[Gpdd] [HEALTH] Cavy Castration and Aggression

[Ann Evans]

Hello Heather and the GPDD Family,

Heather do you live in Hawaii? Deb Ganley emailed me this morning at 
02:15 Tampa Florida time about a Boar named Boomer in Hawaii. Castration 
can be done very safely if done correctly. I think it would be a good 
idea to get Boomer a girlfriend 4 weeks post castration. Spaying a 
female cavy is far more dangerous. I am sure you know that a 1.0 kilo 
cavy only has approximately 70 ml of blood which is about 4 tablespoons 
of blood. Therefore, castration is far less invasive surgery than 
removing the ovaries and both horns of the uterus.

Cavy Castration Protocol
Below is a link for the castration protocol that most USA trained vets 
have the highest success rate. I have spoken to many vets about how they 
go about castrating. This info comes from Cavy Spirit. I think you will 
find it very interesting and informative.
http://www.cavyspirit.com/neutering.htm

However, Vedra Stanley-Spatcher of the Cambridge Cavy Trust and Guinea 
Pig Hospital in her book “Diagnostic Guide to Guinea Pig Problems” has a 
chapter on Castration (page 57). It also covers Aggression and the use 
of Dog Appeasing Pheromones (D.A.P.) unit.  She also covers castration 
on page 65 in her discussion of surgery. Castration will not stop 
aggressive behavior it only stops reproduction. Vedra’s pre-op 
medication is 10 mg Rimadyl that is equivalent to a 0.2 ml SQ injection 
of Rimadyl 50mg/ml solution as the pre anesthetic pain medication. 
Induction with 3.0% iso/servoflurane for anesthesia and maintenance with 
1.5-2.0% isoflurane. After induction she uses an empty 1ml syringe to 
suck out any surplus fluid from the back of the throat. Only if the cavy 
has noisy breathing she may give 0.1 - 0.2 ml injection SC of 5% Lasix. 
The patient is placed on a microwaveable hot pad that has been heated 
for only 1 minute. It should be warm not hot. After surgery she turns 
off the isoflurane and flushes the cavy with oxygen, puts a smear of 
Vicks vapour rub on the nose and has them back on their feet and eating 
within 10-15 minutes after surgery. I have used this surgical protocol 
many times for various surgeries without any problems. Vedra NEVER uses 
TORBUGESIC, KETAMINE or REGLAN for surgery, even bladder surgery.

Vedra believes that a boar should be 8-18 months old before castration. 
The scrotal fat pads are NEVER re-inserted. Vicryl 2-0 is the only 
suture material that she uses.

Rimadyl is given post-operatively for pain. Dose: 10 mg PO 6 hours after 
surgery. Vedra gives Rimadyl 5 mg PO q12h for 3 days post surgery. Also 
on the day of surgery the cavy is started on antibiotics. Dose: 2.5% 
Baytril 0.5 ml PO q12h for 5 days. The Baytril must be mixed with juice 
of very thin Critical Care. She  occasionally feeds Critical Care 1 
teaspoon plus 2 teaspoons of water in a bowl twice a day for 5 days. 
Remember Critical care contains probiotics and the cavy may go off food 
directly after surgery but should not go off food if everything is done 
correctly. Ideally the Critical Care is given 2 hours after the 
antibiotic. I rarely need to use Oxbow's Critical care unless the cavy 
was not in good condition prior to surgery. Castration is elective 
surgery so Boomer should be in top shape before he is castrated.

You can buy Vedra's book at the following link. She accepts PayPal.
http://www.britishassociationofrodentologists.co.uk/Products.html

Please feel free to contact me personally if you have any questions. I 
am a long time student of Vedra's. In fact I suspect that I have been a 
student of hers before you were born.

Regarding intelligence. Read Peter Gurney's books especially his last 
book which was published by one of his guinea pigs after his death. 
Gurney, Peter (April 2007). Last of Their Kind. Diggory Press. ISBN 
978-1846856570.  He told me that his cavies and Vedra taught him 
everything he knows about cavy health care.

Cheers,

Ann and the Rescued Piggys of Piggyville, Tampa Florida USA.