Neutering And Bonding With A Female?

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Jeniva

Jeniva

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Hey guys, those who have been following my posts know I've got a 3 year old boar called Han. I had a second boar who passed away last month, they lived side-by-side as they didn't get along.
I took Han to a rescue this weekend and he was tried with four different boars, the only one Han didn't have a go at was an older one who had a go at Han! The rescue suggested getting him neutered and having him have a girlfriend.
What are people's opinions on this? I do know a good guinea pig vet who isn't too far away, about a 20-25 minute drive. As I said he is three years old now as well.
Any tips for aftercare is welcome as well.
The rescue said 2 weeks after his castration he should be fine with girls, that the vet would suggest 6 but the rescue said they've never experienced a pregnancy after 2 weeks.
 
Sorry to hear about your lost piggy! Popcorn free little one. Luckily for me my boys took to each other right away and are the best of friends. I personally won't ever neuter or put a piggy under operation unless it's necessary for their health (ex: emergency spay) so I would try other boys. And perhaps a baby would be best as it sounds like your boy might be feeling threatened or just very dominant if he's going after the other piggies. As for post op, It sounds like this rescue hasn't done their research. @Wiebke had a surprise baby from a supposedly "safe" boar who was I believe 4-5 weeks post op. You're risking the health and life of the sow if you allow your boy near her only waiting two weeks. Also I'm not sure if your boy would even be recovered enough and ready to meet a girl that soon? Since I never plan on having neutering done I'm not the most knowledgable on recovery times but you should definitely look into this more. Is this rescue recommended by the forum?
 
Jeniva said:
Hey guys, those who have been following my posts know I've got a 3 year old boar called Han. I had a second boar who passed away last month, they lived side-by-side as they didn't get along.
I took Han to a rescue this weekend and he was tried with four different boars, the only one Han didn't have a go at was an older one who had a go at Han! The rescue suggested getting him neutered and having him have a girlfriend.
What are people's opinions on this? I do know a good guinea pig vet who isn't too far away, about a 20-25 minute drive. As I said he is three years old now as well.
Any tips for aftercare is welcome as well.
The rescue said 2 weeks after his castration he should be fine with girls, that the vet would suggest 6 but the rescue said they've never experienced a pregnancy after 2 weeks.
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Hi and welcome!

Here are is our post-op care guide. Your boy is not too old for neutering, as long as you trust your vet and he has either experience with guinea pig neutering or lots of practice in operating on small furries. Being able to keep the operating time short and having a good nurses team for the recovery make all the difference. Ideally a boar should behave as if nothing untowards has happened.

Keep an eye out and contact your vet if you boy has a bad reaction to the GA and is losing his appetite. Be prepared to step in with syringe feeding and watering; the antibiotic is going to be an additional appetite damoener/killer. For the longer term, look out for any swelling in the groin area, daily in the first 2-3 weeks, then you can start to lengthen the interval. Abscesses can happen until up to 6 months post op although it is rare that they happen late. It is down to quality of the vet and his nursing team.
Tips For Post-operative Care

I can guarantee you that you won't find that rescure on our list of recommended good standard UK rescues on the top bar; 2 weeks is NOT safe! Your vet was absolutely right with his advice on waiting 6 weeks post-op!
Your boy can live with a sow or two next to him during that time if the rescue is fine with that. However, my surprise baby Tegan (now 4 years old) is living proof that accidents can really happen late on. Her dad was a supposedly safe and vet cleared over 5 weeks post-op boar at the rescue I adopted her mum and auntie from - VERY much to the upset of the rescue lady! I have since heard of more cases as late as that.

All good rescues with a neutering policy in this country (including the RSPCA) are practising a full 6 weeks wait, and so far I haven't heard of a pregnancy in a number of years. The problem with playing statistics is that the crucial difference between 99% safe and 100% safe can happen to anybody - see me! It is frankly not a gamble I would take ever again, and I can guarantee you that the rescue is bound to land in very hot water sooner or later! :(

Alternatively, you could try dating Han at some more rescues you can get to.
Guinea Pig Rescue Centre Locator
 
As with any small animal, any operation requiring anesthesia carries some risks.

In saying that, neutering in rabbits and guineas has become statistically safer than 10 or even 5 years ago as veterinary medicine has progressed.

I work closely with a local rescue who have had over 60 boars neutered already this year and only 4 were lost to complications either during or after surgery. Provided you go to a vet that specializes in exotics you increase your chances of success.

Our boar is neutered as were the other boars he was originally housed with. He hated other male company and is only happy with the ladies. For him neutering enabled him to find happiness in a female cage mate. While I agree that owners who have no intention of housing lady pigs should not bothering neutering their boars, I'd not discourage owners who are considering keeping both genders. Male and female pairings are the most stable once the boss has been established, it's just down to weighing the pro's and cons, finding a good vet and deciding if you feel you wish to take the operations risks.

Whatever you decide the forum will be 100% behind you and I hope little Han finds his perfect Leia soon... or maybe his Chewbacca.
 
PS: I am sorry for your loss. You are welcome to post a tribute to your boy in our Rainbow Bridge section if or whenever it feels right for you.
 
Thank you for the response. I think it was actually a recommended rescue, can't find the rescue page any more on here.
I'm not really decided yet on what to do. Seems he wont get along with males, they were mostly younger than him apart from the very old one. And it was only the older one who he didn't have an issue with.
When he was a baby he had abscess problems from his original cage mate, and he went through two operations. Luckily he was always OK after them apart from one post op infection which I managed to sort out with cleaning and antibiotics. I am worried about post op infections and abscesses again as they were a nightmare.
 
Jeniva said:
Thank you for the response. I think it was actually a recommended rescue, can't find the rescue page any more on here.
I'm not really decided yet on what to do. Seems he wont get along with males, they were mostly younger than him apart from the very old one. And it was only the older one who he didn't have an issue with.
When he was a baby he had abscess problems from his original cage mate, and he went through two operations. Luckily he was always OK after them apart from one post op infection which I managed to sort out with cleaning and antibiotics. I am worried about post op infections and abscesses again as they were a nightmare.
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Any op is always a risk. You can do only so much to minimise it. Thankfully, these days, it is much easier to get on top of an abscess with stronger antibiotic and the fatality rate has come down quite a lot in the last few years. It is however still a leap of faith, especially with elective surgery.

It is normally vets that think that a 2 week wait is enough; I have met several! :(
 
Wiebke said:
Any op is always a risk. You can do only so much to minimise it. Thankfully, these days, it is much easier to get on top of an abscess with stronger antibiotic and the fatality rate has come down quite a lot in the last few years. It is however still a leap of faith, especially with elective surgery.

It is normally vets that think that a 2 week wait is enough; I have met several! :(
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I do honestly feel awful at the thought of putting him through an op and chopping his man bits off...but then I would love him to have a cage-mate. I don't think the rescue I tried him at thinks it's worth me trying him with any more boars, at least not at theirs. It was also a bit of a drive. I'm sending off an application to Hazelcroft but I don't think they even have any single boars to bond. So perhaps castration is my only choice. I may ring the vet this week and discuss it with him, and I will book time off work to give him a lot of attention and make sure (as much as i can) that he heals up well and is eating etc after his op.
 
Jeniva said:
I do honestly feel awful at the thought of putting him through an op and chopping his man bits off...but then I would love him to have a cage-mate. I don't think the rescue I tried him at thinks it's worth me trying him with any more boars, at least not at theirs. It was also a bit of a drive. I'm sending off an application to Hazelcroft but I don't think they even have any single boars to bond. So perhaps castration is my only choice. I may ring the vet this week and discuss it with him, and I will book time off work to give him a lot of attention and make sure (as much as i can) that he heals up well and is eating etc after his op.
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If you can get as far as Northampton, you could consider having Han neutered at the Cat&Rabbit Care Clinic. They specialise on on seeing just cats, rabbits and small furries and have plenty of experience with guinea pig neutering operations, having neutered all the boars for (now sadly defunct) RNGP Welfare rescue in Rugby for well over a decade and now doing the same for TEAS sanctuary and seeing guinea pigs from all over the country for.
They have as close to a 100% success rate on boar neutering ops as you can get. If you can get there, then neutering is very definitely an option - without any abscess worries!
The Cat and Rabbit Care Clinic - Home
 
:agr: with all the above.it is a risk,but with a cavy savvy vet it is much more reduced.I would go along to your vet and ask how many neuterings he/she has done in the lasy year,how many have had abcesses or post op complications,this will give you a good basis to make an informed choice.ive had six of my boars neutered to go with sows,and all have been fine.I'm going to get my young boar at 16 months done at the cat and rabbit clinic,then it gives me more options when his 4 year old mate goes to the rainbow bridge.you seem like you have had experience which will help alot with his aftercare.good luck.:)
 
eileen said:
:agr: with all the above.it is a risk,but with a cavy savvy vet it is much more reduced.I would go along to your vet and ask how many neuterings he/she has done in the lasy year,how many have had abcesses or post op complications,this will give you a good basis to make an informed choice.ive had six of my boars neutered to go with sows,and all have been fine.I'm going to get my young boar at 16 months done at the cat and rabbit clinic,then it gives me more options when his 4 year old mate goes to the rainbow bridge.you seem like you have had experience which will help alot with his aftercare.good luck.:)
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Ah that makes me feel a lot better knowing you've had such high success. The vet I use is Amir at vets and pets in broxbourne. I do find him to be very confident with guinea pigs and he's always seemed good with them. I may ring at the end of this week if hazelcroft doesn't have any boars. I still have a nice zoozoone I could put him in after his op, will just need some towels etc.
So everyone here is agreement that I should really wait 6 weeks after his op to get him a girl?
 
yes i always wait six weeks post op,i would not want to take any risks of unwanted pregananciesyou can always place him next to any propectve wives,but ensure they are not able to have any physical contact.:lol!:
 
eileen said:
yes i always wait six weeks post op,i would not want to take any risks of unwanted pregananciesyou can always place him next to any propectve wives,but ensure they are not able to have any physical contact.:lol!:
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sounds like a good idea.
The rescue did say considering I travel a fair distance and the success rate is high with female and male bondings, that they wouldn't mind if I wanted to take a female home to bond myself rather than leave him there. so perhaps could get one and place her next to him rather than leave him there again, until they're ready to properly meet.
 
@Jeniva : On the subject of two weeks post-op waits - here is a recent case with dad and his unplanned son ending up in rescue and looking for a home as a result of bad vet advice. It really happens! :(

PS: I have curently got five "husboars", a couple of which has been neutered at 2-3 years old, so with the right vet, it can be done. It is well worth travelling further for that!
 
my adopted boy chewy was neutered at around 7 months and I got Poppy, a 5 month old girl, from a rescue two weeks later - I kept them in hutches next to each other until he was passed the 6 weeks and since they have lived together they have gotten along great - I think the extend period of being able to see, smell and hear each other while living apart may have had something to do with that too - Chewy was also not able to get along with males and is such a content little piggy now with his Mrs. :)
 
i adopted my boy from pets at home cos he was on his own and didnt want him to live like that. He lived next to my girls for a few months til i saved up for neuter op. Kept him seperate for six weeks post neuter and swapped litter trays and smells for the six weeks and they all took to each other straight away.He is now a very happy boy with his five wives .Also adopted a rabbit from pets at home after taking on a bunny in horrible conditions. Got him neutered and he now lives with the lovely alice and they are great together. The vet i used does loads of operations like this. I knew a woman that helped with rescue and all theirs were done there. Also talked to the vet before i booked them in.He is doing great and i had no problems.
 
I agree 6 weeks is definitely recommended you don't lots of baby piggies :).

I recently had two boars neutered in March one had no issues at all. The other developed a very slight skin infection that cleared up with antibiotics.
 
Wiebke said:
@Jeniva : On the subject of two weeks post-op waits - here is a recent case with dad and his unplanned son ending up in rescue and looking for a home as a result of bad vet advice. It really happens! :(

PS: I have curently got five "husboars", a couple of which has been neutered at 2-3 years old, so with the right vet, it can be done. It is well worth travelling further for that!
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Aw beautiful baby though!
That's good. I phoned the vet today and was told 3 years is fine still. I'd need to make an appointment get him properly health checked. I am concerned that he sometimes gets quite a pooey bum, i'd be worried him getting that after the op and causing infections. But perhaps If i'm vigilant on wiping his bum and checking him a lot it shouldn't be an issue? The vet I use is guinea pig specialist Amir at vets and pets in Broxbourne - think he is one of the recommended on the list here and luckily is a 15-20 min drive from me. He saved Han when a different vet cocked up his abscess problems so I do have a lot of faith in him.

All great replies being very helpful. Making me feel better about making a decision. I will likely go through with it, going to sleep on it tonight and make an appointment for the weekend.
Another question though, is the success rate of bonding male and female as high as I hear? The rescue seemed confident. And I suppose I could always return a female that ended up not getting along with Han, although I'm worried about doing this if I leave them side-by side a couple of weeks that I'd be too attached to her!
 
Jeniva said:
Aw beautiful baby though!
That's good. I phoned the vet today and was told 3 years is fine still. I'd need to make an appointment get him properly health checked. I am concerned that he sometimes gets quite a pooey bum, i'd be worried him getting that after the op and causing infections. But perhaps If i'm vigilant on wiping his bum and checking him a lot it shouldn't be an issue? The vet I use is guinea pig specialist Amir at vets and pets in Broxbourne - think he is one of the recommended on the list here and luckily is a 15-20 min drive from me. He saved Han when a different vet cocked up his abscess problems so I do have a lot of faith in him.

All great replies being very helpful. Making me feel better about making a decision. I will likely go through with it, going to sleep on it tonight and make an appointment for the weekend.
Another question though, is the success rate of bonding male and female as high as I hear? The rescue seemed confident. And I suppose I could always return a female that ended up not getting along with Han, although I'm worried about doing this if I leave them side-by side a couple of weeks that I'd be too attached to her!
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The crucial bit when bonding cross gender is that the sow accepts the boar initially and that they like each other, ideally on first sniff!
Older sows can be much more tricky to pair up (I have currently got several of them! :( ), but younger sows are generally rather accepting of a boar. Once they have sorted out who comes boss, fall-outs are very rare and usually caused by medical issues.
 
its so funny as maybe because Chewy was neutered young he has no real interest in drooling over poppy - she just loves stealing his food and talking loads at him! She keeps him in his place!
 
Really glad you started this thread as i have just paired baby mike with un neutered Benson aged 4 (almost!) i don't really want to be left with a lone boar when Benson passes so my idea was to get mike neutered when he's old enough (assuming he is healthy, when is a good age?)
then eventually to match him with sows.

OR if neutering is too risky, have another boar pair living alongside. That's not my preferred option as my pigs live in the kitchen(biggest room in our house) easy to keep clean with 2 pigs but i don't really want a kitchen full of pigs for hygiene reasons.

When stan was ill, we kept a cage on a carpeted area and there was hay everywhere so difficult to keep clean.

Anyway, i am pleased to see neutering is fairly low risk in the right hands.
Would be devastated if mike didn't pull through though, will need to think carefully. . . .
 
tabelmabel said:
Really glad you started this thread as i have just paired baby mike with un neutered Benson aged 4 (almost!) i don't really want to be left with a lone boar when Benson passes so my idea was to get mike neutered when he's old enough (assuming he is healthy, when is a good age?)
then eventually to match him with sows.

OR if neutering is too risky, have another boar pair living alongside. That's not my preferred option as my pigs live in the kitchen(biggest room in our house) easy to keep clean with 2 pigs but i don't really want a kitchen full of pigs for hygiene reasons.

When stan was ill, we kept a cage on a carpeted area and there was hay everywhere so difficult to keep clean.

Anyway, i am pleased to see neutering is fairly low risk in the right hands.
Would be devastated if mike didn't pull through though, will need to think carefully. . . .
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I wouldn't say low risk. I've been researching non-stop and have come across some bad experiences from members here. I'm still debating it, going to contact my last rescue this evening and if she has no boars then I will probably neuter him. Although since he had abscesses previously, I know how much of a nightmare it was. I'm really on the fence still to be honest. The operation itself doesn't worry too much as I trust my vet and Han has always coped well previously - but I'm worried for post-op problems :(
 
fingers crossed the last rescue has a boar your boy will get on with so you don't even have to worry about op or post op problems
 
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