Introducing 2 Boars And 1 Sow

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KCP Piggies

KCP Piggies

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About 3 months ago I adopted 3 Guinea pigs from a local animal shelter. They were housed separate then and still are now but after speaking with the vet this evening I'm thinking about trying to integrate them together. Has anyone got any experience of 2 boars living with one sow? Any piggies I've had before were always female so no issues keeping together. I'd get the 2 boys neutered but I'm concerned they might not get on, they came to the animal shelter as a pair and had been housed together before but separated due to fighting. Very confused but just want the best for the piggies. All thoughts welcomed.
 
This won't work - the boars will fight over the sow.
 
That was my thoughts! The vet kept telling me that if neutered they'd be fine but it really doesn't feel right to me. I hate them being in separate cages but don't feel like I really have an option with the hand I'm dealt. Where they are now is so much better than where they were in the animal shelter, I just couldn't leave them there but the vet has made me feel like the worst piggie mum in the world tonight by saying it's cruel not having all 3 in together.
 
you can only put one neutered boar in with sow/sows or they will fight . Some even fight when in same room as girls.
 
I wouldn't put the 2 boars in with the sow even neutered. If they haven't been neutered yet, you'll have a 6 week wait anyway before attempting to pair the sow up with a boar.
Do you know if was a full on fight that they had before ie blood was drawn? If that has happened then they have an uneasy bond. Have the sow housed away from them as the scent could break the bond they have.
The vet you saw gave bad advice and I'd not go back if he/she didn't know the basic advice on what not to do when housing guinea pigs. Yes they do need a friend but don't just put any guinea pig's together :eek:

By the way, you did a good job rescuing them to care for them yourself :nod:
 
Thanks! I just want to make sure they have the best. This is the first time I've saw this vet and he won't be top of the list again. He also tried to tell me they are best left alone and not disturbed or brought out of cages which I know isn't true, the two boys popcorn when they know they are being lifted for lap time and love it. Poppy the sow was very badly treated and malnourished when we got her, I've always thought one of the boys (neutered) living with her might help her to be more settled. Maybe I need to pair her and get another female for the second boar. Is it fair to have them alone?
 
Meant to add, limited history on the boys but both have tears on their ears. Had their cages close by one night to see and they were going crazy to get at each other so I don't think there is any bond at all.
 
[QUOTE="KCP Piggies, post: 1924911, member: 122152] Maybe I need to pair her and get another female for the second boar. Is it fair to have them alone?[/QUOTE]

That would be awesome for all of them :luv:
Keep the boar's cages close to the sow after they have been neutered for interaction.
 
Do any of you have experience with neutered boars? Is their recovery tough and will they make it through the op? One of them had pneumonia within days of leaving the animal shelter and I am always wary of his health now.
 
KCP Piggies said:
Do any of you have experience with neutered boars? Is their recovery tough and will they make it through the op? One of them had pneumonia within days of leaving the animal shelter and I am always wary of his health now.
Click to expand...

It very much depends on the quality of the operating vet and the recovery nursing team. Operation methods have changed and are generally less intrusive with smaller openings.

Ideally, a boar behaves like nothing untowards has happened with a really good vet with a near perfect success rate to being very poorly post-op. Most boars are somewhere in between and the majority makes a good recovery.
The most common post-op complication with boar neutering are abscesses in the groin area. Please check daily for the first 2 weeks, then 2-3 times weekly afterwards and have any swelling seen promptly, whether it is an absscess or something else.

Please take the time to read these links here, so you are prepared and know what to do in case things don't quite go to plan.
Guinea pig castration explained (only if you can stand some graphic details!)
Tips For Post-operative Care
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

Of the last 6 neutered rescue boars I have had, one ended up with a persistent abscess which required a second operation. It put his adoption on hold for a couple of weeks. However, Bedo has made a very quick recovery, has been perfectly healthy for nearly three years now and is still going strong at around 4 years of age.

My worst experience was with Hywel, who was neutered by a short-lived local rescue nearly 6 years ago that used a general vets around corner - BIG mistake!
Hywel came here during his recovery as soon as his Tribe predecessor had passed away from cancer. He ended up with very unusual complications which plainly surpassed the operating vets' abilities and knowledge, but with the help of experienced forum people and with round the clock nursing care, we got him through the crucial weekend until he could be seen by a piggy savvy vet in another town; that was at a time when out-of-hours services were still very haphazard, as were operating methods.
Despite nearly dying, Hywel did make a good recovery and went on to enjoy the happiest of boar lives as leader of up to 13 sows for 5 1/2 years, passing away shortly before his 7th birthday in September. ;)

It is always harder when it is an elective operation as you feel any guilt more when things don't go well. However, seeing how happy all my "husboars" are, it is very much worth it, as any husboar owner can tell you.
 
Thanks all. I think it's just that! I feel so guilty for putting them up for an elective surgery and my fear is it goes wrong or that the boar and sow don't get on! They've all had such a horrid life so far I just really want them to be happy now . . . the dramas of being a piggie mum!
 
ive had 6 male piggies neutered by an exotic vet ,mine have not had a ny complications,they have all lived very happily with sows,usually the best pairings.ive also adopted three rescue male piggies that are neutered,this takes the stress out of coping ith pre and post operative care.neutering does not change a piggies behaviour.i had two piggies from PAH, male,whom had a full on bloody fight,thats when i decided to get them neutered and get a female for each.Be careful because it can get addictive,you can add sows to one neutered boar,but not another male with more females.two males can live together if compatible.you have had some good advise.good luck,please keep us informed of your plans.:)
 
PS: Please be aware that you need to factor in a 6 weeks post-op safety wait. My Tegan is the unplanned gift from a supposedly safe over 5 weeks post-up rescue boar (not one of mine), so it can really happen as late as that. However, I have never heard of any accidents after 6 weeks despite most good UK rescues with a neutering policy - and it would make the rounds like wildfire in rescue circles, believe me!

You can let live your boys side by side with their lady during the wait, so they get to know each other and can make friends through the bars. It generally makes intros easier. Younger sows are usually accepting of a neutered boy unless they have very traumatic experiences; baby girls under 4 months will generally just go with a boar. Older sows can be more hit-and-miss!
In the case of cross gender pairings, you are working very much with their own instincts and urges instead of against them. Try to pair up the more dominant from each gender with the more submissive one from the other gender first. Always start with the most dominant piggy, as that is likely the most difficult to bond.
Illustrated Bonding Behaviours And Dynamics
 
I've had 5 neutered boys (all at different times) each living with 2-3 girls. No issues with the neutering as it was done by an experienced vet while they were in rescue. The boys all happily settled with their ladies within 1-2wks and made very harmonious little groups. I think that if you find your lads the right lady to live with them, they would feel the neutering was worth it :love::love:
 
I have had 3 sows spayed and this is considered to be a much more invasive and riskier operation than neutering - in my case I have an extremely piggy savvy vet (who has done loads of spays and spays her own guinea pigs ) and chose to have my sow spayed as she was 12 weeks old when I got her and her intended husboar was 4 weeks old - I would have had to wait until my boar was 6 months old and then wait for another 6 weeks - so basically I would have had to wait for 6 months to put them together, or I could wait for 4 weeks with a 10 day healing period and have my sow spayed, which would also prevent future ovarian cysts (which both my older sows had and therefore both needed to be spayed at the age of 5 ) and it also helps to prevent mammary cancer and uterine cancer - so if you can find a good vet who has done plenty of neutering your piggies should be fine.
 
Thanks everyone, really helpful advice and guidance. Great being able to find like minded piggie parents, my friends all think I'm nuts. I've managed to find an exotic pet vet close by and will call tomorrow to find out about neutering the boys. Do you think I'll have issues pairing the sow with a male, little known about her history but the animal shelter thought all the pigs were about 2 years of age and they've always lived alone.
 
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