Neutering, pros and cons.

[Vida]

Rudy currently lives in a cage by his own.

Matty, his partner is on her second pregnancy and also on her own.

Their first three girls are in another cage.

I had thought to wait until Matty gives birth, to see if there are any boars and then put them in with Rudy when they are 3 weeks old. But the exotic vet (the only one around my area) is off on holiday mid August and I go back to work in September, so if I am going to neuter Rudy, now is the time, so he can have complete dedication post-op.

The question is, should I neuter him, despite the risks, so he can move in with Matty? Should I wait and if there is a boar, house them together? Is it cruel to have him nose to nose through the cage with a female? Is it cruel to put him through surgery when it isn't for an illness?

I have spoken to the vet about the surgery. He has done many he says, didn't specify number, but said numerous. Told me to only remove food in the morning just before I take him in, water is fine. BUT he said that once the stitches are out (about 10 days) there is no problem with him going in with a female, because there is no risk, as his testicles are removed. Yet I have read on this forum that it should be 4 to 6 weeks before they are together. This doesn't give me confidence.

I don't know what to do and there is that timeline hanging above my head. If I wait until the vet is back from holiday, I will go to work and won't be around to check Rudy constantly.

What should I do? Opinions VERY welcome. :{

 

[Lizzie]

If you do have him neutered do NOT put him in with the sow until at least 4 weeks after the surgery.

I personally, wouldn't recommend it, there are too many post op complications - I am looking for a neutered boar at the moment, because I don't want to risk one of my boys going through the surgery.

Your girl isn't due for another couple of weeks and by the time the babies are old enough to leave mum (4 weeks) your surgeon will be back and if there aren't any boys (highly unlikely) then you could reconsider then.

 

[CiaraPatricia]

It is good that they are a specialised exotics vet, but I've heard that they should eat right up until the operation (guinea pigs physically cannot vomit so it's not a problem and you want their guts to keep moving so it's best for them to eat) and I've also heard that they should be separated from females for 4 weeks afterwards. Some people leave them 6 weeks just in case.

I don't think it's cruel to get him neutered, it's really up to you. If you keep a boar and keep them together, then you should probably keep the boys in a different room than the girls, so they can't smell the girls and are less likely to fight.

Good luck

 

[teddy2011]

I had my boar done - There are mixed views on it. I got him done because I need to house him with a female. I tried housing him with his son but it didnt work out.

He ate the morning of his op and straight after it - He did get a UTI after it, and was on baytril, He was quite sore after it and didnt move around much, I had to bring him back for an anti inflammatry injection. I was very worried about him! But he is great now, he is a very happy pig!

I was also told not to put him in with any sows for at least six weeks.

This is just my experience! x

 

[Wiebke]

You may find this recent thread interesting: http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=69518&highlight=neutering

I had my current boar neutered through the rescue he was in while my previous boar was dying from cancer (but I paid for the op as I was going to rehome him). Hywel run into post op complications about three weeks into his post op wait; thankfully he made it, but it was a close run thing.

It is important that you have access to a good vet. You also need to count in the fact that a neutered boar should not go in with girls until 4-6 weeks post op.

Neutering does not change boar behaviour, it just removes the ability to make babies.

Here is more information about neutering at all stages: http://www.cavyspirit.com/neutering.htm