Neutering A Guinea Pig: A Beginners Guide

Guinea pigs are originated from Andes of South America. They are not descendants of pigs, nor they have they originated from Guinea. The name could be misleading. It is a very small pet which can be carried easily. They are widely popular as test subjects for science experiments.

Usually, when one decides to bring in a pet, he has some prior planning and arrangements made for the new addition to the family. The planning might get ruined if the number of pets exceeds his expectation. Thus, it is vital to control the population of pets in your home.

If you have one guinea pig, then this is not a problem for you. The problem will arise once you have more than one guinea pig. Neuter or castration is the procedure by which a domesticated animal's reproduction system is made ineffective.

Why Should You Neuter Your Guinea Pig?

Neutering is one of the best solutions to deactivate the sexuality of your guinea pigs. It will also help if your male guinea pigs are not bonding together.

There is speculation that neutering helps male guinea pigs to change its attitude and find interest in other guinea pigs regardless of their gender.

Steps To Neuter A Guinea Pig:

The first job would be to find a veterinarian for conducting the operation. This is a sophisticated surgery performed on a small and sensitive animal. You should do a background check on the veterinarian before visiting him.
Go to the nearby rescue center. They will be able to give you the best idea about the vet. You can make a list of them. Look for vets that are specialized in small or exotic animals.
Analyze the cost of the surgery. This might be in a range of 50$ to 300$. You should compare and contrast between different prices offered by different veterinarians. The average cost should be around 120$.
Do not opt to save money by looking for a cheap veterinarian. Quality should be prioritized over the prospect of expense.
Also, take other reviews of the vet. Inquire about the care, quality, and hygiene. These are important. Don't go for any vet who has controversy regarding him.
Don't be afraid to ask the doctor about his experience. Know his previous records beforehand. An experienced doctor will be able to tell you whether you should go for castrating or not, the anesthesia that will be used.
To know if the doctor is right or not you need to do a little research by yourself. You should know the risks associated with neutering beforehand.
Research about the assistant of the doctor as well as he is equally important in the procedure.
Four to six weeks prior, start taking care of your guinea pig. Keep it separately. Provide it with clean bedding, fresh water, and a healthy diet. Give special attention to the pet.
You have to measure the weight of your little friend daily. It is to ensure the animal’s good health.
Get a prior checkup with the vet. The vet might run some tests on your pet. It is necessary to understand if the animal is healthy enough to undergo surgery.
Find a suitable date for the surgery. It is essential for you and your pet.
The rest is with your veterinarian.

Post-Surgery Care:

Before you bring your guinea pig back home, you should have an isolated cage for your little cavy. Firstly, it cannot be allowed to mingle with the other cavies. Secondly, it should get some extra attention. Thirdly, keep it away from children at home and noise.
Analyze the eating and drinking habit of your guinea pig and compare it with how it was before surgery.
Feed your guinea pig two hours after the surgery. It might not feel great to eat. But feed it. It will give your cavy energy.
If you notice a drastic change in the food habits of your pet, let your vet know.
Do not let your guinea pig move around right after surgery. Keep it within a boundary. Exposure to the outdoor environment will increase the possibility of infection.
Make sure not to miss the antibiotics of your pet at any time of the day. The doctor will prescribe some antibiotics after the surgery. Follow the prescription as per schedule. Do not give any extra dose of medicine.
The medicine should not be mixed with water.
Provide sufficient water to your pet and make sure to change the water every 3-4 hours.
Give more attention to the bedding. You should not give any wooden and paper bedding. For the first few days, the best bedding would be the towel bedding. Other forms of bedding might not be comfortable. Also, avoid keeping your cavy away from the hay. If you want to get the best odor control bedding for guinea pig, we have an article on that.
Increase the amount of Vitamin C you give your cavy. The amount should be 50-75 mg.
Keep weighing your guinea pig. It is important. The health directly affects the weight of the guinea pig. If anything is wrong the best way to know is from the weight.

The Risks Associated with Neutering

Neutering or castrating is not an entirely safe operation. It is considered very dangerous. The immune system of the pet will get weaker after the surgery. There is also a possibility of exposure to infection.

Age is an essential factor in decision making. You should not go for surgery if your guinea pig is less than 3-4 years.

Advantages of Neutering:

This is one of the most effective ways of controlling the population.
It will have some health effect on the body of the guinea pigs.
Neutering affects the behavior pattern of the animal and makes it more vibrant.

Disadvantages of Neutering:

It has been associated with different diseases.
The behavioral changes are not always positive.

Conclusion

There can be some basic preparations you can have before neutering a guinea pig. Once you decide to do so, you might face problems which you might not be prepared for. The most basic preparation you can take is expanding your level of patience. It is important not only with guinea pigs but with any other pet.