• Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

Need some tips on taking care of neutered guinea pigs

Cherry Berry

Cherry Berry

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Dec 5, 2019
Messages
140
Reaction score
69
Points
235
Location
United Kingdom
Hi Guinea Pig Parents,

I hope you and your piggies are doing great.

My two Guinea Pig boys, Cherry and Berry will be neutered next week. After the neutering, they would be separated for two weeks to avoid any injuries.
I had a few questions.

How often should I be doing the full cage cleaning? Should it be twice a week or weekly once?
Should I avoid picking up neutered pigs for some time?
Are there any changes required in their diet?

Best wishes,
 
Cherry Berry said:
Hi Guinea Pig Parents,

I hope you and your piggies are doing great.

My two Guinea Pig boys, Cherry and Berry will be neutered next week. After the neutering, they would be separated for two weeks to avoid any injuries.
I had a few questions.

How often should I be doing the full cage cleaning? Should it be twice a week or weekly once?
Should I avoid picking up neutered pigs for some time?
Are there any changes required in their diet?

Best wishes,
Click to expand...

Hi

May I ask for what reason you are having your two boys neutered?

You do not need to separate stably bonded piggies unless one of them is really poorly; it is rather stressful for them and they will not hurt each other.
There are no differences in care and diet needed if all goes well; because in the best case your boys carry on as if nothing has happened. They may be a bit sore on the day after the op when the cocktail has worn off but that is about it.

Just clean daily for the first 2-3 days but it depends on the operation method.

Please take the time to read these very practical and detailed links; you should find them very helpful:
Neutered / De-sexed Boars And Neutering Operations: Myths, Facts and Post-op Care

These links here are for the case it doesn't go quite smoothly but also how you can prepare at home before any op:
Tips For Post-operative Care
Emergency and Crisis Care as well as Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
 
I would agree about not separating them - this will just cause anxiety and unnecessary stress for them.
You also run the very real risk of them not going back together afterwards, which would be a shame if they are a happily bonded pair.
Did you vet tell you that had to be separated?
 
I am getting them neutered as the plan is to separate them next year and bond them with female guinea pigs.
They are a happily bonded pair but it was a long-time plan to have them neutered and bond them with females.
The vet advised me to separate them for two weeks to avoid injuries.
 
Cherry Berry said:
I am getting them neutered as the plan is to separate them next year and bond them with female guinea pigs.
They are a happily bonded pair but it was a long-time plan to have them neutered and bond them with females.
The vet advised me to separate them for two weeks to avoid injuries.
Click to expand...
Is your vet experienced with guinea pigs?
One key question to ask would be how often they neuter males?
Unless one of them has an issue after the procedure then they really don't need to be separated.
 
Cherry Berry said:
I am getting them neutered as the plan is to separate them next year and bond them with female guinea pigs.
They are a happily bonded pair but it was a long-time plan to have them neutered and bond them with females.
The vet advised me to separate them for two weeks to avoid injuries.
Click to expand...
I am taking them to the vets recommended by the forum Mark from Anne Nelson Vets and apparently he does operate on small animals frequently. I am concerned too about separating them but I am also scared of them injuring each other so need some guidance on that
 
Also, that's their cage as you can see it has two levels which they jump on would it better to change to a temporary cage with no levels to avoid unnecessary pain or stress?
Screenshot 2022-11-08 at 23.28.13.webp
 
Cherry Berry said:
Also, that's their cage as you can see it has two levels which they jump on would it better to change to a temporary cage with no levels to avoid unnecessary pain or stress?
View attachment 214215
Click to expand...

One level would be better, hopefully just for the first few days. But you have to take that as it goes and adapt to how well they are doing post op and during their recovery. There is no firm set of rules as it all depends on how they bounce back and you have to deal with it accordingly.

The guide links in my first post cover specifically what to look out for in boars post-op and some very practical post-op care tips for the first night and when things don't go quite to plan.
 
Wiebke said:
One level would be better, hopefully just for the first few days. But you have to take that as it goes and adapt to how well they are doing post op and during their recovery. There is no firm set of rules as it all depends on how they bounce back and you have to deal with it accordingly.

The guide links in my first post cover specifically what to look out for in boars post-op and some very practical post-op care tips for the first night and when things don't go quite to plan.
Click to expand...
Hi,

Thanks for the advice. I will either shift them to a temporary cage or block the levels for the first few days.
I will go through the guides too.
They both would be neutered on the same day so they both would be affected by anaesthesia, would it be still better to keep them together in one cage as they are happily bounded pair however Cherry is a bit grumpy haha.

Best wishes
 
Good luck with the neutering. I hope they both have a speedy recovery.
 
I hope the operations go well, it’s my vet recommendation you are going to, you are in good hands surgery wise!
 
Cherry Berry said:
Hi,

Thanks for the advice. I will either shift them to a temporary cage or block the levels for the first few days.
I will go through the guides too.
They both would be neutered on the same day so they both would be affected by anaesthesia, would it be still better to keep them together in one cage as they are happily bounded pair however Cherry is a bit grumpy haha.

Best wishes
Click to expand...
Please keep them together as long as they are fine. Only separate if there are medical or behavioural problems. Companionship during recovery does help.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top