• 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

Unhappy neutered male

R

Rosebud

New Born Pup
Joined
Jul 13, 2023
Messages
39
Reaction score
64
Points
135
Location
Yorkshire
Hi, I need some advice e please.I had my male guinea pig neutered and all went well,however...
He has had his check up with the vet and they are happy with him.Obviously he can't go back with the girls for 6 weeks ,but he is so miserable on his own.He is currently inside with his house and run,but sits in the corner and is eating very little.He gas list some weight.He is pooping and weeing.
What can I do to aid his recovery .
 
Is his cage alongside the girls so they can interact between the bars?
If not, then ensure his cage is secure and put him alongside them. That will go a long way to boosting his mood and will mean they ‘know’ each other prior to being able to be with them
 
He has already been in with the girls,no I'm no a breeder but got them all together a few months ago .The girls are all pregnant by him! So I did put them side by side following his castration but he went absolutely bonkers pulling at the wire constantly with his teeth,desperate to get to them.As the girls are heavily pregnant I didn't want to leave them next to him,not wanting them to get distressed
 
I'm sorry to hear he was missexed and has caused pregnancies.

As they’re pregnant then I'm not sure what applies in terms of their well being. @Wiebke will have a better view on what’s best for everyone
His well-being is that they’d be next to them for interaction.
Is he at least in the same room as them?

Are you keeping all the babies?
 
No he's not in the same room as the girls I could do that but a completely separate cage.
Not keeping all the babies ,will wait yo see the outcome first ,I have a really good set up here tho with cages and runs and lots of space plus time to look after them ,so we'll see
 
I would move him into the same room at least.

It’s also perhaps the case that he won’t be able to go back in them at his six weeks depending on when the babies are due etc.
Again, @Wiebke can advise best on what to do and when he can be introduced back to the girls. It’s going to depend on how many baby boys are born as they will also need to be separated from the sows and would do better to be with him until they are old enough to be rehomed
 
Actually, can I ask, were the girls distressed at all his by cage biting? Or was it that just that he was trying to get to them. If it is only him and the girls weren’t bothered, then there shouldn’t be any reason why he can’t be closer to them. He is going to be anxious to get to them, you will see that kind of behaviour but provided he can’t actually escape his cage, then he will settle down in time once he is used to being near them again.
 
OK thanks again, the girls weren't too bothered actually ,it's just that they are very big so guessing they are near they're time .Have just spoken to the vet nurse (exotics) ,she is having a chat with the vet then getting back to me .
Will let you know what they say
Thanks
 
Yikes, I'm terribly sorry about the situation you've found yourself in. I'd recommend contacting the pet shop you got the piggies from and demanding some compensation in terms of extra hay and cages for the time being, you should be able to enforce your consumer rights as you've been sold a 'faulty product', i.e. a 'female' guinea pig with a penis.

In terms of your boar, how much weight has he lost? Does he seem well in himself otherwise? I don't know whether it would be detrimental to the sows to have him nearby or not, sorry.

The experts will be along soon to give you some great advice regarding your poor sows, but it might help to read these guides in the meantime. You will unfortunately need to become very familiar with them, and forewarned is forearmed.
Pregnancy, Mother & Baby Care Guides

I'm glad you've found the forum anyway. :)
 
Actually I didn't get them from a pet shop and although I'm worried about my boar I'm not too phased.
I'm now waiting for some advice from the vet.
We'll get there ,as I said previously I'm I quite a good position practically for the piggies, just need some support and advice .
Thanks
 
Rosebud said:
He has already been in with the girls,no I'm no a breeder but got them all together a few months ago .The girls are all pregnant by him! So I did put them side by side following his castration but he went absolutely bonkers pulling at the wire constantly with his teeth,desperate to get to them.As the girls are heavily pregnant I didn't want to leave them next to him,not wanting them to get distressed
Click to expand...

Hi

I would still move him into the room so he can start building up some of the calming chemical compound that boars in contact with female pheromones develop over time (not instantly). It means that they are less overreacting when meeting and you will have a great chance of a happy reunion.

Your boy's reaction is what I would expect - he's had all the fun and games and now is he not allowed to get at them... poor chap. This kind of behaviour usually dies down after a couple of days; it may flare up a bit whenever a sow is coming into season.

Depending on the number of baby boys, his first job will be to boar-sit any male youngsters needing separation from the sow group. With several pregnancies, he is likely having to teach them. In that respect, having dad on standby to ease the difficult baby boar separation and to socialise the sub-teenage sons in need of male guidance is actually a boon.
It also leaves you free with the option that if dad won't be accepted back, he can always be paired up with his favourite son for the long term or live safely with a one or a couple of his daughters. Both options augur well for a long term stable bond. ;)

Our very detailed step-by-step bonding guide (always on neutral ground, never just sticking a piggy into a cage) has chapters on group and baby bonding special aspects and dynamics with pictures and some videos.
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics
 
Thankyou so much ,I feel a little less worried .
Have actually moved him into a strong cage near the girls ,seemed happier for a while but now is again subdued ,maybe that should be expected .
Am still waiting for a call from the vet just to see if I need to give him any critical care dietary top ups as he's losing weight 😕.
 
Rosebud said:
Thankyou so much ,I feel a little less worried .
Have actually moved him into a strong cage near the girls ,seemed happier for a while but now is again subdued ,maybe that should be expected .
Am still waiting for a call from the vet just to see if I need to give him any critical care dietary top ups as he's losing weight 😕.
Click to expand...

How much weight is he losing?
When was he neutered?
Is he on any pain relief currently?

If he is losing weight at each daily check then yes he does need to have critical care
 
He was on pain relief for the first 5 days.
I'm not weighing him daily ,but since Monday when he gad his check up he's list a few grams ,I can't remember e aptly, but at the vets he was over 800gms and he is down to 790gms today .Have got some critical care incase 😐
 
Rosebud said:
He was on pain relief for the first 5 days.
I'm not weighing him daily ,but since Monday when he gad his check up he's list a few grams ,I can't remember e aptly, but at the vets he was over 800gms and he is down to 790gms today .Have got some critical care incase 😐
Click to expand...

If he has lost less than 50g then there is nothing to worry about at this point.
It’s when 50g is lost that you need to step in.

Make sure you weigh him daily during the recovery period
 
As a side note, make sure you use your own reliable digital scales, and weigh at the same time every day (the above guide will help you).
I weighed my 1.2kg pig at the vets once and they said he was 800g, nearly causing me to have a heart attack. Moral of the story is to use the same scales (ideally) when weighing as there can be discrepancies, espescially if the vets used the same scales to weigh a guinea pig as they normally do to weigh a cat as these are nowhere near as accurate.
Do you have some syringes (without the needles) to use with the critical care too? If not, you can get some in an emergency situation from your vet. I find the 1ml ones are best, espescially if you cut the tips off.
You're doing a great job, I appreciate you're probably quite stressed with everything at the moment. It sounds like you have a brilliant vet too.
 
Hi again,
I have syringes on hand,more pain medication,incase(left over from post op).
I have special pet scales for small animals ,purchased from amazon when I realised /thought the girls were pregnant.
So have decided to weigh him first thing in the morning ,pre breakfast veggies,he is still going for the fresh veg and salad but not hay or pellets much
 
It’s the hay which counts most (not veg or pellets).
Definitely weigh him in the morning and then take it from there
 
Rosebud said:
He was on pain relief for the first 5 days.
I'm not weighing him daily ,but since Monday when he gad his check up he's list a few grams ,I can't remember e aptly, but at the vets he was over 800gms and he is down to 790gms today .Have got some critical care incase 😐
Click to expand...

Hi

Here is our guide for neutering post-op complications: Neutering operations: Considerations, post-op care and complications and a successful recovery example

You are coming to the time where abscesses or other infections can come up. Start with topping up if your boy has lost more than 50g and book an appointment at your vets. Right now, the weight loss in a the area of a full bladder's worth. Please switch to weighing first thing in the morning for best day to day comparison.
Keep in mind that that over three quarters of what a guinea pigs eats in a day is hay (which you cannot control by eye) and that veg, pellets and any treats together only replace the supplementary role that wild forage used to have.
All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures
Emergency and Crisis Care as well as Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
 
Good morning
So have weighed my guinea again this morning and he has lost more weight ,have an appointment with the vets this afternoon,any advice on critical care feeding in the meantime .
Really worried
Thanks
 
Rosebud said:
Good morning
So have weighed my guinea again this morning and he has lost more weight ,have an appointment with the vets this afternoon,any advice on critical care feeding in the meantime .
Really worried
Thanks
Click to expand...

Please do step in and syringe feed him if he is continuing to lose weight and it goes beyond 50g loss . As much as is necessary to stop the weight loss. The amount depends on his much hay he is eating independently - the less hay he eats the more syringe feed is needed.
To begin with go for 40-60ml a day and feed every two hours. He could need as much as 100ml per day though to keep his weight stable.
 
Rosebud said:
Good morning
So have weighed my guinea again this morning and he has lost more weight ,have an appointment with the vets this afternoon,any advice on critical care feeding in the meantime .
Really worried
Thanks
Click to expand...

Hi

See the links at the bottom of my previous post. They will talk you through syringe feeding and any emergency care.
 
Hi just a quick update on my neutered boy.I suddenly had a bit of an idea that if I took his hidey house out for a while and replaced it with loads of hay that he could burrow in(instead of just a smaller con trainer filled with hay)this might encourage him to eat the hay while hiding 😊. It seems to be working ,anyway obviously still taking him to vets for check up later this pm.
 
Rosebud said:
Hi again,
I have syringes on hand,more pain medication,incase(left over from post op).
I have special pet scales for small animals ,purchased from amazon when I realised /thought the girls were pregnant.
So have decided to weigh him first thing in the morning ,pre breakfast veggies,he is still going for the fresh veg and salad but not hay or pellets much
Click to expand...

If he is no longer going for the hay (which makes over three quarter of the daily food intake, then please step in with syringe feeding top up (not yet full around the clock support) and try to see a vet as soon as possible.

It sounds like a developing post-op abscess or infection. check your boy for lumps but be aware that they can also happen at the back of the operated area where they are harder to reach.
 
Glad this has encouraged him to starting eating some hay, let’s hope he continues niw. keep weighing him daily at the same time if you can. Look for a trend, if his weight is slowly going down every day then increase the critical care a little until you reach a point we’re his weight is stable. he may just need some extra support for a week or so.

Hope it goes well at the vets 🤞
 
Hi again as far as post op recovery ,he is doing well,the vet checked him thoroughly,they think at the moment he is pining because he is not part of the herd right now.So we are taking it day by day and if I'm worried I can take him straight back, I'm lucky that I have such good vets
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top