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[Pig crazy]

I really need help and I'm not sure what to do. As you might remember I have three guineas, two sows and a boar. Currently tigger the boat is living alone as he is unneutered and I don't want to add to any problems with the amount of homeless Guineas there are at the moment. I hope this is in the right place but I need advice from experienced owners on what you would do if this was your situation. I'm scared to neuter him but I can't find any spayed females anywhere. Would you neuter? If so which vets do you recommend in north west England? Or what else would you do? Would you leave the girls as an un spayed pair or get another girl or male? I'm really struggling with what I should do. The number of guinea pigs doesn't matter it's how they would be happiest. Tigger was the dominant one with his old boar cagemate so I wouldn't want to put him with another boar. I have questions about cages and housing but I will post that on the appropriate thread. Thank yo for taking the time to read this and I am happy to answer any questions.

 

[Lady Kelly]

How old is Tigger and has he had any health problems previously? The biggest risks with neutering is the anaesthetic, with the risk increasing in older pigs and those with underlying health problems, and post neuter abscesses.

It's worth having a look at the vet locator in the top bar and speaking with a cavy savvy vet in your area about the operation, have Tigger see a vet for a health check and see what they say in regards to risk etc.

 

[Pig crazy]

How old is Tigger and has he had any health problems previously? The biggest risks with neutering is the anaesthetic, with the risk increasing in older pigs and those with underlying health problems, and post neuter abscesses.

It's worth having a look at the vet locator in the top bar and speaking with a cavy savvy vet in your area about the operation, have Tigger see a vet for a health check and see what they say in regards to risk etc.

Thanks for the quick reply! Tigger is only one and a few months so he's quite young as far as I'm aware? They would be going to our regular vets for a checkup before to make sure everything's in order and then we would find a savvy vet if we decide to neuter

 

[flintstones]

If you find an experienced vet, there is no reason why Tigger can't be neutered. I have an intact boar living with a spayed sow, which was ideal at the time but I may well be left with an intact male and no one to bond him with at some point. Now I can't neuter him as he's over 6. If I had this information at the time I do think I would have neutered him but you do have to take the risks associated with neutering.

The more experienced the vet, the better the success rate. Don't be scared to ask vets about there successes and post operation complications ie abscesses. Make sure you have enough funds to afford any post Operation complications also.

The other option is taking your lad boar dating so he can find a suitable companion. If done through a rescue they will allow you to try a few pig's and take them back if they aren't compatible. Although it's time consuming it's cheaper and carries almost no risks.

The 2nd option will be the avenue I'll be exploring if anything happens to his current companion.

 

[Lady Kelly]

I had Peter neutered at a similar age and there were no problems whatsoever. He healed nicely and after the safety period was over he bonded with the girls easily. I had another pig who was supposed to be around 6 months when I got him so was around 1 year when he was neutered (though the size of him and his boar bits when I got him made me suspicious of his actual age - I believe he was older). Buddy developed an abscess and the vet was unsure whether this was from the neutering or not as it was quite deep and therefore well hidden until it became a large size. Unfortunately Buddy survived the operation but didn't make it through the night.

It's always a worry and there is going to be no easy answer to say yes or no. Talk to the vets about their experience of neutering pigs, I would get the cavy savvy vet to do a pre op check up as well to be honest as they will be more knowledgeable about general health and the risks involved. Best of luck in making a decision.

 

[Pig crazy]

If you find an experienced vet, there is no reason why Tigger can't be neutered. I have an intact boar living with a spayed sow, which was ideal at the time but I may well be left with an intact male and no one to bond him with at some point. Now I can't neuter him as he's over 6. If I had this information at the time I do think I would have neutered him but you do have to take the risks associated with neutering.

The more experienced the vet, the better the success rate. Don't be scared to ask vets about there successes and post operation complications ie abscesses. Make sure you have enough funds to afford any post Operation complications also.

The other option is taking your lad boar dating so he can find a suitable companion. If done through a rescue they will allow you to try a few pig's and take them back if they aren't compatible. Although it's time consuming it's cheaper and carries almost no risks.

The 2nd option will be the avenue I'll be exploring if anything happens to his current companion.

Ok thankyou! I will definitely ask about vets and make sure I have everything I need in order to support him if there are any complications. I would like to try dating but many rescues say the boars have to be neutered and I can just tell he will not get along with another male as he bullied the one he was with terribly. If I get him neutered would it be better to take him dating and find him a new female or put him with my girls I already have. I hate having them in pairs because of the stress it causes finding a new mate when one passes away :/ I'm thinking now getting tigger neutered by a savvy vet and taking him dating but maybe also taking the girls dating to find a different neutered boar. Is that a good idea as one of my girls really dislikes tigs so I don't think I could put them together once he's neutered as his behaviour won't change. Many thanks

 

[Pig crazy]

I had Peter neutered at a similar age and there were no problems whatsoever. He healed nicely and after the safety period was over he bonded with the girls easily. I had another pig who was supposed to be around 6 months when I got him so was around 1 year when he was neutered (though the size of him and his boar bits when I got him made me suspicious of his actual age - I believe he was older). Buddy developed an abscess and the vet was unsure whether this was from the neutering or not as it was quite deep and therefore well hidden until it became a large size. Unfortunately Buddy survived the operation but didn't make it through the night.

It's always a worry and there is going to be no easy answer to say yes or no. Talk to the vets about their experience of neutering pigs, I would get the cavy savvy vet to do a pre op check up as well to be honest as they will be more knowledgeable about general health and the risks involved. Best of luck in making a decision.

Ok thankyou so much for all the wonderful help and advice. I'm sorry this happened to you I know there is always a risk so I'm going to read into it carefully and way up the situation X

 

[flintstones]

How do you know your girl really dislikes Tig? I'd be tempted to try him with your girls first if you do neuter him. I have a sow pair which lost there cagemate (neutered boar) recently. Since this my girls have been arguing a lot more I presume over the top spot.

I'm hoping to introduce a new boar at some point, as I to prefer Trio's to avoid having any pig left on there own. Some pig's can go downhill so quickly after another pig passes. I also find it's easier for me as I don't have to adopt another pig straight away.

 

[Kerrie74]

I was going to neuter a boar after he feel out with his cage mate (don't think they were properly bonded to start with, we adopted them) but after speaking to people and finding out the risks I decided against it, it was causing me unnecessary stress as well because I was worrying. He lives next to other guinea and I'm hoping when he's finished his hormonal phase that we can bond him to another boar.

 

[Pig crazy]

T

How do you know your girl really dislikes Tig? I'd be tempted to try him with your girls first if you do neuter him. I have a sow pair which lost there cagemate (neutered boar) recently. Since this my girls have been arguing a lot more I presume over the top spot.

I'm hoping to introduce a new boar at some point, as I to prefer Trio's to avoid having any pig left on there own. Some pig's can go downhill so quickly after another pig passes. I also find it's easier for me as I don't have to adopt another pig straight away.

That's why

How do you know your girl really dislikes Tig? I'd be tempted to try him with your girls first if you do neuter him. I have a sow pair which lost there cagemate (neutered boar) recently. Since this my girls have been arguing a lot more I presume over the top spot.

I'm hoping to introduce a new boar at some point, as I to prefer Trio's to avoid having any pig left on there own. Some pig's can go downhill so quickly after another pig passes. I also find it's easier for me as I don't have to adopt another pig straight away.

that's why I would want to get another with the girls as if one of them passes I don't have to take immediate action. Tigger used to live next door to the girls and they communicated through the bars. Tigger and magic (one of my sows) would constantly happily

 

[Pig crazy]

How do you know your girl really dislikes Tig? I'd be tempted to try him with your girls first if you do neuter him. I have a sow pair which lost there cagemate (neutered boar) recently. Since this my girls have been arguing a lot more I presume over the top spot.

I'm hoping to introduce a new boar at some point, as I to prefer Trio's to avoid having any pig left on there own. Some pig's can go downhill so quickly after another pig passes. I also find it's easier for me as I don't have to adopt another pig straight away.

Sorry my IT skills aren't great! Following on from the half reply above magic and tigger would happily chatter but snowflake would chatter he teeth at him very angrily and push up her shoulders like she was trying to make herself look bigger. When they saw each other and I would try and pick up snowflake she would attack me and run at the bars at tigger and I honestly believe they would have a terrible fight. That would also happen with anything that had tiggers scent on it including my hand if I had touched him she would really attack. :/ that's why I would prefer to get either another sow with my two gals or another neutered boar as its only tigger she absolutely loaths him. Then I am going more towards the neutering route in my head now and I would be wanting another pair of spayed females to live with him to make two trios. I think I would do it in the dating style though with rescue pigs as I really don't want pairs anymore because of the stress it caused me when tiggers friend passed. I'd love your opinion and advice on this idea thankyou!

 

[Tewdric]

Tough decision.

I have been left with a loan boar after his companion had to be pts at only just over a year and a half old due to tumors.

Young Brunel came from a recommended rescue after a boar dating session for the now deceased Telford.

I took Brunel back to the rescue to 'boar date' to find him a new companion as he's not happy on his own. It didn't go well! Five different dates were ended before a fight broke out, with Brunel being the aggressor each time.

so I was left with the choice of waiting for a very, very laid back boar to be handed into the rescue and attempt another dating session, or to neuter. I don't have room to keep two separate pigs next to each other so that wasn't an option.

After much stress and changes of mind I've decided to neuter.

I didn't use my vets, as they're not pig savvy, but used a small animal practice near my parents house when I went to house sit for them whilst they were on holiday. It's been a very stressful two weeks. Making sure he's eating, pooing and that the Op. site looks ok. I never want to have to do it again as I have been very stressed by it all. It'll be two weeks tomorrow since the Op. Fingers crossed all is ok at present. We'll go back to the rescue to find him a friend/friends as soon as it's safe to do so.

Good luck with your decision. I really feel for you.

 

[Pig crazy]

Tough decision.

I have been left with a loan boar after his companion had to be pts at only just over a year and a half old due to tumors.

Young Brunel came from a recommended rescue after a boar dating session for the now deceased Telford.

I took Brunel back to the rescue to 'boar date' to find him a new companion as he's not happy on his own. It didn't go well! Five different dates were ended before a fight broke out, with Brunel being the aggressor each time.

so I was left with the choice of waiting for a very, very laid back boar to be handed into the rescue and attempt another dating session, or to neuter. I don't have room to keep two separate pigs next to each other so that wasn't an option.

After much stress and changes of mind I've decided to neuter.

I didn't use my vets, as they're not pig savvy, but used a small animal practice near my parents house when I went to house sit for them whilst they were on holiday. It's been a very stressful two weeks. Making sure he's eating, pooing and that the Op. site looks ok. I never want to have to do it again as I have been very stressed by it all. It'll be two weeks tomorrow since the Op. Fingers crossed all is ok at present. We'll go back to the rescue to find him a friend/friends as soon as it's safe to do so.

Good luck with your decision. I really feel for you.

Thank you for all the advice, I'm torn but I think I'm going to have to neuter :/ x