Neutering Operation Coming Up

[missdoofus]

Hi everyone,

After having tried everything suggested on the forum to get our two boys to get along (reintroduction, buddy baths and all) we have officially given up trying just before Christmas. The buddy bath worked for an amazing 10 minutes before we needed an ovenglove to get them apart

We had an appointment with the vet, to give them a general health check and discuss our options. (Turns out she reckons these piggies are well to small to be 2 years old.. she would hazard a guess they are around 6 - 10 months).

We have decided that we want to keep both of them (well my partner has decided we are not giving either one of them away...) and find them a girlfriend each, so we will be having them neutered on the 14th of January. As I have just realised that it's already next week I wanted to ask everyone if you think there are any specific things we should have ready just in case. I had a look online but would prefer to hear if you made any changes to your pet's cages/food etc. and what issues you encountered.

 

[Galaxy&nibbles]

I can't help just to say good luck. And I hope someone else can give you the info you are after

 

[Wiebke]

I wish you all the best! Please be aware that we recommend a full 6 weeks wait after the operation, as practised by all the good standard guinea pig rescues in this country. I have got the baby from a supposedly safe over 5 weeks post op boar (not one of mine), just to prove the point.

I would also strongly recommend using one of our recommended rescues to date your boys when they are ready, so each can find a girl he clicks with, which makes for a happier "marriage". All of our recommended rescues have a mandatory 10 weeks pregnancy watch, so you are not running the risk of opening the next can of worms...

Ideally, a boar should come round from a neutering op as if nothing has happened and should behave and eat as normal. If your vet is not very experienced in piggy neutering, the general anaesthetic can have a bigger impact and your boys can be off their appetite for longer. Sometimes, they also react badly to the GA.
It would be good to have everything ready to hand feed, including probiotics to support the guts agains the antibiotic your boys will be put on. Also ask the vet how soon you can give painkiller after the operation.

It would be good if you checked at least once during the first night, just in case one of your boys gnawed open the new wound or the glue had come apart. See an out-of-hours vet as an emergency in that case or ring your vet if one of your boys is still very apathetic/listless, in obvious pain and remains off food on the following day. Keep your boys on vet bed or a light towel at first so you can see whether there has been bleeding and change daily. Any scars should have knitted fully within 10-14 days. Weigh your boys daily at the same time during that period.

Make sure that your mobile is fully charged and that you have got both your vet number and the out-of-hours number on it; you do not want to fumble for it in an emergency.

In the weeks and months after the operation, you need to check regularly for any swelling in the operated area; this can be either due to an abscess forming or - more rarely - due to a hernia. Sudden loss of appetite is usually an indication of an infection. Thankfully, strong antibiotics like zithromax have massively upped the chances of survival from post op complications in the last few years. See a vet as soon as you notice any developments.

Don't panic after reading this all; the success rate in boar neutering has massively improved in the last few years and the vast majority are perfectly fine!

https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/guinea-pig-castration-explained.70606/
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/complete-hand-feeding-guide.115359/
http://www.guinealynx.info/postop.html

 

[missdoofus]

Thanks Galaxy and Nibbles

Thank you very much for the links Wiebke, I will make sure I try and get all the things now, just in case anything goes wrong. The vet has done quite a few guinea pigs and they were all successful, so she was very happy to do it. I will have to invest in some light towel, to cover their cage with as all of ours are dark colours.

I will be at work the entire time, but I might be able to come and check on the on my lunch break, but since I am a nursery manager it will depend on how the day goes, if anyone is sick or any appointments are booked I may not be able to, so I hope it goes fine...

We will definitely wait for at least that time before getting them friends as we also still have to sort out the issues with housing them as our flat really is very small Then we will contact rescues. Being in London I thought there would be more choice of rescues around the area but it looks like we will have to travel some way, so we will do that. Don't want to end up with more piggies or more that don't get on...

I think the vet also will prescribe antibiotics for them just in case... Do your piggies usually take them easily? What can we do if they refuse? Ours are quite stubborn sometimes...

Also the painkillers, will they be prescribed by the vet?

Thanks!
Jess

 

[Elwickcavies]

The vet should give you all the necessary pain meds, but I have to say, so far I have had 5 boars neutered (by a very experienced vet) and none had any problems, or needed pain meds after the initial injection the vet gave them, or antibiotics. They all have dissolvable stitches and didn't bother with the wounds. The advice Wiebke has given is all good - it's much better to be prepared for anything. Good luck, and I hope everything goes without a hitch.

 

[missdoofus]

Thanks, I hope so too, I will prepare the stuff for feeding in case anything goes wrong and they need to be handfed as this will come in handy any time they may not be well so that will be a good investment.

In regards to the antibiotics, if they are prescribed would you always give them?

 

[Elwickcavies]

I have only ever been prescibed them for one pig as a precaution, but I didn't give them in the end as all looked well. The vet will be able to to tell you what to look out for regarding infection, so discuss it with them.

 

[Wiebke]

If you get given an antibiotic, please always do the full course. You can find tips on how to best administer a syringe in the hand feeding guide.

Depending on where you are in London, I would recommend contacting Palace Piggies in Crawley, as there are bus links from Gatwick airport, so that may be easiest for you to reach; they take in mostly sows while Crawley GP Rescue has more boys. There are also small, but good rescues in St. Albans and East Peckham. All these rescues are very piggy savvy and offer dating at the rescue, so you can be reassured that you come home only with a happy couple and healthy, guaranteed not pregnant sows. That, in my experience, is well worth a day out as it saves you so many headaches! You may have to ring around a bit, depending on what rescues have got coming in or wait if they have sows still undergoing their 10 weeks pregnancy watch at the rescue.
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/pages/guinea-pig-rescue-locator/

As to cages in a small flat, I use an Ikea linnmon table 75x150cm; this accommodates a cable-tied 2x4 C&C on top and just fits inside a 2x4 C&C at the bottom. I lift the table with my shoulders when cleaning, so it doesn't need moving, but still allows easy access to the lower cage. I have also fixed some strip lighting to the underside of the table. The whole footprint is just the size of a 2x4 C&C cage and a good size for a mixed gender couple. It has a slightly higher ground space than a 2x5ft cage.
http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/20251356/; you buy the legs of your choice separately - they are about an additional £10.

 

[missdoofus]

Thanks Wiebke! Looks like a great idea... I swear we have just thrown out a table like that but I am sure it was smaller, I will have a look if they still have that one. Then just need to locate a new place for all their stuff. As we currently store it all underneath the table, let's see what we can do.

Will definitely do the day out, we have a car, so it will be quite nice to get out a bit!

Now just looking forward to getting it all over and done with and have happy piggies and happy owners again

 

[missdoofus]

Right, so cookie and crumble had their operation today. Dropped them off early and apparently they have not been behaving themselves :pp

They have done well after the operation. They were first given some critical care via syringe to get them interested in food. Apparently crumble loved it and was wheeking for more. Then they ate some of their normal hay and pellets. We got them home ok and have been given some metacam and Zantac to give. Not sure what Zantac is for but will search the forum now. they are back in their cage, but don't look too impressed... No wheeking for vegetables but they had some carrot and parsley. Will monitor for eating and pooping closely and give critical care if necessary. Should I give the probiotics as well?

So far all seems well albeit they look a bit cross :pp

 

[Elwickcavies]

Zantac helps with gut mobility, to get it all moving again. It may take a while for them to totally get over the anaesthetic, but they should be back to normal in the morning. Just keep an eye out for any possible problems, but with any luck it'll all be uneventful. Probiotics won't do any harm. I've just had a boar neutered today too! He's a bit nonplussed, but he's eating, pooping and weeing, so it's all looking good. x

 

[missdoofus]

Haha nonplussed would describe it! They're both sitting under their hutch, staring...

We gave them the Zantac, they took it with a bit of convincing. We also handfed some veggies which they had. No interest in hay or pellets at the moment, so I gave them some critical care, crumble had some cookie wasn't jnterested. Crumble is poopinf and it looks normal. Cookie has not had much poos, so will keep an eye on him. Hope he is better in the morning... :p

 

[missdoofus]

So a day later Crumble seems back to normal, but I am a bit worried about Cookie. He looks like he has mainly been sitting inside his hut, he hasn't touched his pellets and his hay is still there as well... I am going to try and get some food in him now and check his belly to see if everything looks right, but he is definitely not looking happy...