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Overnight neuter procedure

mochalily2020

mochalily2020

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hi everyone,

My male piggie is due to be neutered this coming week and the vet had recommended he spend the night at their practice. However, when I asked if there is anyone there at night she said no which made me a little anxious because this means that from 9pm-6am there will be nobody there to check on him in case something goes wrong.

I was thinking to bring him home overnight and bring him back to them in the morning. I was wondering if anyone has any opinion regarding the matter? I am a little stressed about having him home since I don't know all the procedures to take care of him right after surgery.

Any tip or experience would be greatly appreciated
 
weepweeps said:
If there’s going to be no one there, I agree there’s not much point! Did they say why they want him to stay in? Bit odd.
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Exactly. It's very strange.. they said there would be a camera there but I don't feel comfortable with that because what is the point.. The vet understoof my concerns but was not willing to change things.
 
Wiebke said:
That is odd. Normally a piggy can stay on at the clinic if there is overnight nurse cover but what is their reasoning for leaving a freshly operated piggy without somebody to check on them at the clinic?
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Exactly.. That's what I said. It's very irritating. When I was living in the UK I knew a good exotic vet that I trusted but since moving here everything is new so it's a little stressful. Have you had any experience with freshly neutered piggies?
 
Vegetable_Monster said:
That is pointless with their being no nurse on night shift. I used to leave one of my pigs in the vets overnight because they were a 24 hour vet with multiple nurses on watch. I'd bring him home, less stress as well for him. Atleast if he needs syringe feeding you can do something rather than nothing.

Another thing is, they might add to the bill by keeping him in overnight.
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You're right. I hadn't even thought about that I will make sure to check the estimate they gave which was already quite steep and ask them to remove the overnight stay since there will be nobody there
 
Oh dear, doesnt sound right at all, most piggies come home a few hours after their neutering and then pop back 2 or 3 days later for a check up if they are doing well at home... surely though this is your decision not up to the vet? I think most vets would agree though that unless a piggy is very unwell with complications they are much happier and more relaxed recovering at home after surgery anyway...
 
INSIST that your piggy comes home with you after his surgery so long as he has no complications and if he did would there be anyone willing to stay at the vets to look after him? Surely he would be better off at home with you to look after him properly. A camera is no good. Very often a piggy will hide anything that's amiss that only somebody who was physically there would pick up on.
 
mochalily2020 said:
Exactly.. That's what I said. It's very irritating. When I was living in the UK I knew a good exotic vet that I trusted but since moving here everything is new so it's a little stressful. Have you had any experience with freshly neutered piggies?
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Yes, I have although my last two neuters with a very experienced vet have gone without a hitch (as have my five spaying ops on mostly older sows by the same vet). But I have had enough rough post-op rides in older times.

Recovery from GA and the operation is the same as after any operation under full sedation. For specific post-op neutering complications, please read the relevant chapter in our neutering guide. I have tried to list as much practical and detailed information as possible.

You can find our general post-op care advice and specific post-neutering op advice in these two links here.
Tips For Post-operative Care
Neutering operations: Considerations, post-op care and a successful recovery example
 
Wiebke said:
Yes, I have although my last two neuters with a very experienced vet have gone without a hitch (as have my five spaying ops on mostly older sows by the same vet). But I have had enough rough post-op rides in older times.

Recovery from GA and the operation is the same as after any operation under full sedation. For specific post-op neutering complications, please read the relevant chapter in our neutering guide. I have tried to list as much practical and detailed information as possible.

You can find our general post-op care advice and specific post-neutering op advice in these two links here.
Tips For Post-operative Care
Neutering operations: Considerations, post-op care and a successful recovery example
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I just went over the articles thank you for sharing it will be good to know as much as possible for when he comes back home
 
Hey everyone,

Just picked Oreo up from the vet after his neuter. I wanted to check with you if this is normal behaviour after such a procedure.

He walked out of his carrier and went into his house but he is completely out of it he is in full on zombie mode. For our girls they always stayed overnight at the vet after surgeries so we would only see them the next day.

if anyone has witnessed this please let me know
 
I've had a boar neutered, a sow ovary removal and a sow big tumour removal op and all 3 were pretty dopey for one or two days afterwards, and just wanted to sleep it off. The boar ate enough, the big cancer op I syringe fed afterwards, can't remember about the other one.
Fingers crossed for his recovery.
 
Black piggies said:
I've had a boar neutered, a sow ovary removal and a sow big tumour removal op and all 3 were pretty dopey for one or two days afterwards, and just wanted to sleep it off. The boar ate enough, the big cancer op I syringe fed afterwards, can't remember about the other one.
Fingers crossed for his recovery.
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Thank you! I will keep you guys posted on this thread for now we are just syringe feeding him as he is really not interested in food but it's just the first night so hopefully by tomorrow he is a little better
 
After Betsy had her spay she was a high as a kite for at least the first 12 hours after her op. It was hard work getting any syringe food into her but I knew it was important so I persisted. Then it was super speed feed mode! She didn't even chew the syringe food it was straight down and on with the next syringe full. I have never syringe fed a piggy so fast. I'm talking 18ml in 5 minutes here. I was so pleased when she started eating for herself again after about 2 days of speed syringe feeding.
 
mochalily2020 said:
Hey everyone,

Just picked Oreo up from the vet after his neuter. I wanted to check with you if this is normal behaviour after such a procedure.

He walked out of his carrier and went into his house but he is completely out of it he is in full on zombie mode. For our girls they always stayed overnight at the vet after surgeries so we would only see them the next day.

if anyone has witnessed this please let me know
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Hi!

Please read our post-op care guide: Tips For Post-operative Care


Just let Oreo sleep it off as much as possible but step in with feeding support if he is not eating or drinking at all; little but often (ca. 5 ml every 2 hours if getting food into him is a struggle and also offer some water via syringe; adjust the plunging speed to what he can cope with and never put more than 0.3 ml into his mouth at once), including during the night. You are aiming at a sustenance level of 40-60 ml in 24 hours to keep him going. If he is eating on his own and you can get 10-15 ml in per session, then you are aiming at 60-90 ml in that time.
Reactions to GA can vary enormously; you have to ride that tiger.
Not Eating, Weight Loss And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
ment.168403/
Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment

How To Pick Up And Weigh Your Guinea Pigs Safely
Weight - Monitoring and Management

All the best. Your good home care can make a real difference.
If Oreo is having a rough recovery, he can lose up to 100-150g; your feeding support can mitigate that and he will pick it up again some weeks down the line. Contact your vet if he is still not very bright and apathetic by tomorrow morning.
 
Hope that Oreo is soon peeking up after his surgery once the anaesthetic has worn off.
 
Hey everyone,

Thank you for all your kind wishes and tips I really appreciate it.
Update: Oreo is out of his zombie mode I think it mustve been the medication and he was probably also quite stressed out. He is now recovering well, he still stays mainly in his house so I'm letting him be for now so he recovers well but he comes out to eat his food and hay. He is more interested in veggies for the time being but he is doing a lot better hopefully the recovery keeps going well. His wound looks good too but when I hold him I notice a transparent liquid but it is not urine because he isnt peeing while I hold but have any of you guys experienced this?
 
mochalily2020 said:
Hey everyone,

Thank you for all your kind wishes and tips I really appreciate it.
Update: Oreo is out of his zombie mode I think it mustve been the medication and he was probably also quite stressed out. He is now recovering well, he still stays mainly in his house so I'm letting him be for now so he recovers well but he comes out to eat his food and hay. He is more interested in veggies for the time being but he is doing a lot better hopefully the recovery keeps going well. His wound looks good too but when I hold him I notice a transparent liquid but it is not urine because he isnt peeing while I hold but have any of you guys experienced this?
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It can be a fluid build up under the skin which usually goes away on its own; however, it should not drain through the skin. Please contact your vet if you have any worries.

'Zombie mode' should stop once the operation drugs, especially the one for general anaesthesia, have worn off, so I am glad that he is past that now.
 
Wiebke said:
It can be a fluid build up under the skin which usually goes away on its own; however, it should not drain through the skin. Please contact your vet if you have any worries.

'Zombie mode' should stop once the operation drugs, especially the one for general anaesthesia, have worn off, so I am glad that he is past that now.
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Great thank you I am monitoring him closely and will call the vet tomorrow to let her know about the fluid if it persists.
Thanks for all the help
 
hey everyone,

quick update on Oreo, he is recovering well and is really active and eating nicely. However his wound is a little swollen. Tomorrow will mark two weeks since his neutering I was wondering if anyone can give me any insight as to whether the following images look normal? Today I iced his wound a little and it seemed to help with the swelling he did secrete a tiny bit of a brown liquid though
 

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When is his follow up appointment with the vet?
I would definitely contact them if he has some new swelling in the area.
Is he still on antibiotics?

And I probably wouldn't use ice on delicate piggy skin.
Maybe a cool damp wash cloth, but in the case of swelling I would call the vet and ask them.
 
Very glad that he is better but any new swelling needs to be seen by a vet.

You are now coming to the time where abscesses and infections can form most commonly and want to make sure that you act promptly, just in case. It is always better to be safe than sorry.
 
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