Spaying Your guinea pig

Why Is Spaying Your Guinea Pig Important?

Bij At our clinics, it is possible to have your female guinea pig, also known as a sow, spayed. This can be done from an age of 4 months.

There are several reasons to spay your guinea pig, including:

• Preventing unwanted offspring
• Reducing the risk of ovarian tumors
• Reducing the risk of uterine tumors
• Preventing ovarian cysts*

*About 70% of female guinea pigs develop ovarian cysts from the age of 2 years.

Does a Guinea Pig Need to Fast Before Spaying?

Your guinea pig does not need to fast before the surgery. In fact, it is very important that she continues to eat normally. A guinea pig’s digestive system must keep moving, as it can be very difficult to restart if it slows down. After the surgery, it is also important to ensure your guinea pig starts eating again as soon as possible.

How Is Guinea Pig Spaying Performed?

Before the surgery, your guinea pig will be placed under general anesthesia and given a pain relief injection. To maintain her body temperature, she will be placed on a warming mat. Once the surgery is complete, your guinea pig will receive an injection to help her wake up, minimizing the time under anesthesia. Throughout the procedure, your guinea pig will be continuously monitored.

Aftercare

Once your guinea pig is awake, we will call you to discuss how the surgery went and to arrange a pickup time. It is important that your guinea pig stays warm, so keep her indoors and provide a cozy, warm spot to rest. There should be no straw, wood shavings, or hay in her enclosure, as this can irritate the wound. Instead, provide a smooth, clean, and soft surface, such as a towel. Make sure to closely monitor that your guinea pig continues to eat, drink, and produce droppings.

We will call you the day after the surgery to check on her progress. If you have any questions or concerns before then, please do not hesitate to contact us.