Should we consider neutering our male guinea pig?

[blondeemily]

We adopted two boars (Toffee and Cocoa) in September from a friend who no longer had time to care for them properly. They are now around 14 months old. We also have two females. They are all indoor piggies but obviously kept in separate homes and also in separate rooms. The boys fought a bit when we first got them (nothing serious) but we're guessing it was partly the stress of moving as they seem to have calmed down now. However, Toffee is extremely randy. He doesn't bother Cocoa but he seems to spend a lot of time "looking" for the girls; wheeking, nibbling the cage bars and seeming very frustrated. I hate seeing him behaving like this as obviously he has some very strong natural urges which he can't fulfil. They have a very spacious cage, always lots of hay and separate hidey houses so it's not that he's unhappy with his home. He gets worse when he hears the girls running around in their cage or wheeking. I am wondering whether it is worth getting him neutered? It's not something I would take lightly as I don't particularly want to put him through that. I just want him to be more contented. Does anybody have any advice please?

We had our boar neutered when we got a rescue sow. We didn't know at the time but apparently guinea pigs often don't do well with a general anaesthetic but the vet didn't tell us this so you might want to check with your vet first. He recovered well and bonded well with the sow, they were inseparable. He never tried to mount her, he was a very calm and docile pig and lived until he was 7.

We have a very randy pig, he's part of a boar only group but one of the other boars is a willing recipient (can't quite believe I am typing this!).

I have heard of the same risks with boars. We have sows and when considering getting another pig we chose another sow. This was because so many experienced owners advised not castrating a boar because of the risks. Is it practical/possible to move the 2 hutches further away from eachother? It must be difficult when the sows are in season for them- mind you sometimes our sows mount each other now and then! Also tmi....

Its a calculated risk with castration as all surgery , you'd need to ask your vet how many small animals they castrate ( they will do more rabbits than pigs)

Having the smell of sows can turn then barmy .
Our GP7 (sow) used to chase GP8 (sow and her long term cagemate) round and try to jump her .

GP6 (our boar) was neutered when we got him (we had GP3 neutered , there is a minimum weight and age , surgery is fairly straightforward but you need to keep them on towels , look out for post-op bleeding or abscess and they take 6 weeks to go sterile)
It doesn't change how they think.

Our boar was very "Oh Hello " Leslie Phillips voice but sows will get them to Jog On if they don't want to welcome them.Doesn't stop him trying , he's all purring and doing the little waggy bum dance

When we bonded GP6 and GP7 (our last two) it was hair raising for DD and I because we'd tried over and over to bond our group but they wouldn't .
They accepted each other but he is very much under the thumb, she can kick like a mule and pee back.

When your sows are in Season do you get signs? Mine were snipey with each other and their pee stunk, luckily it lasted 1-2 days then they were lovely again.

Castration was £58 for our boar about 4 years ago.

Only neuter to bond BTW -

You could neuter with a view to bond if you find yourself with one boar (though you cannot predict which of your 4 will go first)

Lots of Rescues now neuter boars even if they rehome as a boar pair , because there's not the waiting period and risk increases with age.

It makes the risks of impaction almost nil ( Go on , Google , I dare you .......mwah ha ha)

Thanks for your replies. Yes we ideally would have got another couple of sows but friend was going to take the boys back to Pets at Home for adoption and we couldn't see them passed from pillar to post. The only way we could have them further separated would be to put one pair outside. Not really what we wanted but, by the sounds of things, preferable to a general anaesthetic.

I had my rescue boar neutered so he could have a little female friend. The vet was very experienced with exotic breeds but nonetheless Bruce got not one but two infections, had to be opened up for proper surgery and nursed round the clock for days, with a cocktail of drugs, one from the dangerous drugs cabinet.

He’s right as rain now, but it was touch and go for a while and very traumatic for all.

Hehe thanks 70isaLimitNotaTarget
I notice the girls occasionally rumble around their cage more than usual. Is that a sign of being in season?
Yes it would be handy to have the boys neutered so that we could try bonding a third when we lose one I would just worry so much as they are such sensitive little creatures, aren't they? If they could guarantee Toffee would be okay and he would be more content afterwards then I would definately go ahead!

Oh goodness FamilyOfAliens, poor boy! They are so easily traumatised, and I know that not eating for a period of time is bad for their little digestive systems, so it's risky business isn't it? I'm so glad your Bruce is okay now though.

but friend was going to take the boys back to Pets at Home for adoption and we couldn't see them passed from pillar to post

We got two boars that way, one got ill and was taken into their vet and not collected, presumably they couldn't afford the bills but Pets at home paid the bills, the other had been brought into to store after, I think, the mother had died because he easily fitted in the palm of my hand and was terrified until he crawled inside my t shirt in the shop and went to sleep!

Thank you @blondeemily

Not only has he fully recovered, but he and his girlfriend Pearl have settled into a life of married bliss. He’s a very happy lad

FamilyOfAliens oh bless, that is adorable!

Awww, they look gorgeous.
at the cat - is he hoping for a snack or do they get on OK?

You prob know already OP but just in case...guinea pigs that live indoors can only be rehoused outdoors during summer to give them a chance to build up an extra layer of fur to set them up for the cold weather. We also have indoor piggies and looked into moving them outdoors so looked into it and decided to stay with the indoors. They get more attention that way. Might be worth you joining a facebook guinea pig group. There are quite a few and some are local. The Guinea Pig forum is really helpful too.

Awww, they look gorgeous.
at the cat - is he hoping for a snack or do they get on OK?

The cat’s next door’s. She fascinated by the piggies but she just watches. Our cat ignores them as she’s so used to seeing them around.

Thanks Strawbberrypineapple, yes I was aware. I really wouldn't want to move them outside to be honest as they have got used to lots of interaction from us and would definately get less attention if they were outside.

We got our boar as a single and had him neutered as he hadn't bonded well with other males before and was getting quite old. The neutering went absolutely fine, and he is now very happy with his girlfriend. I'm not sure it's done much for his randiness, he does a lot of rumbling and chasing. But our sow soon puts him in his place.

it does nought to their libido. (or temper)

A stroppy , sexed up boar with his bits will still be a stroppy sexed up boar without. It's the stern judgey looks of their sows that bring them into line .
Our GP7 had never lived with a boar (she had GP6 on the other side of the cage for 18 months) before they got married . He was all "Way Hey" for twelve hours then was all "Denied" with his best Waynes World face .

Got to love a trier though!