What Happens After Neutering A Piggy?

[Squeaky_Ewok]

Hey there!

I am considering getting my gi gi neutered as it would mean more choice in finding him a companion. However I am very very reluctant to do so, and would only be the very last resort. He is a very "get scared easily" piggy. I was just wondering what I would expect after the op was done? Like would it need bandaging? It's an awkward place so I'm a bit confused stupid question I know! xD Would I be given antibiotics? Or would be simple? (I'm guessing no) And also behavior? A bit worried he'd be timid like "omg what have you done to me?!" kinda thing haha

Thanks for any advice!

 

[Sue G]

I'm no expert, and no doubt everyone has different experiences. But I had my Parsley neutered when I had piggies a few years ago, and it was fine. He didn't have stitches, the vet used glue to seal the incision. No bandage. And by the time he came home after the op (on the same day) he was eating, drinking and behaving perfectly normally. I was astonished, I must admit. The first couple of days I was advised to keep him on newspaper (changed frequently) so nothing like bits of hay would get stuck to the wound area. But he was fine - had his post-op checkup a few days later, and was given the all clear.

As I said, I know everybody will have a different story to tell, and I'm sure different vets do things differently - but if you are considering it, why don't you talk it through with your vet first and ask how they perform the procedure.

All the best, whatever you decide.

 

[flintstones]

My Milo was neutered by the rescue but I did pick him up just a few days later. He still had his stitches, I ended up taking him 6 weeks later to another vet to have the stitches removed. Milo is a very happy piggie but he's a bit weird if or not that's down to neutering I'll never know.

Personally, I would try and find a male or a spayed sow(Rugby rescue) is where I got my two from. I've seen a neutering op go wrong when the guinea pig tried to remove his own stitches, he was left with a ghastly wound and required further surgery to remove the nasty abscess he developed the little fellow took weeks to get better. I doubt I'd ever get one of my own done unless medically it was necessary.

The best thing you can do is speak to your vet, read up and make a decision based on the information you find. With all surgery there's a risk unfortunately so no guarantee's. X

 

[Wiebke]

The crucial thing is to find a good vet with lots of experience and a good track record in guinea pig neutering. Otherwise, there is a much higher risk of post op complications and in rare cases even death. With the right vet, this is not very much an issue; after a successful op, a boy should basically just go on as if nothing much had happened. The probably best neutering vet is Simon Maddock at the Cat & Rabbit Care Clinic in Northampton; he's done all the ops for Rugby for well over a decade and has an extremely good track record.
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/guinea-pig-castration-explained.70606/
http://www.cavyspirit.com/neutering.htm

What you need to consider is a full 6 weeks post op wait until your boy is 100% safe to go with a girl or two. My Tegan is the surprise baby courtesy of a supposedly safe, over 5 weeks post op boar (not one of mine) just to prove that particular point. It may be rare at that late stage, but I have heard of several other cases since; as you are playing statistics, it can happen to everyone!

Rngp Welfare in Rugby is the only rescue in the country with a sow spaying policy, but they don't operate over winter and don't have any sows looking for homes at the moment, so you would have to go on a waiting list and be looking at next May or probably later as sows are coming into rescue.
Most good rescues in the Midlands have a boar neutering policy.

 

[Squeaky_Ewok]

Thanks for the reply and advice everyone! Well my gi gi is insured with my local vets called the orchard vets.It's not on the vet locator but was wondering anyone heard of it? I do trust them to be experienced as I've had previous pets go there but admit never a guinea pig! But then again I was shocked they offered insurance for piggies! When I took him for consultation before getting on the the insurance she seemed friendly and experienced she checked him over thoroughly. I will keep an eye out for a spayed sow even though rare if fate decides to bring me one lol And I think I may have to wait until may ish now as flinstones your horror story has made the decision I think haha
But if anyone here knows anything to say about orchard vets let me know!
If nothing comes up he'll have to wait until may, he has waited this long so I'm sure he won't mind having his cage to himself before he has to share haha!
Thank you!

 

[Stewybus]

Advice I would add are you could check the vet locator at top of page for piggy savvy vet in your area. or check the rescue locator also at top of page. The reason I mention the rescue locator is that you could ask them who they get their boars neutered with.

As far as post op treatment, if you get a good vet, then there's nothing really to do. I've looked after 5 neutered piggies in last 4 months and there were no problems at all. These ranged from under 6 months old to over 3 years old.

 

[Amanda1801]

All of my males have been neutered - at one point I even had 3 neutered males living together!

It's not without its risks though. Of my 5 neutered males I've had over the years, only one had a problem - he had post-neuter abscesses in his scrotal area - the first appeared 6 weeks after neutering, the last appeared a massive 6 months after! The last one had to be surgically removed at a cost of around £850. He's fine now, but I'm still very vigilant.