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Neutering Operation Monday

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Tara95

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Hello All, Wisnton is due to have his nueturing Operation on Monday morning. He will be exactly 9 weeks old tomorrow so will be nearly 9 and a half weeks when he has his operation and the vet said she would neuter him from 8 weeks. He is going to an exotic specialist who specialises in nueturing so he doesn't have to live alone for a longer period of time than necessary aslong as he is in full health. When I spoke to the assistant on the phone she advised me that the best weight to have the operation would between 600-1000grams and being overweight can be more dangerous than being under. I know online it does recommend male guinea pigs to be atleast 650grams. I weighed him yesterday and he is 630grams. (Although, I'm hoping my scales are not entirely accurate as to me he feels atleast 700grams and is in full health) Having said that he never overeats and does leave his veg at times. Another thing, the reason I have booked the appointment this week is because I am off work all week so I will be able to syringe feed him/monitor him closely all week. But If I had to wait another week or two I would be at work so I wouldn't be able to watch him which could be very dangerous! He is really lonely and just wants to be with his sisters so I feel for him it would be cruel to make him wait any longer than necessary. I would like advice on how to handle him after surgery and how to monitor him and is there anything I need to purchase or do before/after surgery? I know I need to clean his cage everyday to prevent infection and I have syringes and vitamin C just incase. Not sure if I should purchase some critical care just in case.
Many thanks,
Tara
 
You can use mushed up pellets in place of critical care so the choice is yours if you wish to buy some but you may not need it. My elderly rabbit had surgery just over a month ago and was eating immediately after, running about, behaving as if nothing had happened!

I can’t comment on the weight though as most vets will not neuter a piggy at this age in the Uk.

The guide below has information you’ll find useful Neutered / De-sexed Boars And Neutering Operations: Myths, Facts and Post-op Care
 
Thank you for advice will just used mushed up pallets just in case and hopefully he'll be fine. The vet has assured me there isn't any extra risk aslong as he is the correct weight, healthy, and his testicles have descended. So I think I'm going to go for it but if I get there and he isn't the right weight or somethings not right then I'll simply just have a health check instead. I think it's just the fact he's desperate to be with them all the time and it's heartbreaking for him.
 
Testicles don’t usually descend until four months at the earliest when they hit their teenage months. Did the vet check to actually confirm that this has happened?

Good luck with the surgery.
 
Siikibam said:
Testicles don’t usually descend until four months at the earliest when they hit their teenage months. Did the vet check to actually confirm that this has happened?

Good luck with the surgery.
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Thank you, I've literally just read that in the guide about testicles not usually descending until 4 months.. I guess there's a good chance the operation won't be going ahead after all! Well I was speaking to the assistant who was speaking to the vet at the same time. The assistant said they'd do all the checks when I arrived. I did say he was a good weight for his size though, I'm not sure how common 630grams is at 9 weeks?
Thank you,
Tara
 
Theyre all individual and gain weight in their own time, different birth weights etc , so it’s not possible to say what is a common weight at each age group.

I was surprised and did mention on your previous thread that I was surprised you had found a vet to carry out a neuter so early as it’s not routinely done until between 4 and 6 months of age in this country.
 
I would ring them and confirm whether they will be neutering him (testicles not descended) or just looking him over. At 9 weeks it’s not likely that his testicles have descended.
 
I have rang them a few times and have always mentioned the age he will be (9 weeks) and I've talked about his operation (what do I need to bring etc) and I have said if for some reason you can't do the operation will I be charged and they said no you won't. I might just take him anyway so they can have a look and see how he's developing then I may need to book a further appointment.
 
Tara95 said:
Thank you, I've literally just read that in the guide about testicles not usually descending until 4 months.. I guess there's a good chance the operation won't be going ahead after all! Well I was speaking to the assistant who was speaking to the vet at the same time. The assistant said they'd do all the checks when I arrived. I did say he was a good weight for his size though, I'm not sure how common 630grams is at 9 weeks?
Thank you,
Tara
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You boy is a large boy for his age - but baby weighs can vary massively. However he is a bit young for the testicles to have started to descend yet; that usually doesn't happen until halfway through three months at the earliest.
 
Wiebke said:
You boy is a large boy for his age - but baby weighs can vary massively. However he is a bit young for the testicles to have started to descend yet; that usually doesn't happen until halfway through three months at the earliest.
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Thank you everyone for advice I have rang the vet and she should be getting back to me today. I have viewed winston's area and I don't think I can see any testicles. Am I okay to post a picture of his area I feel so rude (sorry) but I don't think I can see them and these were the best photos I could take.
Many thanks and apologies!MVIMG_20201024_105117.jpg

MVIMG_20201024_104737.jpgMVIMG_20201024_105117.jpg
 
Tara95 said:
Thank you everyone for advice I have rang the vet and she should be getting back to me today. I have viewed winston's area and I don't think I can see any testicles. Am I okay to post a picture of his area I feel so rude (sorry) but I don't think I can see them and these were the best photos I could take.
Many thanks and apologies!View attachment 156342

View attachment 156343View attachment 156345
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Hi!

Winton's testicles are already very nicely on the way down, so your vet may well consider him ready for the snip. You can clearly see the protrusion and swelling around his penis. He is a very early starter indeed! My Llelo was about a month older when I took the comparison picture in the Sexing Guide just before I had him neutered at the earliest.

Compare with the pictures in our sexing guide (chapter on adult piggies). We have included pictures of a boar with descending testicles, one with very large fully descended testicles and how a neutered adult boar looks as a help for comparison.
Here is the link: Illustrated Sexing Guide
 
Wiebke said:
Hi!

Winton's testicles are already very nicely on the way down, so your vet may well consider him ready for the snip. You can clearly see the protrusion and swelling around his penis. He is a very early starter indeed! My Llelo was about a month older when I took the comparison picture in the Sexing Guide just before I had him neutered at the earliest.

Compare with the pictures in our sexing guide (chapter on adult piggies). We have included pictures of a boar with descending testicles, one with very large fully descended testicles and how a neutered adult boar looks as a help for comparison.
Here is the link: Illustrated Sexing Guide
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Thank you very much I'm very relieved as I've just had some NEW INFO which I didn't even think was possible from the vet which has made me a bit apprehensive. apparently they were planning to do it a different way (as before I read your message, I couldn't see any) They were going to do it through the abdomen.. I don't know if it carries any more risks the assistant didn't think it did. I've never heard of this way before have you guys? Wasn't sure to put him through the other way if it's not normally done. What would your guys do if the normal option isn't available? Hopefully it is though ! X
 
Tara95 said:
Thank you very much I'm very relieved as I've just had some NEW INFO which I didn't even think was possible from the vet which has made me a bit apprehensive. apparently they were planning to do it a different way (as before I read your message, I couldn't see any) They were going to do it through the abdomen.. I don't know if it carries any more risks the assistant didn't think it did. I've never heard of this way before have you guys? Wasn't sure to put him through the other way if it's not normally done. What would your guys do if the normal option isn't available? Hopefully it is though ! X
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Go with what your vet feels most comfortable with; that means that they will work more quickly and neatly - and the less time your little one is under, the less risk of GA related issues there are. Going through the abdomen is a somewhat bigger operation. I do the same re. neutering and spaying ops with piggies of mine (the latter of which my vet prefers to do through the abdomen and not from the back).

Keep an eye out for potential abscesses afterwards as they are the most common post-op complication.
 
I have just spoken to the vet and she says she only does it through the abdomen as in her opinion it's less risky and there are less complications afterwards. Having a bit of last minute nerves I think. If anything happened to him.. There are so many cases of things going wrong and I keep reading the threads where things have gone wrong.. and I haven't read any positive ones where there's been no complications..
Many thanks all!
 
Tara95 said:
I have just spoken to the vet and she says she only does it through the abdomen as in her opinion it's less risky and there are less complications afterwards. Having a bit of last minute nerves I think. If anything happened to him.. There are so many cases of things going wrong and I keep reading the threads where things have gone wrong.. and I haven't read any positive ones where there's been no complications..
Many thanks all!
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As I say, go with what your vet feels happiest with, as that means they are much less likely to mess up and they are able to work at their most efficient.
 
Tara95 said:
Thank you everyone for advice I have rang the vet and she should be getting back to me today. I have viewed winston's area and I don't think I can see any testicles. Am I okay to post a picture of his area I feel so rude (sorry) but I don't think I can see them and these were the best photos I could take.
Many thanks and apologies!View attachment 156342

View attachment 156343View attachment 156345
Click to expand...
Don’t worry we have all seen plenty of piggie bums in our time 😆 Hope it all goes well tomorrow x
 
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