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Spaying and Neutering Guinea Pigs
Many people don’t realize that guinea pigs can be spayed or neutered, to prevent surprise litters. In fact, spaying or neutering is very wise, since it is becoming increasingly hard to find good homes for guinea pigs. If your guinea pigs are not spayed and/or neutered, you cannot keep the males and females in the same pen, as unplanned pregnancies will definitely occur, in a very short period of time.
Spaying and neutering has additional benefits as well. If a female is not spayed, she has a higher chance of developing uterine cancer and ovarian cancer, as well as mammary tumors. A female will usually avoid becoming overweight is she is spayed as well. When male guinea pigs get older, they risk atrophy of the rectal muscles if they have not been neutered. Neutering a male will also help him to avoid prostate cancer and mammary tumors.
While the cost of spaying and neutering a guinea pig will vary from one veterinarian to the next, the average cost of spaying is about $120, and the average cost of neutering is about $100. This is a small cost to pay when you really look at all of the benefits of spaying and neutering your guinea pig.
Because neutering is cheaper, many guinea pig owners will not spay their females, and will instead have their males neutered. When a male guinea pig is neutered, his testicals are simply removed. This is done with a very small incision, which usually heals in a day or two. Spaying, on the other hand, costs more because the surgery is a more invasive.
It is important that you understand that spaying or neutering won’t do anything to change the behavior of an aggressive guinea pig. It won’t even do away with normal sexual behavior, but no pregnancy will result from that behavior. If you neuter two males, in the hopes that they will tone down and get along, you will be sorely disappointed.
When you are ready to have your guinea pigs spayed and/or neutered, contact a veterinarian who has experience performing such surgeries specifically on guinea pigs. You don’t want your guinea pig to be – well – a guinea pig for the veterinarian. You will usually not allow your guinea pigs to eat or drink the night before the surgery.
You will bring them in early in the morning, and they will be home with you – safe in their pens – by that afternoon. Your veterinarian will give you specific instructions for your guinea pigs post operative care.
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Next Article: What do Guinea Pigs and Rabbits Have In Common
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