I have a few questions on castration and would be grateful for any help or experience people have on this matter. I currently have two boars who live happily together but Toby is fast approaching 6 years old whilst Jack is only about two and a half. Thinking of the future, as I don’t expect Toby to last forever - he has a heart murmur and is a bit doddery, I would like to get two sows next as I prefer them to boars. I would like to get Jack castrated before Toby passes away then he is ready for new companions and won’t have to spend a long time without company or be put through surgery after Toby’s death. Once Jack is castrated, does anyone know if it will affect the relationship my boars have at present? Is Jack too old to be castrated at two and a half? Are their other benefits besides being able to live with sows - I’ve heard it can also help with impaction as the boar gets older - does anyone know if this is true? Any advice on this matter would be gratefully received.
Hi and welcome!
I have been through this last year, and can assure you that neutering does not affect behaviour or the relationship. Ideally you keep the boys together as much as possible during the recovery. My Nosgan even accompanied Nye to the vets; apart from the time on the operation table the boys were together all the time. I can also assure you that Nye went through all the typical phases of the teenage months!
Nosgan is a boar that was neutered by his previous owner after the death of his companion, but failed to bond with either of her sow groups. He also failed to bond with any of my single sows (or in all honesty to show much of an interest in them). But since he was a lot more interactive though the bars with my other boars, I found him little Nye who was a last minute 'freebie' to a free-ads 'free to a good home' collection for a rescue. Since I have a room full of sows and a fair number of 'husboars' I cannot risk any accidents during an unplanned encounter.
As you yourself are computing, it is also making things a lot easier for me to find an internal solution in case Nosgan dies. Thankfully both boys are closely bonded and on the laid-back/non-dominant side and are perfectly fine living next door with some sows.
The crucial part in neutering is finding a vet that is either a general vet experienced in guinea pig neutering (usually for a rescue) or an exotics vet with practice in operating on small furries in order to minimise the risk of post-op complications. I am blessed to have access to one of the best piggy operating vets in the country, so Nye had as smooth and problem-free a recovery as possible - in fact, you wouldn't have noticed that he'd been through an op from his behaviour; he simply picked up where he left.
Here is a little video of Nye on the evening after operation:
And nine days after his op:
Here is more information on the neutering op itself (this is just one of techniques; there are several) and our post-op care guide with practical tips.
Guinea pig castration explained
Tips For Post-operative Care
We may be able to give you tips re. recommended vets if you please added your country, state/province or UK county to your details. Click on your username on the top bar, then go to personal details and scroll down to location. This will make it appear with every post you make and allow us to tailor any recommendations to what is available and relevant where you are, considering we have members and enquiries from all over the world and with very different climate, vet access and brands. Thank you!
