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Neutering Advice

Merrypigs Sanctuary

Merrypigs Sanctuary

Adult Guinea Pig
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Good afternoon all!
We have a sanctuary piggy named Darwin. He came in alone and we have tried multiple times to bond him with other boars but he is just too 'humpy'! The other lads had been getting very, very stressed out and so each attempt ending in separation.
So, we have whittled our options for him down to two:
1) Allow him to be adopted out to live right next to, but not with, other pigs. Is that ok though? Is living next to another piggy enough?
2) Have him neutered so he can live with some girlies. But is it worth the risk when he could perhaps live next to other pigs?
Can I have your thoughts please? The vet we would take him to to be neutered is very good (they spayed our house bun too) but out of all the piggies in the past we have taken to go under anaesthetic (at lots of different vets) only one has come round D:
 
Personally, I would think your chances of rehoming will increase dramatically if he is neutered.

Some rescues routinely neuter for this reason.
 
If he is a good weight and healthy, I can't see why he shouldn't be 'sorted' ;) I strongly recommend Simon Maddock to send his man bits to the plum fairy, he is at The Cat and Rabbit Clinic in Northampton. He has the best success rate I know of and is definitely worth the trip :) x
 
The anaesthetic risk is minimal in a healthy pig. Post operative wound infection and abscess is common, especially in older pigs. Using a very experienced vet reduces the risk dramatically.
 
Tim said:
If he is a good weight and healthy, I can't see why he shouldn't be 'sorted' ;) I strongly recommend Simon Maddock to send his man bits to the plum fairy, he is at The Cat and Rabbit Clinic in Northampton. He has the best success rate I know of and is definitely worth the trip :) x
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Oh Tim, you do make me laugh :D When Darwin asks where his 'two veg' have gone, I'll tell him the plum fairy took them!
 
My Edward was neutered. Not by me but before I adopted him.

From what I know, he was part of a trio of boars and it was him who was bullied by the other two.

He is such a happy boy now living with his two wives as was my previous neutered boar before he went to the bridge. My heart melts seeing how happy he is.

I would definitely recommend you having him neutered by a good vet so that he can enjoy living with a wife or two :)
 
Merrypigs Sanctuary said:
Good afternoon all!
We have a sanctuary piggy named Darwin. He came in alone and we have tried multiple times to bond him with other boars but he is just too 'humpy'! The other lads had been getting very, very stressed out and so each attempt ending in separation.
So, we have whittled our options for him down to two:
1) Allow him to be adopted out to live right next to, but not with, other pigs. Is that ok though? Is living next to another piggy enough?
2) Have him neutered so he can live with some girlies. But is it worth the risk when he could perhaps live next to other pigs?
Can I have your thoughts please? The vet we would take him to to be neutered is very good (they spayed our house bun too) but out of all the piggies in the past we have taken to go under anaesthetic (at lots of different vets) only one has come round D:
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If you can, please have him neutered by a vet that has experience with guinea pig neutering. You might want to ask The Potteries GPR for which vet they use, as they have single boars neutered on a regular basis; they are not all that far from you. My 'husboar' Bedo has been neutered by them.

Cross gender bonds, provided that initial acceptance has happened are the most stable of them all and make any single boars VERY happy! A number of my husboars started out as fallen out/unbondable boars, but they have such a happy life now with 1-5 sows. It is the fulfillment of their dreams.

Many rescues now neuter incoming single boars routinely if they are not easy to bond ones or sub-teenagers. There is a demand for companions of bereaved sows or for people who want to extend their sow pair.

Tips For Post-operative Care
 
I have had ten boars of mine neutered...and also have not encoutered any problems.it is worth the wait to see how happy theyw caw
 
Thanks all! I feel a bit more encouraged now, I was just so worried after our other experiences with GA ^-^;
I shall research vets (thanks for the links @VickiA ) and book the little terror in c:
 
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I've currently got 5 husboars living with 1-4 sows, but have grown up with them and have had a succession of them again in the last 10 years. Several of my husboars have been neutered because they'd fallen out with their mates and were a nightmare with other boars. Living with sows is really a level up, and there is nothing like watching a boar realise that paradise is real and it is HIS!

Going for a vet with experience and practice in guinea pig neutering and ops can make all the difference.

All the best!

Here is my very detailed bonding guide; it has got a chapter on cross gender bonding: Illustrated Bonding / Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics
 
Wiebke said:
I've currently got 5 husboars living with 1-4 sows, but have grown up with them and have had a succession of them again in the last 10 years. Several of my husboars have been neutered because they'd fallen out with their mates and were a nightmare with other boars. Living with sows is really a level up, and there is nothing like watching a boar realise that paradise is real and it is HIS!

Going for a vet experience and practice in guinea pig neutering and ops can make all the difference.

All the best!

Here is my very detailed bonding guide; it has got a chapter on cross gender bonding: Illustrated Bonding / Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics
Click to expand...
Thank you @Wiebke ! I just want the very best new home for Darwin (mum calls him Martin XD) so hopefully he'll have a wider 'choice' once @Tim the plum fairy has visited :'D
 
It is very much worth the 6 week wait.risks are very much reduced in a competent savvy guinea pig vet.I now also foster for a rescue...and take boars to be neutered and look after them post ok...and regime.I only use one vet...as I've not had any problems.Good luck.xx
 
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