What To Do?

[jay3ttp]

Hi I am after a bit of advice, I think I know what I want to do but wanted to see if others thought it OK. I currently have six guinea pigs, 2 boars who share a cage, 2 sows who share a cage and then 2 single boars who were together for the first few months of their lives but started fighting and had to be separated. They are both side by side at the moment which is OK but takes up a lot of floor space, plus I feel it not the best idea for them.
I have been thinking about putting one sow with each single male as I don't really want to get anymore piggies but I am worried I am not being fair separating the sows. To be honest they sleep at opposite ends of the cage and dont snuggle or anything but I am still not sure.
by doing this it means I only need 3 cages and they can be spread round the lounge/dining room. I would make sure the boys were done first as I am certainly not wanting any babies
So what would you do?

 

[Stewybus]

It sounds like a perfectly good idea. You'll need a vet who regularly does neutering ops & therefore competent in them. Please check the vet locator at top of page.

If there isn't one near you then check the rescue locator to find a local rescue who you could ring and ask them who does their neutering. If no joy in either of those searches then let us know your general area & another member maybe able to advice good local vet.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi! That is a very sensible idea, especially as your girls are not the closest of friends. I would recommend trying to pair up your dominant sow with the less dominant boar and vice versa. You should see within 15-30 minutes whether a pairing works or not. Try to bond your most difficult girl first! We have information on how to best conduct a bonding in our behaviour section.

However, you will need to do your research for a vet with a good track record in piggy neutering however. This will minimise the operation and especially the risk of post op complications enormously.
You also need to factor in the that the boys need a 6 weeks post op wait until they 100% safe to go with the girls. I have the suprise baby from a supposedly safe over 5 weeks post op boar living with me, just to prove that particular point!
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/guinea-pig-castration-explained.70606/
http://www.cavyspirit.com/neutering.htm

For our UK members, we provide a piggy savvy vet locator on the top bar. With members from all over the world, it would be a great help to us if you added your country, state (US/Aus/Can) or county/general area (UK) to your details, so we can give you any relevant advice and recommendations straight away. Just click on your username on the top bar, then go to personal details/location. In the same section, you can also create your avatar, the picture that always appears with in every post and on your profile.
Here are tips on how to best find a good piggy vet in your area if you are not in the UK: http://www.guinealynx.info/vet.html

 

[jay3ttp]

Hi thanks for the advice I have updated my details and I dont think I am that for from you Wiebke. It is the op that concerns me the most and it would be great if you could tell me of any good vets you know of. I am in Northamtonshire, about 5 miles from Kettering.
I am going to read up on the whole bonding process and also more on neutering and what to expect.
Thanks again x

 

[Stewybus]

You've got one of the best guinea pig vets in the country, Simon Maddock at the Cat & Rabbit Care Clinic in Northampton. I travelled nearly 200 miles with Minky to see him in December & he highlighted the problem straightaway.