Do I Castrate Or Not?

[Kirsty]

hi so I have always had 4 boar guinea pigs but two of my guinea pigs that lived together died last year. My two remaining pigs lived on their own but all shared a shed so could communicate with each other every day etc. However because of the weather and not having my shed anymore my two pigs I have left are now inside, in cages above each other. I let them around my room everyday and then they can talk through the cage to each other. I have tried pairing them up so many times now to live together but biscuit is so dominant and I feel it isn't fair on buttons so now I'm constantly arguing with myself whether to get them castrated to pair them up with sows, but I'm so scared, I would have SO much guilt if they died in the operation etc! I'm such a worrier, but I want them to be happy what to do!

 

[Wiebke]

hi so I have always had 4 boar guinea pigs but two of my guinea pigs that lived together died last year. My two remaining pigs lived on their own but all shared a shed so could communicate with each other every day etc. However because of the weather and not having my shed anymore my two pigs I have left are now inside, in cages above each other. I let them around my room everyday and then they can talk through the cage to each other. I have tried pairing them up so many times now to live together but biscuit is so dominant and I feel it isn't fair on buttons so now I'm constantly arguing with myself whether to get them castrated to pair them up with sows, but I'm so scared, I would have SO much guilt if they died in the operation etc! I'm such a worrier, but I want them to be happy what to do!

I would strongly recommend to travel a bit up the road and have your boys neutered at the Cat&Rabbit Care Clinic in Northampton. They specialise in cats, rabbits, guinea pigs and small furries and have all the experience as well as a record that is as close to 100% as any vet/surgeon can get when it comes to boar neutering after neutering/spaying all the boars and sows for RNGP Welfare rescue in Rugby for over 15 years. They are one of the safest places for neutering that you can find in this country - and as they are are just general vets, but extremely experienced ones when it comes to guinea pigs, their prices are not going through the roof.

I have gone there myself from Coventry to have my Nye neutered in January. He had a perfect recovery and hasn't even needed antibiotics or a post-op check-up.
The Cat and Rabbit Care Clinic

Please remember to factor in a 6 weeks post-up wait until a boar is 100% safe to go with sows. My Tegan (the baby in the avatar) is the result from a supposedly safe over 5 weeks post-op boar; not one of my mine. Just to prove that it can really happen as late as that. While rare, I have heard of more cases since.

Best of luck! It is really worth travelling that bit further for the right vet!

 

[Kirsty]

Have you heard of nine lives vets in redbourne? They are really experienced too, and have gone there for a while now. They treated buttons operation for a mammary tumour last year and he recovered really well x