SURVEY: Anal impaction in neutered boars vs. non-neutered boars?

[gpshirplanet]

Just want to get a sense from everyone who has/ever had an old male guinea pig... does neutering make a difference on whether a boar will develop anal impaction?

 

[Wiebke]

Hi!

In my own experience neutering doesn't make a difference in the percentage of boars that are affected by impaction - the percentage is about 10% for both full or neutered boars, although of the two boars of mine with impaction issues one had a late post-neutering op hernia pressing on the anus (I adopted him alterady neutered) and the other with beginning impaction has very weak musculature at the bum we are this point not sure yet whether it is a genetic issue or due to Dylan having been kept in a tiny hamster cage for the first two years).

What is making a difference is that the anal sac that forms between the descended testicles is much larger and can therefore fill up much more with stuck caecotrophs (the redigested poos); this means that impaction in neutered boars is never getting as bad and is A LOT easier to deal with because the anal sac will shrink again after the testicles have been removed (see pictures in the neutering guide).

However, in view of the risk of incurring post-neutering op complications (of which impaction can actually be one, if thankfully these days rare one) - especially if you don't have access to a piggy savvy vet - is neutering really necessary just to avoid a 1 : 10 risk of possible impaction?

More information on impaction and on neutering in the guides below:
Impaction - How To Help Your Guinea Pig.
Neutered / De-sexed Boars And Neutering Operations: Myths, Facts and Post-op Care

 

[eileen]

ive had two older intact boars that had impaction issues....age 7 years respectively.non of my neutered boars have impaction issues ive had a total of 17 boars neutered.

 

[alexr]

Hi, I’ve had three boars with impaction issues. One was neutered and two intact.

Several years ago, I had a 5 year old pig called Bailey who came to a rescue with his pregnant wife Bree. Despite his age, the rescue had him neutered and when their daughter was born, the trio came to live with me. Bailey developed impaction but lived to the grand age of 8. I am not sure if he has any impaction prior to neutering to be honest.

Hamish was an intact piggy who had impaction for the last year of his life. I think this was down to old age, loss of mobility through arthritis and possibly dietary issues through dental problems.

Current impacted pig Fernando is about 4 and has quite substantial impaction. He is a beefy pig with a very slack bum bless him. He’s going to be neutered soon but this is because we’re going to move into the territory of having sows around. I am not sure neutering will make much difference to his impaction.