Dansak)
 
I think it's mostly because it's RSPCA policy to neuter. They don't want any more animals produced by seemingly well meaning owners who think having babies would be 'cute'. Plus rescue piggies have often had a troubled life and it would probably then be more traumatic to put them through any sort of breeding. Obviously I know you have no intention of breeding but I'm saying I can understand the response of the RSPCA. It sounds like a pretty standard reply.

I'd agree with those who have said if you can find Butch a same sex friend that would be the best option. It might work out with another older boar, depending on Butch's nature and the nature of the to be friend but a baby boar would certainly be an idea. I got a baby boar for my older boar Peanut, turned out he hated him but he lives happily with my other boar Nemo now and they're practically joined at the hip! I had very few problems introducing them. I'd try the boar dating if you can - you don't have anything to lose by giving it a go.

Personally I'd probably save neutering for a 'last resort' option. I have a neutered male/female pairing and they get along SO well, it's lovely to see. The sow in question was always a grumpy madam and is getting old so I was concerned how it might work out, as I know some members haven't been as lucky as I was with the bonding process. The other thing to bear in mind with neutering is obviously small animals and the risks of a GA don't always mix well. Always air on the side of caution!
 
A cat carrier would be big enough for two boars to travel on the train, try boar dating first. Haven't you got a friend who could drive you to Stoke if you're worried about the train?
Hope you find a solution. :)
 
Thanks everyone. xx

I dont think I can bring myself to get Butch neutered. Its too stressful to even think about.

I have got to be more patient and positive about finding him another male friend. Shall keep you all posted.x
 
Butch said:
After hearing about board dating for the first time yesterday, I was all set to explore all my options.

[*]1st option: No neutering[/*]
Boar dating in Stoke on Trent- It is bit far for me as I dont have car and dont think train is suitable to take 1 piggie and bring back 2! 

So I called my local RSPCA to check if they would allow me to take Butch to see if he fancies another boar that we could adopt. The email reply was “You really can't put another male guinea pig with yours. They will fight.You will need to have your guinea pig castrated, leave for a few months, then introduce a female. You can put males and females together and by having your male castrated you put females in with him with no risk of them mating.†With this perception they probably wont let me adopt a boar with a possibility of returning him to the rescue if they (Butch and new piggie) don’t gel together.

The only other rescue with guinea pigs in our area say that they are looking to pair the male boars with females and the boars were kept separately as they fought amongst themselves when put together.

[*]2nd option: Neutering[/*]
The only vet I have found so far in Liverpool are the Village Vets in Woolton area who said they had good experience in guinea pigs. Has anyone in this forum been there before?

Also, I am quite uncomfortable with the idea as it might lead to complications. Butch is 2 n half- in most cases I hear neutering takes places around 6 months-1.5years. Will he be able to cope up?

Moreover, will he get along with any sow after this?

I am totally utterly confused :{as to what to do. Where to get male boar from? Or else where to get him neutered if thats the only option left?! My Butch definitely needs a mate one way or another. I’d really welcome your thoughts and advice.x
Click to expand...

I always go to Village vets, the vet is amazing there!
Thats where I will be going to get Alfie done! :)
 
Butch said:
Thanks everyone. xx

I dont think I can bring myself to get Butch neutered. Its too stressful to even think about.

I have got to be more patient and positive about finding him another male friend. Shall keep you all posted.x
Click to expand...

Have a chat with Helen from the Potteries - she is really worth a visit!

PS: I have rehomed piggies all the way from Gretna in Scotland, from Suffolk and West Sussex amongst virtually all my local-ish rescues over the years. ;)
Whenever necessary, I have dated bereaved my piggies a rescue, always with great success. My latest dating trip in July was to find a neutered husboar of their liking for my two middle aged cataract girls - had I not had success in my closest rescue with neutered boars available, I would have gone further afield. It is really worth making that extra effort, especially if you don't have extra accommodation in case your own bonding doesn't work out.
 
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I have just put us on the waiting list @ Potteries.:laluot_15:
 
Personally I wouldn't put a 2 year old boar through a non essential operation.

Get yourself a baby boar, there must be many about in rescues surely!
 
just read this thread helen from the potteries is really good i got my little boar from there and 2 older boars and her back up help is second to none i have rang her a few times and nothing is to much trouble. Cant wait to hear how you get on.
 
Butch said:
Thanks everyone. xx

I dont think I can bring myself to get Butch neutered. Its too stressful to even think about.

I have got to be more patient and positive about finding him another male friend. Shall keep you all posted.x
Click to expand...

Well i have 3 pairs of boars. I agree about the neutering, we considered it for Jasper when he was having problems with his cage mate but we couldnt do it. We got him a baby boar instead and they love each other.
Good luck Xx
 
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