Post Neutering Care

[ImmyJ]

Hiya! I have 5 girl pigs and just one male, so I’m neutering my male tomorrow so he’s able to live in my cage of 3 girls!(the other cage of 2 has a “lethal pig” in so gets very confused when i add more pigs, which is why they’re not all in together)
I know i have to wait 6 weeks before moving him into the girls, but how do i care for him after his op? I know the vet will tell me stuff about cleaning etc etc, but i want to set up his cage now
He currently lives outside on wood shaving with a grass run but i’ve heard he can’t live on this on his fresh wound
I will therefore put him on fleece but does that mean i have to move him inside? i’d love to be able to keep him outside because he loves his grass a lot
thanks for your help

 

[Piggies&buns]

I would highly recommend you bring him indoors for a few days/week post op in any event so you can keep a closer eye on him, make sure he is eating (syringe feed if necessary) and is kept at a comfortable temperature. I would not put him on grass until the vet has done his post op check and confirmed everything is healing well.
You are right , being on shavings post op is not a good idea - he will need to be kept on fleece until the wound has healed.

Tips For Post-operative Care

 

[Merab]

Hope all goes well with the neutering.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi!

Please move any post-op guinea pig indoors until you are sure that they are recovering well and are back to normal.

Your boy can spend his 6 weeks post-op wait in an adjoining cage to the sows so that they can get to know each other and make friends through the bars, which helps with acceptance once he is 100% safe to meet the girls. The little baby in my avatar picture on the left is the surprise legacy from a supposedly safe over 5 weeks post-op boar (not one of my mine), just to prove that point. Our recommendations follow RSPCA welfare practice.

What is vital if you do this is that he cannot climb, jump or wiggle out of his own cage to get into the sow cage when one of them is in season. Boars are amazingly determined and surprisingly athletic. A smaller traditional cage from the local free-ads will do.

Here is our detailed post-op care advice:
- Post-op care specific (what you can do and need to look out for generally)
- Neutered / De-sexed Boars And Neutering Operations: Myths, Facts and Post-op Care (for neutering specific complications and care advice)
- Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics

 

[ImmyJ]

Thank you for all your advice! His outdoor hutch is also currently next to the girls he will be living with anyway so he’s already used to them! I will bring him indoors