Male Guinea Pig?

Question

I have a male guinea pig, is there an age limit on when I can get him neutered? He is fairly young but I'm pretty sure he has reached 'maturity'. He is not quite fully grown but is close, and I know he is at least 6 months old.
I want to get him a friend because I can't spend a whole lot of time with him and I know he's lonely, but I don't want to get another male because I would like to keep them in the same cage together.
And I absolutely do not want to end up with baby piggies if I get a female!!!
If it is too late to get him neutered, is it possible to get a female piggy fixed/spayed?
What are my options? I love him and want him to be happy.

Serious answers only please from people who know about guinea pigs.

Thanks so much!

I asked about the age limit because I heard that on males it had to be done BEFORE they reached maturity! I was wondering if it was too late, not too early! Thanks again

Answer 1

If he is at least 6 months old, he would be considered old enough to have neutered. guinea Pigs can be neutered as early as 4-5 months old. Yes, it is also possible to have a female spayed. But I would wait until she is at least 6 months old to have her spayed. Spaying is much more in depth that neutering. Before having either done, check with your vet to see how many guinea pigs, rabbits, or similar animals they have done this procedure on. If you don't feel they have enough experience in exotic type animals, look around for a different veterinarian that feels 100% comfortable with the procedure. I have added a site that has some good info.

Answer 2

It's safe to neuter a piggy at any age as long as you have a competent vet. Apparently pigs have muscles around their testicles that need an experienced vet to work around. If someone doesn't know what their doing you could end up with a pig with their guts hanging out the incision. Gross, I know.

Females are safe to do, too. I find finding a good vet can be hard and they tend to charge more for a guinea pig than for cats and dogs. I'd suggest you shop around and see what you can come up with. You might be able to find a good vet by asking around at pet shops.

The good news is that two males can be kept together if they have enough room. If you build a C&C cage (cubes and coroplast) you just snap together a cage that is 3 by 4 cages in size. Many people keep their piggies together in peace with a cage that size. I strongly suggest that you use coroplast as the alternatives I've tried suck in a big ugly way >.< .

Hope that helps! :-)

Answer 3

No, he is still young. Talk to your vet. Neutering is a very simple procedure. Also talk to him/her about introducing a new guinea into the cage.....I'm sure there is a procedure to follow. I have two, 1 male and 1 female, different cages but they can see each other. They are happy little creatures.

Answer 4

You do not have to neuter him to get him a friend. if you get a young male they should easily bond to one another, I do not know where you are located but if you go on www.petfinder.com there should be a guinea pig rescue, explain to the what you are looking for and they should be able to match you with the perfect buddy. Rescues are good as most guarantee their pigs to be healthy. If you still want to neuter him is fine as it does have its benefits, rescue will also have spayed females, it is all up to you, I wish you luck finding a new friend for him, as they are social creatures

Answer 5

Get a little guy friend for him. Neutering guinea pigs is hard as they are little and the anesthetic could be lethal.

Answer 6

You can call your local vet and ask. I didn't even know they could be fixed..?