Neutering guinea pigs, is also alternatively referred to as sterilisation or desexing. It is a sensitive topic for many guinea pig owners as there is without a doubt a risk for our furry little friends to undergo an anaesthetic and surgical procedure (just like any other animal or human)  – however the risk is relative depending on the knowledge and experience of your cavy-savvy veterinarian and overall health of your guinea pig. There are many health benefits to neutering guinea pigs, including eliminating the risk of various types of reproductive cancers and other health conditions. 

WHAT HAPPENS DURING A NEUTERING PROCEDURE?

First lets go over some basic definitions:

• Castration is the correct term for the procedure in male guinea pigs, and involves surgical removal of both testicles.
• Spey (or spay) is the correct term for neutering female guinea pigs, and usually involves removal of both ovaries and the uterus. There are a number of different surgical methods to sterilise female guinea pigs, including only removing the ovaries or uterus independently – however leaving either of these organs behind can lead to reproductive cysts and tumours. We recommend having a conversation with your surgeon in regards to the best options for your guinea pig. 

What happens on the day of the surgery will vary between different veterinary hospitals, however most veterinarians will recommend bringing your guinea pig in for a hospital admit appointment in the morning where you will go through some paperwork with the vet or nurses. If you have any questions this is a great opportunity to ask (we also recommend having a consultation prior to surgery day to discuss your pet, their surgical plan, and any concerns you may have. This also allows for the opportunity for your vet to collect a blood sample and send away for testing ahead of surgery, to ensure they are fit and healthy – making for a safer anaesthetic and procedure! Generally it is a day procedure and your guinea pig will be ready for discharge in the evening. Some veterinarians may recommend keeping your pets in hospital longer for monitoring and supportive care until they have completely recovered from the anaesthetic and are eating, pooping, and ready to go home. 

AT WHAT AGE SHOULD I NEUTER MY GUINEA PIG?

Generally speaking it is recommended to desex your guinea pigs whilst they are young, strong and healthy, prior to developing any underlying health conditions or reproductive disorders. Exact age recommendations do vary, and it is recommended to discuss this with your local cavy savvy veterinarian to find the age and size they are comfortable with.

 WHAT ARE SOME IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF MY GUINEA PIGS RECOVERY AFTER SURGERY

Guinea pigs have very complex gastrointestinal microflora, and any kind of drugs or anaesthetics can quickly disrupt the sensitive balance that facilitates digestion. One of the most common post-operative complications in guinea pigs is gastrointestinal stasis where the gut slows down, and sometimes even stops moving – this becomes a life threatening condition! It is very important we ensure our guinea pigs are constantly eating, especially after undergoing an anaesthetic or surgery, keeping their gastrointestinal tract moving along. Burgess Dual Care or Oxbow Critical Care are two great products that are very important for post-op recovery, as they allow us to syringe feed and supplement our guinea pigs diet with high fibre and nutrient rich ingredients.

Guinea pigs are notorious chewers as we know, and unfortunately this means that sometimes they choose to chew their surgical site as well! It is important to visualise the surgical site every day until it is completely healed, and if you do notice any redness, swelling, discharge or inflammation, be sure to check in with your vet for a post-op check to make sure everything is ok.

It is important to keep your guinea pigs home clean, dry and hygienic in their recovery period. This is because guinea pigs have such short little legs, their surgical sites (particularly males) are often touching the ground. Lying in moist or unsanitary conditions will increase the risk of developing post-op infections, which can also become life threatening!

Male guinea pigs can remain fertile for up to 6 weeks after surgical sterilisation – this means we highly recommend keeping him separate from any female piggies during this time period to avoid any unwanted pregnancies.

WHAT ARE THE HEALTH BENEFITS TO DESEXING MY FEMALE GUINEA PIG?

• Reduction in unwanted pregnancies. This is one of the most obvious and important reasons behind desexing, as unfortunately our Aussie rescues and shelters are overflowing with unwanted guinea pigs looking for homes! Did you know the average litter size is between about 2 and 4 pups, and female guinea pigs can have up to 5 litters per year?! This means that they can have around 20 pups per year - which is a lot of babies to find homes for! Not to mention the health implications it can have on the sow. 
• Eliminates the risk of uterine and ovarian cancers 
• Eliminates the risk of cystic ovaries - a very common condition in female guinea pigs. Generally cysts are benign in nature, however can grow very large and cause pain and discomfort as well as hormonal hair loss.  
• Reduces the risk of mammary cancer development  

WHAT ARE THE HEALTH BENEFITS TO DESEXING MY MALE GUIINEA PIG?

• Just like female guinea pigs, it will stop unwanted pregnancies. Neutered boars often live quite happily amongst a herd of sows. If you are wanting to keep both male and female guinea pigs together but avoid frequent pregnancies, the surgical procedure to sterilise male guinea pigs is much less invasive and poses a lower risk of peri-operative and post-operative complications than that of a female.
• Eliminates risk of testicular cancer
• Decreases the risk of faecal impaction. This is a common development in older, entire boars, where faeces gets stuck inside the anus. This starts to accumulate over time, and will develop a strong and unpleasant odour, as well as cause local irritation, local infections or even urinary tract infections. Due to the large size of guinea pig testicles, over time they start to weigh down the surrounding areas, stretching ligaments and tissue, and reducing muscle tone that is used to expel faecal pellets normally. If your guinea pig develops faecal impaction, it will require daily cleaning and maintenance (which is not an overly fun job).
• You may notice a decrease in certain unwanted behaviours such as aggression, humping and mounting. Note neutering boars will often reduce these behaviours however is not guaranteed to stop these behaviours in all guinea pigs.