Castration of guinea pig

Castration of male guinea pigs may be necessary if we do not intend to breed animals that have already become friends. Castration of guinea pigs involves surgical removal of the testicles and the only reason for this procedure is the desire to avoid pregnancy in the female.

If we hope that an adult guinea pig will stop behaving aggressively towards other animals after castration, we are unfortunately mistaken. Unlike many other animals, castration in a guinea pig does not affect its behavior. Guinea pigs will be just as aggressive after castration as they were before. Therefore, castration should only result from the desire to avoid unwanted pregnancy.

The castration procedure also involves a certain risk. The animal may die as a result of a veterinarian's error or post-operative complications or infections. Guinea pigs are extremely sensitive to anesthesia and may experience post-operative stress. They are also more difficult to operate on than larger animals such as dogs or cats.

If, despite everything, we want to take this risk and castrate a guinea pig, we should consider which moment will be most appropriate for this procedure. There are two appropriate moments for castration in the life of a male guinea pig. This procedure can be performed when the male has not yet reached sexual maturity. Then, throughout his life, he will not show the standard behavior of a male guinea pig. However, if we decide to castrate a mature male, we should remember that this will not change his behavior in any way and he will only become sterile six months after the operation.

Guinea pigs require special care both before and after the sterilization procedure. A few days before the procedure, they should be given a larger dose of vitamin C than usual. The animal's wounds will heal more easily and quickly. A lot also depends on the experience of the vet, so we should choose one who deals with exotic animals and not just dogs and cats. You can ask guinea pig breeders which vet they recommend.

After the procedure, we should take care of the guinea pig. If it does not want to eat, we should encourage it to do so. Lack of nutrition can have a lasting effect on its health, so we cannot allow it to starve. We should also guarantee the animal a source of heat because the guinea pig's body can cool down very quickly after the operation.

Let's analyze the advantages and possible risks of castration in detail. We should decide on the operation only when we consider it absolutely necessary.