Post-op Neutered Boar

[yayitsbeth]

Hi everyone,

After the bullying between my boys, and much deliberation over rehoming or keeping Peanut solo, my sister stepped in and saved the day, offering Peanut a home with the youngest of her 3 girls, in a brand new 2x4 (arriving tomorrow). Careful research done, Peanut was checked into the vet at 9am today. He was collected at about 5:45, and hasn't moved a muscle since! He didn't even turn his head to veggies or when he was lifted out of the carrier into a temporary box (towels and fleece inside). I have checked and he is breathing, but I'm worried about how long it will take him to recover from the drugs he was given. He has water, pellets and a green bean in his box.

I feel royally guilty for having to put him through this, but the rescues I contacted couldn't take whole boars anyway, and this way I can guarantee he will have just as happy a life as I would give him (plus he will have a beautiful little girlfriend now!)

My questions really are;

-Is it normal for him to still be static?
-Is this box suitable accommodation until he finds his feet again?
-How long will I need to use towel for bedding (he is normally on shavings and I don't have a wealth of old towels! That said, his welfare comes foremost of course)
-Will he forgive me/humans? Seems a silly thing to write, but he's always been my most cuddley and friendly pig, and came to the bars to see me. I'm worried I'll have traumatised the poor little guy.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi!

Your poor boy is looking rather sorry for himself. Please start syringe feeding and watering him straight away if he is not eating.

The box is OK for the first two days; after that there shouldn't be any bleeding any anymore.

You may find the tips in our detailed post-op guide very helpful:
Tips For Post-operative Care
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
All our guides also contain tips what you can do with what you have got at home.

However, he will be very happy living with a harem - my currently five "husboars" will attest to that!

 

[yayitsbeth]

Hi!

Your poor boy is looking rather sorry for himself. Please start syringe feeding and watering him straight away if he is not eating.

The box is OK for the first two days; after that there shouldn't be any bleeding any anymore.

You may find the tips in our detailed post-op guide very helpful:
Tips For Post-operative Care
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
All our guides also contain tips what you can do with what you have got at home.

However, he will be very happy living with a harem - my currently five "husboars" will attest to that!

Thank you! I just brought the boys in from a day on the lawn, and whilst they were rumbling and popcorning he got a little more animated himself, and moved to face the other way. I will be sure to read those posts now that all the pigs are inside and I know Peanut is safe enough in this box. He will be living with a female who is about 3 months (I think) and he is around 10 months now, maybe closer to 11 months (I got him in the last week of July, and think he was 6-7 weeks, but I didn't buy him so cant be sure).

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you! I just brought the boys in from a day on the lawn, and whilst they were rumbling and popcorning he got a little more animated himself, and moved to face the other way. I will be sure to read those posts now that all the pigs are inside and I know Peanut is safe enough in this box. He will be living with a female who is about 3 months (I think) and he is around 10 months now, maybe closer to 11 months (I got him in the last week of July, and think he was 6-7 weeks, but I didn't buy him so cant be sure).

Please make sure that you wait 6 weeks before you introduce your boy to the girls. I have the surprise daughter of a supposedly safe over 5 weeks post-op boar (not one of mine) living with me and have since heard of more cases. I have however never heard of a pregnancy of over 6 six weeks post-op despite all the good standard UK rescues practising this deadline.

Make sure that you weigh your post-op boy daily for the next couple of weeks, so you can control his food intake and step in whenever necessary.

Keep a close eye on the operated area and contact your vet asap if you notice any swelling.

 

[yayitsbeth]

Yeah, we have been planning this for some time and were thinking of allowing them a week or few days through the bars during his 7th week post-op, then opening the cage dividers (of course cleaning well and making neutral) and letting them work it out. Our other idea was to wait until 7weeks post-op, then just put them together to allow them a totally new meeting with one another.

You feel that 6 weeks is long enough to be confident that we wont be having any little Peanuts running about? We had planned to wait 7 weeks because we absolutely cannot have more piggies, and I had read here that many people were saying 6 weeks, but would rather err on the side of caution when tiny lives are involved. Though of course if there is no need to wait that 7th week, then I won't put him throu the sadness of another week in solitary.

We had pregnant piggies as children, don't need a repeat of that one! I think it's a mistake only ever once made however we loved our babies at the time, and kept them all! how to jump from 2 to 9 in one fell swoop.

 

[Wiebke]

Yeah, we have been planning this for some time and were thinking of allowing them a week or few days through the bars during his 7th week post-op, then opening the cage dividers (of course cleaning well and making neutral) and letting them work it out. Our other idea was to wait until 7weeks post-op, then just put them together to allow them a totally new meeting with one another.

You feel that 6 weeks is long enough to be confident that we wont be having any little Peanuts running about? We had planned to wait 7 weeks because we absolutely cannot have more piggies, and I had read here that many people were saying 6 weeks, but would rather err on the side of caution when tiny lives are involved. Though of course if there is no need to wait that 7th week, then I won't put him throu the sadness of another week in solitary.

We had pregnant piggies as children, don't need a repeat of that one! I think it's a mistake only ever once made however we loved our babies at the time, and kept them all! how to jump from 2 to 9 in one fell swoop.

6 weeks is safe enough considering that any accident would have spread like wildfire through the rescue community, epsecially as this is also the RSPCA guideline, but it is up to you!

All the best for a good and smooth recovery!

 

[VickiA]

Wishing peanut a speedy recovery and a happy new life with ladies

 

[Elwickcavies]

Some pigs take longer than others to recover from the GA. I agree with Wiebke about food and water being the important things.Trust me, the boys soon forget any trauma once they meet their ladies!