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What are your views on neutering?

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abby

I have 2 males and 2 females living in same sex pairs, but i can't help thinking how nice it would be if they all lived together, what are peoples views on neutering? They are around 16 mnths old, not sure of exact age as i haven't had them from babies. I don't want to do it if it's a risk.
 
Hi Abby,

Not sure you would get two males to live with two females to be honest. I think they would fight for dominance and for the affections of the ladies. Neutering doesn't change their behaviour in that way.

My thiinking is if it isn't broke why fix it? Guinea Pigs are like lions, one male and a load of females, I really don't think two each would work.

Louise
:)
 
Neutering is a risky op and personally I wouldn't put piggies through it unless it was necessary. You have 2 happy pairs so i would live it as that. I also agree with SunshineAndTwinkle and don't think two males will get on if they are put with females.
 
SunshineAndTwinkle said:
Hi Abby,

Neutering doesn't change their behaviour in that way.
My thiinking is if it isn't broke why fix it? Guinea Pigs are like lions, one male and a load of females, I really don't think two each would work.

Louise
:)
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O0 I agree totally
 
OK, scrap that idea then! I'll leave them in their happy pairs, thanks for the advice. :)
 
Oh no i thought it was a routine op. :-\
I wanted to get two of males neutered so they could live with females, but separately. One was going to my niece but if i put him through the op and he dies she and i will be heartbroken! I dont know what to do now!?

I previously had two males (years ago) and the petshop told me if i had two boars they HAD to be neutered so we did and they were fine. I also heard that it lowers their life span?
 
the pet shop were wrong if they told you two boys together needed to be neutered I'm afraid :-\

it doesnt make a difference in their behaviour whatsoever as far as I'm aware anyway.

i think many people on here have boy pairs that arent neutered, mine arent
 
Neutering is risky but if you have a very good vet it can be done without problems. I personally wouldnt buy a boy with the intention of neutering, just because there's a risk. I dont think it alters there behaviour at all but a lot of people kep boars together with no problems, there's no reason why boars cant be bonded, its just finding the right two that will get on x
 
Yer i know they were wrong, it was P@home! I have males together that arent neutered but because i have to give most of my pigs away becuase of family problems there is one male that i cant give up so i want to keep him but with females rather than on his own.
 
Hayley, In my opinion each guinea pig (pair of) are individual. To me it is an easy op and not too invasive- there are always risks but if you choose a surgeon that does castrates regularly with success (and success means they are well almost immediately after the op and don't take days to recover, in my book) as well of course as surving the op :)

I have a vet that uses the right pain killers at the right dose given at the right time (this can help greatly with post op recovery sometimes), they use the safer method, (though the other method isn't exactly dangerous- just more of a risk).

The nurses know what to do with unwell post op pigs.

I've got 2 pigs booked in this wheek for castrates because they won't pair up and one has been passed over because the person needed a castrated boar to go with her sow and at the minute I don't have any! Unfortunately her sow and my sows didn't hit it off!

Just choose your surgeon carefully :)
 
Could you tell me where this vets is? I live in slough and i wouldnt mind travelling to reading if you trust them!
 
Its Jenny Towers of Active VetCare, School Road. I'll PM you her phone number (the surgery one). She's doing my boys on Tuesday.
 
Hi Karen, can i ask which is the safer method of castration and which is more risky and why its more risky? Just out of curiosity because i'd find it interesting to know which Ralfie had before i got him, i know he had stitches rather than glue? Thanks xx
 
The closed method is safer, I've had it explained but retention isn't my strong point ::) I also believe that Rimadyl before an op is a great help when piggies have general anaesthetics.

Ours always have glue so don't have to go back for stitches out. I think there are so many variations on the op as well that the only thing you can do is find one who has lots of success.
 
O right ok lol! I only know he had stitches because she told me when he had them out :) Good luck with yours hayley hope it all goes well whatever you decide :) x
 
karenrgpr said:
The closed method is safer, I've had it explained but retention isn't my strong point ::) I also believe that Rimadyl before an op is a great help when piggies have general anaesthetics.

Ours always have glue so don't have to go back for stitches out. I think there are so many variations on the op as well that the only thing you can do is find one who has lots of success.
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What is Rimadyl?
 
I am pro neutering, what I would probably do is have the boys neutered but continue having them live together - but in case they DO fall out in years to come (at which point they might be too old to be neutered) then they could just live with a lady each, rather than sitting alone for the rest of their days.

I have only had positive experiences with neutering, yes there have been some freak accidents reported on this forum, but the percentage is very low... fact is there IS a risk, no operation is risk-free. But the risk is so minimal if you go to a good vet, that I would certainly go for neutering in the interests of my boars. I see it as an investment in their continued happyness for the future - if the boys fall out with each other, it wont matter, they can just live with some girls each, and no harm done. The older a piggy gets the more risky an operation gets, so I would just have it done at a young age just in case, and be done with it.
 
hayleyandjohn said:
karenrgpr said:
The closed method is safer, I've had it explained but retention isn't my strong point ::) I also believe that Rimadyl before an op is a great help when piggies have general anaesthetics.

Ours always have glue so don't have to go back for stitches out. I think there are so many variations on the op as well that the only thing you can do is find one who has lots of success.
Click to expand...

What is Rimadyl?
Click to expand...

Rimadyl is a pain killer :) Anne at O`Mearas, Ewell branch, is an excellent gp vet. Peter Gurney only took his piggies to her. She may be nearer to Slough than Reading is. Just to give you another option :)
 
I phoned the surgery when I was thinking of neutering Timmy and asked that question and yes she does. The local rescues also recommend her for neutering but as you have personal experience of your vet and neutering, that of course is ideal for Hayleyandjohn if she can travel :)
 
Ok thanks!
I have got local vets who did my boys before but that was about 10 yrs ago! When i take my pigs there now when they have been ill now i think they are not very good.
My female rex her head is tilting so took her to the vets and vet took one look, oh i think its an ear infection so gave antibiotics but hasnt cleared up, didnt even look in her ear!Am going to make another appmt with different vet.
And another time took another pig cos has somehting wrong with her eye, was in there 5 mins didnt even put that yellow stuff in gave me eye drops, had to pay £20 for consultation! went bk tried to flush the eye she couldnt do it (had to pay another consultation fee) had to take her back to be anaethetised so they could flush her eye. Still didnt clear up, i have just left it, i think its cataract, she doesnt seem to be in too much pain. I am prob better off doing that rodentology course myself than taking them to the vets!
 
You need to make sure that whatever vets you go to you know who's doing the op. I still write on the bottom of the form: 'only to be performed by...'
 
Wish I could afford to get more of our boys done, would save me have to increase my numbers by getting them youngsters to live with.

I could just move some of our girlies around if more of the boys were neutered.
 
Vicky, I read on here some time back that if you contact the RSPCA, they will give a £15 voucher towards the cost of neutering for each boar. May be worth trying that?
 
In most cases conditions will apply though. Worth asking, don't get me wrong. They'll probably also be bound to a certain vet.
 
karenrgpr said:
You need to make sure that whatever vets you go to you know who's doing the op. I still write on the bottom of the form: 'only to be performed by...'
Click to expand...

I'm defo not takin to my vets anyway!
 
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