Do The Boar And Sow Both Have To Be Neutered/spayed?

[Millie]

Hi,
One of my guinea pigs recently passed away so I'm looking to get my remaining guinea pig Alfie neutered as he just does not get along with other boars.
2 questions here really,
1) is there an age limit where it's not safe for him to be neutered? He has just turned 3
2) would the female need to be spayed or can it just be Alfie who is neutered?
Thanks,
Millie

 

[Wiebke]

Hi,
One of my guinea pigs recently passed away so I'm looking to get my remaining guinea pig Alfie neutered as he just does not get along with other boars.
2 questions here really,
1) is there an age limit where it's not safe for him to be neutered? He has just turned 3
2) would the female need to be spayed or can it just be Alfie who is neutered?
Thanks,
Millie

View attachment 58788

Hi! I am very sorry for your loss!

1) There is no age limit for neutering; 3 years means that Alfie is at the peak of his life. I know of 4 or even 5 year old boars that have been sucessfully neutered.
The key is finding a good neutering vet, whether that is ideally a general vet with lots of practice in guinea pig neutering or an exotics vet with plenty of experience in small furries' ops, in order to minimise the risk of post-op complications.
Guinea Pig Vet Locator
Tips For Post-operative Care

You will have to factor in a full 6 weeks post-op wait before Alfie is 100% safe to go with a sow or two. He can live alongside them with contact through the bars, but not meet fully during his recovery. My now 5 years old Tegan is the unplanned daughter of a supposedly safe over 5 weeks post-op boar (not one of mine), just to prove the point that it really can happen as late as that.
Guinea Pig Rescue Centre Locator
2) Only one party has to be unable to make babies. Neutering boars is generally a lot less invasive and cheaper, hence why spayed sows are usually private ones that have been operated on for medical reasons. There is currently no rescue in the UK with a spaying policy.

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