Neutering boars?

[LeahsPiggies]

Hi everyone,

I've been a member on rabbits united (forum) for a number of weeks now.. But seeing as I own guinea pigs aswell I decided to make an account on here (:

On behalf of a friend I am asking a question on neutering boars - he has just taken in a guinea pig aged 4-5 years old who he was planning on bonding with his 2 current boars - however, in the bonding process when the divider was inbetween the new piggie and his 2 current ones, his 2 current ones broke out into a fight (referred aggression). He really doesn't want to risk trying again incase it conflicts his already bonded pairs relationship.

However, he also owns a pair of female guinea pigs, so he thought it'd be worth considering to castrate the new male guinea pig and eventually attempt to bond with his current 2 female piggies.. But he is concerned because of his age. What is the latest age would you all say a guinea pig can be castrated at, and is it worth it?

 

[Guinea-pigGaga]

Welcome to the forum!

In regards to your friend's situation, I believe that the best option would be for your friend to adopt another boar!

Certainly, the boar your friend has recently adopted is too old to be neutered - And, evidently, your friend will not be able to keep their three boars together (Boars can rarely be kept in groups)!

 

[LeahsPiggies]

Welcome to the forum!

In regards to your friend's situation, I believe that the best option would be for your friend to adopt another boar!

Certainly, the boar your friend has recently adopted is too old to be neutered - And, evidently, your friend will not be able to keep their three boars together (Boars can rarely be kept in groups)!

Hi, thank you for the welcome - nice to meet you (:

Seeing as my friend already has 5 guinea pigs including the new one, and 4 rabbits he really isn't looking into getting any more pets as he can't afford anymore and they're hard to keep up with considering college work etc.

A few people i've spoken to said 4-5 is an okay age to neuter, but I wasn't sure which is why I asked here.

It'd be a shame to keep him on his own, because he'd recently lost his bonded partner before my friend had took him on

 

[Guinea-pigGaga]

I can understand your friend's situation!

However, your friend will have to decide whether they are happy to keep the boar in question on his own, or whether they believe that the boar in question would be happier with a companion/ elsewhere - I cannot think of another option!

Personally, I do not recommend neutering/spaying at any age, unless for a medical reason. . . However, I would not advise neutering beyond three years of age!

Nevertheless, I currently have a relatively recently bereaved boar also - I did attempt to find him a companion, but despite my efforts, failed to do so! Therefore, have decided to keep him on his own. . . However, my boar is kept indoors, and receives plenty of attention (He appears to be quite happy)!

 

[Rodentopia]

I personally think at 5 its a little old to put him under a GA and an operation but that's my own opinion. If he was younger I would have said go for it but 4-5 I feel is too old. I have groups of boys, boys can get on with each other but its all about knowing your pigs and their personalities. Males tend to fair better plus 15 months old when the hormones start to die down a little. But again its knowing what your guinea pigs character is like

 

[LeahsPiggies]

I can understand your friend's situation!

However, your friend will have to decide whether they are happy to keep the boar in question on his own, or whether they believe that the boar in question would be happier with a companion/ elsewhere - I cannot think of another option!

Personally, I do not recommend neutering/spaying at any age, unless for a medical reason. . . However, I would not advise neutering beyond three years of age!

Nevertheless, I currently have a relatively recently bereaved boar also - I did attempt to find him a companion, but despite my efforts, failed to do so! Therefore, have decided to keep him on his own. . . However, my boar is kept indoors, and receives plenty of attention (He appears to be quite happy)!

Oo thank you. I know a lot of rescues insist on neutering boars before rehoming - When I tried to adopt a rabbit from a rescue, they insisted all 5 of my girls had to be spayed so we told them where to go! Haha. I know they think of the health of the animals first, and that's good, but asking that is way too far.

He isn't willing to try again with his 2 as they're still squabbling now from the prescence of the new guinea pig yesterday.

I personally think at 5 its a little old to put him under a GA and an operation but that's my own opinion. If he was younger I would have said go for it but 4-5 I feel is too old. I have groups of boys, boys can get on with each other but its all about knowing your pigs and their personalities. Males tend to fair better plus 15 months old when the hormones start to die down a little. But again its knowing what your guinea pigs character is like

Someone I spoke to had their male done at 4-5 and he was absolutely fine. I suppose it just depends, there is a risk with every GA in small animals.

It's a shame.. Does anyone else have opinions?

 

[twiams]

I’ve worked in a vets for a while now and seen the odd guinea pig go under GA, and i wouldn’t say there is really an age limit as such as usually the vets don’t bring many guineas over the age of about 3 through to surgery, all though some of this is most owners opt for PTS over surgery when it comes to guineas, the other side of it is just the recovery, and 4-5years is old for a piggy, and with any old animal your chances of a good recovery get slimmer and slimmer, but on top of that you have the stress of the whole procedure and experience including the time spent at the vets and the medication that is necessary after the op, (some pigs really hate being medicated and syringe fed!) Plus you’d have to wait at least 6 weeks before considering introducing the poor boy to females.

My personal opinion would be it’s not worth the risk and a boy that old, that A) hasn’t been tried with another male and B)has such a slim chance of a good recovery. Could he not house this new boar beside the other pigs ? i opted for side by side living with my pair and loan boar and they’re all quite happy

 

[LeahsPiggies]

I’ve worked in a vets for a while now and seen the odd guinea pig go under GA, and i wouldn’t say there is really an age limit as such as usually the vets don’t bring many guineas over the age of about 3 through to surgery, all though some of this is most owners opt for PTS over surgery when it comes to guineas, the other side of it is just the recovery, and 4-5years is old for a piggy, and with any old animal your chances of a good recovery get slimmer and slimmer, but on top of that you have the stress of the whole procedure and experience including the time spent at the vets and the medication that is necessary after the op, (some pigs really hate being medicated and syringe fed!) Plus you’d have to wait at least 6 weeks before considering introducing the poor boy to females.

My personal opinion would be it’s not worth the risk and a boy that old, that A) hasn’t been tried with another male and B)has such a slim chance of a good recovery. Could he not house this new boar beside the other pigs ? i opted for side by side living with my pair and loan boar and they’re all quite happy

Thank you for your reply, Twiams.

It looks like he's just doing to have to stay as a single boar then, unfortunetely. Of course, my friend doesn't want to purposely put him at any kind of risk, so it's probably best to not go through with it.

I, personally don't agree with spaying and neutering guinea pigs full stop unless they are younger and it's for a health/bonding reason.

It's a shame as he's a lovely piggie. He doesn't want to put them in any contact again, because every time his bonded pair see's the single pig, they fight which is unfortunate.

I have a single sow who's around 3-4 .. She's a little madam when it comes to bonding!

 

[Guinea-pigGaga]

I know a lot of rescues insist on neutering boars before rehoming - When I tried to adopt a rabbit from a rescue, they insisted all 5 of my girls had to be spayed so we told them where to go!

I can understand the reason/s as to why many rescues opt to neuter boars! However, personally, I do not believe that guinea pigs particularly benefit from being neutered/spayed!

On the other hand, I believe that rabbits do benefit from being neutered/spayed - The incidence of reproductive cancers are relatively high in female rabbits, and entire rabbits often have behavioural issues, which makes them difficult to handle, and keep in same-sex pairs etc. . .

Could he not house this new boar beside the other pigs ? i opted for side by side living with my pair and loan boar and they’re all quite happy

I did consider this option. . . But I do question whether the bonded pair would continue to display referred aggression?! :...

 

[Amanda1801]

I would say that this old boy is pretty old for elective surgery.

I have several neutered pigs - a group of three - MN, FN and FN, and a pair - MN & F. I also previously had a group of three neutered males living together. The male in my pair was neutered and still having post op problems 6 months on and it's not something I would put a pig of your friends pig's age through. He's a beyond middle aged piggy now!

 

[LeahsPiggies]

On the other hand, I believe that rabbits do benefit from being neutered/spayed - The incidence of reproductive cancers are relatively high in female rabbits, and entire rabbits often have behavioural issues, which makes them difficult to handle, and keep in same-sex pairs etc. . .

Oh yes definitely rabbits, I have 2 boys who are both neutered

I would say that this old boy is pretty old for elective surgery.

I have several neutered pigs - a group of three - MN, FN and FN, and a pair - MN & F. I also previously had a group of three neutered males living together. The male in my pair was neutered and still having post op problems 6 months on and it's not something I would put a pig of your friends pig's age through. He's a beyond middle aged piggy now!

Thank you for your opinion Amanda, it's great that you've got some groups of males

 

[Amanda1801]

Oh yes definitely rabbits, I have 2 boys who are both neutered



Thank you for your opinion Amanda, it's great that you've got some groups of males

I used to - unfortunately a house move caused them to fall out after 3 years so they had to be split. Two stayed as a pair, another lived with a friends sow.

 

[LeahsPiggies]

I used to - unfortunately a house move caused them to fall out after 3 years so they had to be split. Two stayed as a pair, another lived with a friends sow.

Oh dear Piggiepigpigs on Youtube had a trio of boars that got on really well, until one passed away.

 

[Wiebke]

I have several older piggies that have had successful major operations at a very good specialist vet in Northampton, but personally I would be rather reluctant to put a piggy of that age through any operation that is not strictly necessary. It CAN be done with the right vet, but the risks for an older piggy during GA are much higher and the healing process will be noticeably slower.

It would be great if your friend could find another solution.

 

[LeahsPiggies]

I have several older piggies that have had successful major operations at a very good specialist vet in Northampton, but personally I would be rather reluctant to put a piggy of that age through any operation that is not strictly necessary. It CAN be done with the right vet, but the risks for an older piggy during GA are much higher and the healing process will be noticeably slower.

It would be great if your friend could find another solution.

That's great! I wouldn't class 4-5 as 'old' though.. But I suppose, too old for surgery.

My rabbit was neutered at 4, but obviously they're a lot different than guinea pigs.

 

[Amanda1801]

That's great! I wouldn't class 4-5 as 'old' though.. But I suppose, too old for surgery.

My rabbit was neutered at 4, but obviously they're a lot different than guinea pigs.

Think the general lifespan is 5-8 years, so 5 is certainly getting on a bit!

 

[LeahsPiggies]

Think the general lifespan is 5-8 years, so 5 is certainly getting on a bit!

Yeah I suppose so!

 

[twiams]

I did consider this option. . . But I do question whether the bonded pair would continue to display referred aggression?! :...

I say ‘side by side’ but Marmite (my loan pig) is underneath the cage but to the side, so he still gets all the sights and smells without the stress of having to see other pigs as he gets very stressed around pigs and bites me if i try to pick him up when he’s near other guineas he just seems to panic and go all strange but i think thats due to his past experiences, he’s been homed a few times with people who have just tried to plonk him in with another guinea group.

But i do find Bentley humps Chester a lot more when he can physically see Marmite. Luckily Chester is so laid back he never makes a fuss and happily just sits and takes it, the poor boy haha.
As Marmites cage is at floor level though, he does enjoy running around beside Chester as they do get on quite well so Chester runs around for floor time and Marmite just chases him from the safety of his cage which for some reason doesn’t make him panic at all! Bentley sometimes runs around on the floor with Marmite but it depends what mood he’s in sometimes he can be a bit of a grumps and not wanna play ball haha.