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Can neutering fail?

karensutton

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I got lots of great advice here when we got our first pigs 3.5 years ago. Things have gone really well and we love our piggies. I wonder if I can ask whether if it is possible for a boar who has been neutered for over 3 years to impregnate a sow, ie. for the op. to fail?

Some background: we got our 3 boars initially and had them all neutered at 4 months. One fought with the other 2 so we separated them and got a sow from a rescue and she was housed with the neutered boar who had been fighting with the other two. (She has only ever lived with the neutered boar). However she is now looking as though she might be pregnant and has put on a lot of weight recently. Obviously we can take her to the vet when normal surgery recommences next week, but I wondered, in the meantime, if anyone had heard of a neutered boar ever becoming able to father piglets?

Thanks for reading.
Karen
 

Paula

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Hi Karen and welcome (back). It's possible that the surgery was botched somehow, though it seems unlikely. How long after the surgery did you put the neutered boar in with the female? The sperm lives in the reproductive tract for a couple weeks after the surgery, so if he moved in before that time was up, it's possible he was able to get her pregnant. Otherwise, it's not likely, unless the surgery wasn't successful, but I can't imagine that being the case if you went to an experienced exotics surgeon.
 

rabbitsncavyluv

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Sometimes neuters can be botched. But how long ago did you get the sow? She may have been pregnant when you got her.

But weight gain may be something else.
 

karensutton

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Thank you for the prompt replies. You have confirmed my own thoughts.

The sow (Kate), has been with the boar (Squeak) since February. She is three years and 3 months old. We got her from a rescue home three years ago. Squeak is almost 4 years old, and was neutered three and a half years ago.

Kate was with another of our neutered boars until January when he sadly died. We adopted another sow (Rio) from rescue to live with Kate, but they didn't like each other so we then homed our 4 piggies as two pairs, boar and sow in each pair. This has worked really well and all are happy piggies. Kate is with Squeak and Rio is with Badger, our 4 year old neutered boar.

I have this morning spoken to the vet who neutered our three boys 3.5 years ago. They have said it is not possible for Squeak to have made Kate pregnant as they remove the testicles during neutering (which I knew). So we will take Kate to our current vet tomorrow morning, (closed today as it's a Bank Holiday). I am aware that this could be a tumour or ovarian cysts (possibly more likely as she is big on both sides). She is eating lots more than usual and seems perfectly happy by the way.
 

karensutton

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Off topic slightly, but here is quite a cute video of our other pair, Rio and Badger, enjoying a dandelion leaf treat. YouTube - Guinea pigs munching
 

karensutton

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I posted a reply yesterday, thanking you for your responses (which confirmed what I had suspected). Unfortunately my post of yesterday has not been added to the thread. Maybe as I am a probationary member (I couldn't log into my old account) I am only allowed one post for the time being?

In short, the sow (Kate) has been with the boar (Squeak) since February 2009. She is 3 years 3 months old. He is just four years old and was neutered soon after we brought him home. (3.5 years ago).

I took Kate to the vet (who does specialise in exotics, as does the vet who neutered Squeak and our other boar. Different vets as we moved. Kate has a lump on one side, and a lot of fluid which is making her look bigger than she actually is. The vet is going to operate next Tuesday. He feels it is not urgent as she is currently quite lively and eating and drinking well. If she shows signs of being unwell before then we are to call the emergency vet (ours will be closed Thursday to Monday).

Hopefully this post will make it onto the thread and I will update as things progress.
 

karensutton

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An update on this. Kate went to the vet for her operation yesterday. He called me and said that he had drained the fluid but had found a "large tumour on her left ovary with metatastic spread throughout omentum". It was inoperable and we made the sad decision to euthanise whilst she was still under anaesthetic. :sad:

We are consoled slightly by the fact that she was still walking about, heading straight for the veggies at feeding time, (albeit with difficulty), and was eating and drinking normally right up until we took her to the vet. She even had enough vigour that she had to be restrained from climbing back into her box on the vet's table when we took her in.

We took Kate in 3 years ago from rescue after she had been badly treated. We know she had a happy life with us and lots of lovely times in the garden with her friends.

We now have a lonely little Squeak, who is wondering where she is. They were very good friends and it is sad to see him alone. We will be going to our local guinea pig rescue at the weekend. Hopefully we will find a new friend for him.
 

akstrohm

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I'm sorry to hear that. I'm glad she enjoyed her last few years with you.
 

Duffinvt

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I am sorry for your loss.
 
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