Piggy companion wanted!

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tom_edwards21

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Hi there,

We currrently have a 4 year old male who is not neutered. His friend was one year older but died in May. We really just want to know what our options are in terms of finding him a friend.

We were hoping that we might be able to find a similarly aged neutered female but we are struggling to find one in local rescue centres.

Does anyone have any other suggestions for what we could do? We also thought maybe a baby boy could work, our current piggy is very passive and got on very well with his previous friend neither of whom were neutered.

The problem there is that we would then have a problem once the 4 year old passes away, an endless cycle of piggies! erm......2 babies maybe?!

Any advice would be appreciated, we are in the Brighton area. Typical neutering costs would be good too.

Thanks! :)
 
Hi There,

I'm not sure were brighton is. I think you should leave it upto your boar.

Neutered females are very few and far between as surgery is so major for them, as for neutering your boy I personally would not even consider this given his age.

Your boy is best with a baby, adult too adult male pairings can work too but have to be done slowly your best too contact all your local rescues to see what is available.

I would not advise two babies, as when babies hit the hormones, they can fallout. Males are best kept in 2's and unfortunately this is how the cycle goes :(!

Good luck finding your boy a friend.

PS. Some Rescues will allow your boy to go along and choose his own friend.
 
I am sorry for your problem - it is always a diffcult decision when you are left with a single older guinea pig.

Sows are normally spayed only for medical reasons, as it is a much more invasive operation than neutering for boars. Although it is still technically possible to have your boy neutered, the chances of a slow recovery and complications are much higher at his age.

You could try and find a rescue where you could take your boy for some "boar dating" to find a new companion of his liking. That can be another laid back older boar or a youngster.

Alternatively, you could think about keeping him right next door to a couple of youngsters (girls or boars), so he can interact through the mesh/bars for company. That way, you would hopefully not be left with another single piggy.

I can warmly recommend this dedicated specialist guinea pig rescue in Crawley just up the road from you; they would certainly help with bonding your boar for you!
http://crawleyguineapigrescue.org
 
thanks for the advice. We will keep trying the rescue centres and if nothing is available we will consider a baby.

Do you think that the baby boar would have to be neutered? Or would it be advisable to introduce them, see how they get on then make a decision on this?
 
tom_edwards21 said:
thanks for the advice. We will keep trying the rescue centres and if nothing is available we will consider a baby.

Do you think that the baby boar would have to be neutered? Or would it be advisable to introduce them, see how they get on then make a decision on this?
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Neutering guinea pigs only takes away the ability to make babies and does NOT interfere with their instincts or behaviour. It makes only sense if you are planning to keep a boar with sows.
 
Wiebke said:
Neutering guinea pigs only takes away the ability to make babies and does NOT interfere with their instincts or behaviour. It makes only sense if you are planning to keep a boar with sows.
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wow, thats is a surprise to us. However, we were thinking that down the line we could consider getting a sow once the older piggy goes. Then we would avoid being in the same situation in a couple of years.

Thanks for the advice, we have contacted the Crawley centre and will wait to see what they suggest.
 
They are a great centre. I bet you find what you are looking for there.

Good luck!
 
Thanks for your help all.

Lastly, I have been quoted £50 for neutering a baby boar at my local vet, does this seem a reasonable fee?
 
tom_edwards21 said:
Thanks for your help all.

Lastly, I have been quoted £50 for neutering a baby boar at my local vet, does this seem a reasonable fee?
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My three cost me £62 each - Vet fees vary across the country, just be sure to check that they are familiar with exotic animals (guinea pigs are considered 'exotics' despite them being so common) and that they have had experiance and success with this type of operation on piggies.
 
Tom i live in Maidstone which isn't to far from you and i paid £50 aswell although i would of paid alot more as i have such a wonderful vet.
 
hi,

we could be facing a similar problem to you in the future as we have an older boar with a younger one.

They get on fairly well, but the younger one is dominant and mounts the other one and they do chatter teeth alot:{

Here is a couple of other rescues nearish to sussex might be worth trying, I live in east sussex so know Brighton well

http://gbhrescue.webs.com/

and raystead
 
If you want an incredibly good vet who is very experience in guinea pig care, and don't mind a trip up the M23, my vet is excellent - she is also the vet Crawley Rescue uses, it was Jenny there who first gave me her name. She has done two of my boys and sees all my piggies.

Please let me know if you want her details - of course if you have your own vet well used to guineas, don't worry :)
 
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