Guinea pig neutering!

Chloe21

Chloe21

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hi! Can anyone offer me advice on whether or not to neuter my guinea pig? He's nearly there and a half
 
I guess the first question is why do you want him to be neutered. If it’s because he is going to have a female companion, then he does need to be neutered.
If he isn’t going to live with a female, then I wouldn’t do it (unless there was some medical reason to have him neutered).
 
Piggies&buns said:
I guess the first question is why do you want him to be neutered. If it’s because he is going to have a female companion, then he does need to be neutered.
If he isn’t going to live with a female, then I wouldn’t do it (unless there was some medical reason to have him neutered).
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Yeah it's so he can live with my two girls :)
 
If he is in good health without any ongoing issues, I wouldn't say he was too old to be neutered. There's always a risk with operations involving general anaesthetic, but if it is done by a good vet with experience of neutering guineas, that helps to reduce the risk. I recently had my two and a half year old boar done, he came through fine and is now enjoying life with two sows (I hope! )
 
The key things would be making sure he’s healthy enough for surgery and that your vet is experienced in doing guinea pig surgeries.
 
Qualcast&Flymo said:
If he is in good health without any ongoing issues, I wouldn't say he was too old to be neutered. There's always a risk with operations involving general anaesthetic, but if it is done by a good vet with experience of neutering guineas, that helps to reduce the risk. I recently had my two and a half year old boar done, he came through fine and is now enjoying life with two sows (I hope! )
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Aw that's great :) Fingers crossed he's all healthy, taking him to the vets tomorrow! I read somewhere that someone got their rabbit neutered and he had a heart attack and died so I'm stressed out about it! Do you know of anywhere near Chester that specialises or has a good reputation for guinea pig neutering? Thanks so much for your advice btw, I really appreciate it :) it's hard not knowing anyone in the same situation!
 
Piggies&buns said:
The key things would be making sure he’s healthy enough for surgery and that your vet is experienced in doing guinea pig surgeries.
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Ah yeah, I don't know anywhere near me that is the best for guinea pig care!
 
Have a look at the Vet Locator in the top bar, there are a few in the Merseyside / north Cheshire area I think.

@VickiA lives in Cheshire, maybe she can recommend one in your area ..
 
@Chloe21 I'd use the vet locator on the forum to see if there are any local vets. Also, ring around your area and ask how experienced the vets are.

One of my boys was neutered in early August and other than eating a bit less the next day you wouldn't know that anything happened to him. The stitches were tiny and really neat.
 
Qualcast&Flymo said:
Have a look at the Vet Locator in the top bar, there are a few in the Merseyside / north Cheshire area I think.

@VickiA lives in Cheshire, maybe she can recommend one in your area ..
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Sorry I'm still getting to grips with how this website works, how do I message her or mention her?
 
Jaycey said:
@Chloe21 I'd use the vet locator on the forum to see if there are any local vets. Also, ring around your area and ask how experienced the vets are.

One of my boys was neutered in early August and other than eating a bit less the next day you wouldn't know that anything happened to him. The stitches were tiny and really neat.
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Thank you :) that's good! How old was he? Also how long does the operation take?
 
Our vet at Vets4Pets in Penny Lane, Liverpool is very good, she neutered our little boy Theo and he was home eating as normal the same day and no complications at all, plus 2 free post-op check-ups and all the medication included in the price.
Probably there are good vets nearer you too though :)
 
I have tagged her in by putting the @ in front of her name, which means she will be notified automatically that she has been mentioned, and will hopefully look at this thread (and answer the question).
 
When you have your piggy neutered you must wait 6 weeks post op until he is safe to go in with the girls.
 
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PigglePuggle said:
Our vet at Vets4Pets in Penny Lane, Liverpool is very good, she neutered our little boy Theo and he was home eating as normal the same day and no complications at all, plus 2 free post-op check-ups and all the medication included in the price.
Probably there are good vets nearer you too though :)
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Aw that's really good :) yeah I'm taking him to vets 4 pets in Chester tomorrow, ask all my questions, have to find out if they have a lot of experience neutering guinea pigs!
 
Chloe21 said:
Thank you :) that's good! How old was he? Also how long does the operation take?
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I think he's about 1 year old. The vet gave him a good check over first as he has a head tilt but he did really well under anaesthetic.

I'm not sure how long it took. The vet usually does the surgeries after morning consultations and he had been awake for a while when I rang at 3.
 
Qualcast&Flymo said:
I have tagged her in by putting the @ in front of her name, which means she will be notified automatically that she has been mentioned, and will hopefully look at this thread (and answer the question).
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Thank you! :)
 
Jaycey said:
I think he's about 1 year old. The vet gave him a good check over first as he has a head tilt but he did really well under anaesthetic.

I'm not sure how long it took. The vet usually does the surgeries after morning consultations and he had been awake for a while when I rang at 3.
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Aw right, so you can't wait while the operation takes place?
 
Not usually as the vet has a surgery list for the day. When I had Dennis and Christian neutered around 2 years ago, I dropped them off at 9am and got a phone call at 2.30pm and picked them up around 5pm. The vet wants to make sure they wake up properly and have had something to eat and they have pooped and wee'd before they go home.
 
Its usually drop them off in the morning, get a phone call after surgery, then pick them up 2 or 3 hours later once they are awake and eating again, if all goes well.
 
@Chloe21 I guess it all depends on the vet you use but most that I've been to don't do the surgery immediately. They tend to do the surgeries at a certain time of the day.
 
Betsy said:
Not usually as the vet has a surgery list for the day. When I had Dennis and Christian neutered around 2 years ago, I dropped them off at 9am and got a phone call at 2.30pm and picked them up around 5pm. The vet wants to make sure they wake up properly and have had something to eat and they have pooped and wee'd before they go home.
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Ah I see! I'd just have to ring up and check through the day then!
 
PigglePuggle said:
Its usually drop them off in the morning, get a phone call after surgery, then pick them up 2 or 3 hours later once they are awake and eating again, if all goes well.
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Okay thank you :) I know there's no way of eliminating all risk but is there anything I can do to make sure he'll be okay?
 
Chloe21 said:
Ah I see! I'd just have to ring up and check through the day then!
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The vet will usually ask you to phone at a certain time when you drop them off when they know their surgery list for the day.

Chloe21 said:
Okay thank you :) I know there's no way of eliminating all risk but is there anything I can do to make sure he'll be okay?
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Make sure you don't starve him before the op like you would a cat or dog. Piggies have to eat constantly. Take a lunch box of his favourite foods in with you so that they can tempt him to eat when he wakes up. When Christian had his HUGE abscess removal I took him in this lunchbox of tasty treats.
Christian's lunchbox of goodies for vets.webp
 
Dennis and Christian were neutered at around 6 months old cos I needed them to go in with girlies.
 
Betsy said:
The vet will usually ask you to phone at a certain time when you drop them off when they know their surgery list for the day.


Make sure you don't starve him before the op like you would a cat or dog. Piggies have to eat constantly. Take a lunch box of his favourite foods in with you so that they can tempt him to eat when he wakes up. When Christian had his HUGE abscess removal I took him in this lunchbox of tasty treats.
View attachment 95313
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Okay thank you :) aw I bet he was happy with all that! :)
 
Betsy said:
Dennis and Christian were neutered at around 6 months old cos I needed them to go in with girlies.
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Ah okay! Hoping to find lots of successful stories of three year old guineas :)
 
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