Spaying Sows

[PiggyOinkOink]

I just had Benji neutered and the vet was telling me that I should get the sows neutered too to reduce the risk of suffering from cysts and cancer and also vet bills in the future. Tbh she was a student and she didn't even know that boars should be kept away from the ladies for 6wks post op (she was telling me to put him back with them asap before I said I had read different), so I am not sure how realistic was her advice. She said she had seen one sow with UT issues that day so I wondered whether people recommend it on here?

Before you go on about vets making money, I go to the The Royal Veterinary College Sainsbury Beaumont Animal Hospital so I doubt they are too concerned about making money. The neutering was £52 including all meds and 2 follow ups (orginally £160 but that's before the huge discount) though she did say a spay is more invasive so would cost more. They have experienced specialist small furry vets so risks would be minimised.

 

[TAN]

I have had two sows spayed - they were both nearly 4.My vet is an exotics specialist who has 7 pigs of her own ,two skunks,3 dogs - several medals including a Bronze medal in the World Dog agility championships etc. etc. and is a referrals vet (the vet other vets go to when they are stumped).She has spayed all her own sows and yes,modern thinking is that it is a good preventative for ovarian cysts / cancers.
That said all operations carry some risk,but if your piggy is spayed by a vet who is VERY experienced at spaying sows (neutering a boar is NOT the same- many vets neuter boars but many will possibly never get to spay a sow in their working life).Both my pigs were spayed and awake within 20 mins,as Rachael has done many over the years.In my personal experience while spaying a sow is much more invasive,you do not seem to get the possible abscess problem that can occur after neutering boars.If you ever do decide / need to spay a sow,go to the most experienced vet you can who has carried out the operations before,(cost me £90 all in for operation and meds including pain relief and gut stimulant afterwards - and pay an extra £15 or so and have her stay in over night for a day or two where the nurses can syringe feed her for you at regular intervals - as I found it extremely stressful trying to syringe feed my girls where as the nurses could do it no problem .