Do Guinea Pigs Need to be Spayed/Neutered?

Do guinea pigs need to be spayed or neutered? Do you need to have your piggy sterilized? Unlike cats, dogs, and even rabbits, guinea pigs don't have to be sterilized unless there is a good reason to do so. Surgery of any kind can be dangerous for these creatures, as they do not respond well to anesthesia. On the other hand, breeding guinea pigs is never a good idea as they can be prolific breeders. Moms can also battle to give birth, which makes it even riskier. When they are spayed or neutered, it is usually an elective surgery to avoid any unwanted babies and the risk that can come with giving birth. However, there are other ways to prevent pregnancy that don't require any surgery. If you want to find out more about ways to prevent breeding, speak to your vet.

Besides preventing them from having babies, one reason that people assume they should sterilize guinea pigs is to prevent problems such as spraying or fighting. Unlike other pets, there are no behavior changes that happen when they are not sterilized. This means that you don't have to spay or neuter guinea pigs at a certain age as you would do with a cat or dog.

In this guide, we share some info on sterilizing guinea pigs to show you why it's not always the right move (and what you can do instead).

Spaying and neutering is now a well-known and accepted practice to prevent both health and behavioral issues in dogs, cats, and even rabbits. It’s a little more complicated when it comes to guinea pigs though. Surgery of any kind in guinea pigs is still considered fairly risky. It's important for us, as owners, to address every surgery with consideration of dangers and benefits when spaying or neutering your guinea pig.

Is it Necessary to Spay/Neuter Guinea Pigs?

Guinea pigs don’t need to be routinely spayed and neutered unless there is an underlying reason – the most obvious being to prevent pregnancy. It is largely an elective procedure so a male and female can live together. Because it takes time for live sperm to die and work its way out of the system, wait at least a month before letting the male and female interact. Some vets recommend six or even up to eight weeks to be 100% sure the female won’t still wind up pregnant.

While de-sexing other animals usually has a positive effect on behavior, guinea pigs are the exception. Neutering a gentlepig will make him no less aggressive (or, ahem, “passionate”) and will not change his behavior toward other males or females. If he doesn’t like his fellow roomies now, neutering won’t change this.

With all this being said, it is worth noting that for particularly well-endowed fellas, neutering may decrease the chance of impaction later in life. It may also reduce waxy scent gland build-up (although, psst… a dab of coconut oil is a way more affordable solution).

Spay the Female or Neuter the Male?

Spaying a female guinea pig is usually considered more risky than neutering a male because it is more invasive. Not only does it require more time under anesthesia, but is involves making an incision through the abdomen and removing that ladypig’s internal organs. Some exotic veterinarians are now recommending an ovariectomy with flank incisions, where only the ovaries are removed. However, if she already has ovarian cysts (common in sows over three years old), a full spay is usually still needed to prevent future uterine tumors.

While neutering a male cavy is generally considered safer, removing the female sex organs means she won’t get ovarian cysts or uterine tumors in the future (an obvious health benefit). Guinea pigs who develop problems with the reproductive organs may need to be spayed regardless. Signs to watch for include hair loss on either side of the belly, a sensitive abdomen, prolonged moodiness, mammary tumors, crusty nipples, and incontinence/discharge.

Considerations Before Surgery

Guinea pigs are more susceptible to anesthesia reactions, stress, and infections. Medications used before, during, and after surgery can decrease appetit or grass hay, which is essential for digestion, making it even more challenging to prevent GI stasis.

Guinea pigs cannot maintain their core body temperature well during surgery; the large surface area to volume ratio of small rodents increases this risk. An experienced exotic vet should monitor a guinea pig’s temperature, along with other vitals, during and after surgery. For the first few days after recovery, you may need to keep the room warmer than usual, and syringe-feed around the clock.

Questions to Ask the Vet

An exotic vet is absolutely essential when it comes to spaying or neutering your guinea pig. The vast majority of veterinary practices that treat dogs and cats aren’t experienced in exotic medicine. A successful surgery, and your pet’s life, can depend on identifying an excellent exotic vet. Start by asking local rescues which doc they use to treat rodents. The Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians also has a handy search tool by ZIP code. Once you find a vet to perform the procedure, be prepared to ask plenty of questions beforehand.