Should I get my other guinea pig spayed?

Question

well we had 2, one was 6 and one is 1 and a half. We kept them separate because the older one didn’t like the younger one. The 6 year old just died yesterday, it was pretty devastating even though she was a small animal. I’ve had her since I was in the 4th grade, now in 10th. She wasn’t eating or drinking or peeing or anything, the one time she did pee, it came out with blood. This was 2 days ago, so we took her to the vet and they said she had a cancerous lump on her ovary the size of an egg. We wanted to do whatever we could to save her so they took a urine sample to see if she had a bladder infection because her bladder was enormous apparently and every time she got scared, she would run up to me. They shaved her and did an ultrasound and made sure that it wasn’t her kidneys or a bladder infection and since it was on her ovaries they said that they could spay her and remove it that way. We decided to do it and give her a chance because the vet said she would have 2 months or less

and she would slowly begin to die. The vet called and said that right before he was about to cut her open, and said she had a massive heart attack. =[ Now with our other one, should we spay her when she is young and less stressed incase she develops one when she is older? The doctor said it wasn’t uncommon

Answer 1

I'm very sorry about the loss of your piggie.

I do not feel it is necessary to have a young sow spayed on the off chance that she will develop ovarian or mammary tumors later. Most pigs do not ever get them. The risk of the anesthesia and surgery are much higher than her risk of developing tumors.

The only reason to have your sow spayed is if you plan to house her with a boar. Even then, I would have the boar neutered before I'd put the sow through a spay since it is less invasive.

Answer 2

maximum vets won't spayed or neuter Guinea Pigs, they do no longer prefer to do surgical operation or something like that on animals under 5 to ten kilos because of the intense possibility of dying for putting a small animal under. in the journey that your not sure if you obtain a male or a woman I advise taking Penny right down to the vet and searching out for confident. To be on the risk-free area I advise you isolating the two one among them till you comprehend for confident, different smart your going to have toddler Guinea Pigs. once you separate them make confident the cages are in 2 rooms, or you will nevertheless finally end up with toddler Guinea Pigs.

Answer 3

First of all, ignore the people who say "it's just a guinea pig". It is great that you are willing to give your guinea pig the vet care it deserves and getting a guinea pig neutered or spayed is not uncommon at all.

That being said, a spay on a small animal like a guinea pig is a pretty big risk. Personally, my female is spayed, but that is because she has a male cagemate and all my other guinea pigs are male, and I was looking to avoid all possibility of pregenancy. I think that the risks involved in surgery makes the procedure not worthwhile if you are only doing it to avoid ovarian cysts. It's a close call, though, and ultimately your decision.

Answer 4

The only reason you should have for spaying your guinea pig, is if you intend to get another as a friend and you don't want them to breed. The risk of a guinea pig dying under anaesthetic is very high as their lung capacity isn't large enough to take both the gas and oxygen togther and usually the more concentrated gas blocks out the oxygen.

Cancerous tumours in the womb of a guinea pig is not common and the chances of it happening again in this one, unless they were related, is unlikely and will most likely not happen again. That said climate and general lifestyles differ in different countries and areas, so if your in america, you may have different factors on this than I do here in Britain.

I have had guinea pigs living outside all year round with cosy sleeping quarters but free access to grass at all times, since I was six, and at 24 now, I have never lost one to cancer or illness at all. They die happy and in their sleep usually, and at one point I had over 200 of them.

Answer 5

Your vet sounds pretty good.
Not many vets fix rabbits (it is more complicated to do than dogs/cats), let alone a smaller g. pig. And to ultrasound her (my husky had that done to discover a growth in bladder) is also commendable, plus he had the equipment to do so,..not many vets here (in B.C. Canada) has that.
However, the vet should have told you that at 6 yrs. old, which is old for a g.Pig who's lifespan is only 8, that general anesthesia is very risky.
You sound like a very responsible pet owner, good for you.
If you can afford to, spay, then you could also get a male cagemate for her.
But make sure the vet assures you that risks are minimal.

Answer 6

I would not spay her. The surgical risk is much higher than the chance of her getting a tumor. These guys just don't handle surgery well, though neutering a male is much less invasive and carry's a lower risk.

Answer 7

I LOVE animals - I worked as a vet's assistant, and am now a science teacher.

But come on....it's just a guinea pig. Surgery like that is going to be VERY pricey. I can't believe you even found a vet willing to do it - most refuse because of the risk to the rodent involved (anaesthesia is really hard on small critters).

I would think long and hard before you do this.

Answer 8

defintely listen to your vet sounds like a good vet

Answer 9

I would definitely get her spayed, you're right, it would stop the risk of something like that happening to your young one. It's not expensive either.

Sorry for your piggy :(

Answer 10

Do what your vet tells you