Impaction And Neutering

[KathT]

I have a three year old boar who suffers impactions about twice a week. I have managed to reduce the size of the impactions by regulation of diet as I think I was previously overfeeding him veggies. He has lost a little weight as part of the new regime, which I expected, and has now levelled out. He is in good general health, eating well and whilst he does run around a bit when given floor time, he spends most of it splatted out sleeping somewhere! I have read the forum information sheet on neutering and impaction, so am unsure of what to do. Do you think the would benefit (impaction wise) from being neutered? I understand that the anal sac will reduce in size once he has been done but is he too old now for it to make much of a difference? Any advice gladly received.

 

[Wiebke]

I have a three year old boar who suffers impactions about twice a week. I have managed to reduce the size of the impactions by regulation of diet as I think I was previously overfeeding him veggies. He has lost a little weight as part of the new regime, which I expected, and has now levelled out. He is in good general health, eating well and whilst he does run around a bit when given floor time, he spends most of it splatted out sleeping somewhere! I have read the forum information sheet on neutering and impaction, so am unsure of what to do. Do you think the would benefit (impaction wise) from being neutered? I understand that the anal sac will reduce in size once he has been done but is he too old now for it to make much of a difference? Any advice gladly received.

The anal sac will contract at any age, but it is not going to eliminate impaction; two of my own neutered boars suffer/have suffered from it nevertheless. It just reduces the amount of built-up caecotrophs, but does nothing for the muscle strength that push out the poos.

I would strongly recommend that you discuss the pros and cons with a vet that you trust before committing.

 

[KathT]

Thanks Wiebke. I don’t want to put him through an op unnecessarily so will discuss it with my vet.