Lakeside Veterinary Center, LLC
(301)498-8387

Guinea Pig Spays

Why should I fix my female guinea pig if she is not broken?

• One potentially expensive and common health problem in unspayed female guinea pigs is cystic ovaries.  Spaying removes the ovaries and prevents this problem.
• Unspayed female guinea pigs can also get life threatening uterine diseases.  Treatment for these conditions is usually emergency spay.
• Unspayed female guinea pigs are more prone to breast cancer than spayed females.
   

Frequently Asked Questions about Guinea Pig Spays

1.    Why should spays be performed at 3-4 months of age before the first heat cycle?

There is less fat in the uterine support structure and makes it an easier surgery with less risk of complications.

2.    How long will my guinea pig be in the hospital?

Surgeries are done on an outpatient basis.  Pets are dropped off between 7:30 and 9 am and discharged in the evening of the same day. Surgeries are admitted by appointment only.

3.    What do I need to do to prepare my guinea pig for surgery?

Nothing special.  She should eat and drink normally until arrival at our facility.

4.    Will she be in pain?

Before surgery, she will receive a pain medication and a mild tranquilizer.  After about 20 minutes, she will receive a general anesthetic and be kept asleep with oxygen and isoflurane anesthetic gas.  Prior to surgical incision, local anesthesia is injected and a different long acting local anesthetic is injected in the area once surgery is completed. Most pigs will receive and additional injection of pain medication once they are waking up from anesthesia.  All patients are monitored closely for comfort once they are recovered.  In the rare instance a guinea pig seems to be in pain, additional medications are given to make them comfortable.

5.    What can I do to make it easier for her the day of surgery?

We have been using Laser surgery (instead of a scalpel blade) for over 12 years with great success.  The Laser reduces pain, swelling and bleeding as compared to a scalpel blade.  Use of Laser is an option provided to you. To learn more about Laser surgery click here.

We strongly recommend the use of some pain medications at home for about 7 days after surgery.  This is an option provided to you.

6.    What are the risks of surgery and anesthesia? How can I reduce that risk?

The risks of surgery include bleeding and wound infection. These risks are minimized for an experienced surgeon, and our veterinary staff has over 30 years of experience with surgery. The Laser reduced bleeding and sterilizes as it cuts; it is a great option to choose.

 The risks of anesthesia include the development of abnormal heart rhythms,decreased blood pressure (may exacerbate kidney problems), and in very rare cases, death.  We offer to you a preoperative EKG (checks heart rhythm) and preoperative blood tests to check for anemia and kidney or liver disease.  These tests tell us if your pet is as healthy as possible to undergo elective surgery. Both the EKG and the blood tests are offered as an option to you.

One of the risks of anesthesia in surgery unique to guinea pigs and other herbivores is the chance of developing gastric stasis. All pigs are fed as soon as they are alert enough to swallow appropriately. They are assist fed every 30-60 minutes post-operation until discharge from our facility to prevent gastric stasis.