What is neutering?
Neutering involves the surgical removal of a guinea pig’s reproductive system. This makes it impossible for that guinea pig to reproduce. Usually a sow will have her ovaries and womb removed. Boars usually have their testicles removed. One benefit of neutering is that unwanted and accidental pregnancies can be prevented. It also means that mixed sex guinea pigs can live together (e.g., a boar with a group of sows).
Neutered boars at NEGPR
Many of the lone boars at NEGPR are neutered. This is typically mature or adolescent males who arrive at the rescue on their own. It is possible to pair these boars with baby boars. However, we rarely have baby boars in rescue to bond with these lone boars. Therefore, we have them neutered so that they can be paired up with sows or join groups of sows. This means they spend less time waiting in rescue for a home and improves their quality of life as they are no longer being kept in solitude.
Benefits of neutering boars
The only real benefit is that he can live with a sow or group of sows and not reproduce. Introducing a neutered boar to a group of sows or a single sow usually works well. In their natural environment guinea pigs would live in small groups with one boar and a group of females. Boars are usually happy living this way and it is interesting to see the group dynamics. Boars can often have a stabilising influence on a group of volatile females, helping to reduce squabbles.
Getting your boar neutered
If you have a lone boar and would like him to join a sow, he will need to be neutered. This is a good option if you would like to have a larger group of guineas, as you can introduce more than one sow to live with him. If you have a healthy boar and use an experienced vet, the risks of neutering are low.
Experienced Vets
If you are going to get your boar neutered please ensure you use an experienced vet who routinely castrates guinea pigs. Please talk to your vet about how often they have done the procedure in the past 6 months and how may of the guinea pigs they castrated survived post-castration. Also ask them if any of them developed post-castrate complications.
The typical price for a castration (male neutering) is £50 and spaying (female neutering) is £65
The vet I would recommend for castration is Judith at First Vets based in Forest Hall. She is experienced and competent with guinea pig castration. She is the vet who neuters our boars. 81 Station Road, Forest Hall, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne And Wear NE12 8AQ Tel: 0191 266 6286. Alternatively, Deborah Stafford at Gilmoor Vets in Gilesgate had also neutered some of our boars and is reputable. 39 Sunderland Road, Durham, DH1 2LG. 0191 386 4477
Like all anaesthetics, neutering does have risks. These must be weighed against the health of the guinea pig and the improvement in his quality of life if he were neutered.
Neutering sows
It is uncommon to neuter sows routinely. The procedure is far more invasive and therefore it is not recommended to put sows through this operation unless it is really necessary (e.g., for medical reasons). However, not everyone would agree with this and there are some rescues that neuter female guinea pigs routinely.
A spayed sow will not get ovarian cysts or ovarian tumours which is a potential health benefit but must be weighed against the risks of neutering.
We do have neutered sows in rescue from time to time. But this is very rare. Again the only vet I would recommend to carry this out is Judith at First Vets.
Myths about neutering
Neutering will NOT change a boars behaviour. Therefore, it will not stop him fighting with another boar. The only reason to neuter a boar is if he is to join a sow or it is anticipated that he will join sows in the future (e.g., if a boar companion dies).
It is also not going to ‘psychologically’ damage him. He will not be aware of what the operation did to him so will not feel that his ‘masculinity’ has been compromised. He will be very happy to have a girlfriend. His new companion will also not be aware he has been neutered and nor will any other guinea pigs so please do not worry about this as it is not going to be an issue for him.
Risks of neutering
There is always a risk when neutering a guinea pig. But these can be reduced if the boar is young and healthy and if an experienced vet is used.
In extreme circumstances death may occur either during the procedure or after. Again this is rare but is a risk that must be considered. Post-operation complications may include infections which can in some circumstances lead to abscesses.
Neutering involves the surgical removal of a guinea pig’s reproductive system. This makes it impossible for that guinea pig to reproduce. Usually a sow will have her ovaries and womb removed. Boars usually have their testicles removed. One benefit of neutering is that unwanted and accidental pregnancies can be prevented. It also means that mixed sex guinea pigs can live together (e.g., a boar with a group of sows).
Neutered boars at NEGPR
Many of the lone boars at NEGPR are neutered. This is typically mature or adolescent males who arrive at the rescue on their own. It is possible to pair these boars with baby boars. However, we rarely have baby boars in rescue to bond with these lone boars. Therefore, we have them neutered so that they can be paired up with sows or join groups of sows. This means they spend less time waiting in rescue for a home and improves their quality of life as they are no longer being kept in solitude.
Benefits of neutering boars
The only real benefit is that he can live with a sow or group of sows and not reproduce. Introducing a neutered boar to a group of sows or a single sow usually works well. In their natural environment guinea pigs would live in small groups with one boar and a group of females. Boars are usually happy living this way and it is interesting to see the group dynamics. Boars can often have a stabilising influence on a group of volatile females, helping to reduce squabbles.
Getting your boar neutered
If you have a lone boar and would like him to join a sow, he will need to be neutered. This is a good option if you would like to have a larger group of guineas, as you can introduce more than one sow to live with him. If you have a healthy boar and use an experienced vet, the risks of neutering are low.
Experienced Vets
If you are going to get your boar neutered please ensure you use an experienced vet who routinely castrates guinea pigs. Please talk to your vet about how often they have done the procedure in the past 6 months and how may of the guinea pigs they castrated survived post-castration. Also ask them if any of them developed post-castrate complications.
The typical price for a castration (male neutering) is £50 and spaying (female neutering) is £65
The vet I would recommend for castration is Judith at First Vets based in Forest Hall. She is experienced and competent with guinea pig castration. She is the vet who neuters our boars. 81 Station Road, Forest Hall, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne And Wear NE12 8AQ Tel: 0191 266 6286. Alternatively, Deborah Stafford at Gilmoor Vets in Gilesgate had also neutered some of our boars and is reputable. 39 Sunderland Road, Durham, DH1 2LG. 0191 386 4477
Like all anaesthetics, neutering does have risks. These must be weighed against the health of the guinea pig and the improvement in his quality of life if he were neutered.
Neutering sows
It is uncommon to neuter sows routinely. The procedure is far more invasive and therefore it is not recommended to put sows through this operation unless it is really necessary (e.g., for medical reasons). However, not everyone would agree with this and there are some rescues that neuter female guinea pigs routinely.
A spayed sow will not get ovarian cysts or ovarian tumours which is a potential health benefit but must be weighed against the risks of neutering.
We do have neutered sows in rescue from time to time. But this is very rare. Again the only vet I would recommend to carry this out is Judith at First Vets.
Myths about neutering
Neutering will NOT change a boars behaviour. Therefore, it will not stop him fighting with another boar. The only reason to neuter a boar is if he is to join a sow or it is anticipated that he will join sows in the future (e.g., if a boar companion dies).
It is also not going to ‘psychologically’ damage him. He will not be aware of what the operation did to him so will not feel that his ‘masculinity’ has been compromised. He will be very happy to have a girlfriend. His new companion will also not be aware he has been neutered and nor will any other guinea pigs so please do not worry about this as it is not going to be an issue for him.
Risks of neutering
There is always a risk when neutering a guinea pig. But these can be reduced if the boar is young and healthy and if an experienced vet is used.
In extreme circumstances death may occur either during the procedure or after. Again this is rare but is a risk that must be considered. Post-operation complications may include infections which can in some circumstances lead to abscesses.
