These brief points aim to highlight the advantages and disadvantages of spaying/neutering exotic mammals. We hope this information helps you gain a clearer understanding of the topic.
Benefits of Spaying/Neutering:
Regardless of your pet's species or sex, the primary goal of spaying or neutering is to prevent overpopulation and unwanted pregnancies. It can also help reduce aggression toward humans and other animals. Additionally, it can minimize unwanted marking behaviours (especially in males) and reduce masturbation in both sexes. Most importantly, spaying or neutering can prevent serious health issues related to sex hormones, including certain cancers, infections, and prostate problems.
Rabbits: The male has a constant sexual appetite from the time he reaches puberty, around 48 months. To court the female (or her owner), he emits a powerful jet of urine; it can spray the walls and the entire environment. Neutering at an early age helps prevent this behaviour, as well as the development of medical problems such as infection or testicular tumors.
In females, spaying at an early age helps prevent many diseases related to the uterus, such as infection (pyometra), polyps, cysts and especially uterine adenocarcinoma, which is the most common tumor found in rabbits; it can be found in 50-80% of rabbits over 4 years old. Mammary infections and tumors are also often associated with uterine diseases.
Finally, in rabbits, spirochetosis (or syphilis) is a disease transmitted by sexual contact. This infection causes ulcers on the skin, in the genital area and on the face, when the rabbit grooms itself. Fortunately, this disease is not transmissible to humans.
Guinea Pigs: In guinea pigs, puberty is reached around 1-2 months in females, and around 3 months in males. The young babies are very large compared to the female, so her pubic area must open slightly during birth to allow the young to pass through. If the female does not have her first litter before 7-8 months of age, her pubic area will be fused and the fetuses may remain stuck, which can be life-threatening to the female and the young if an emergency cesarean section is not performed. Spaying the female eliminates this risk. If a male is caged with an unspayed female older than 7-8 months, the male can also be neutered if the female is to be kept intact.
Mammary and uterine tumors are possible in older female guinea pigs, but rare. Guinea pigs are more likely to suffer from ovarian cysts (up to 76% of females over 18 months old), which can produce excess hormones, affecting the animal's overall health.
Chinchilla: In chinchillas, sexual maturity is reached at 8 months in males, between 4 and 12 months in females. Tumors are very rare in chinchillas, but problems at birth are common.
Rat: Mammary tumors are very common (in both sexes). They are either benign or malignant, and often become so large (up to 8-10 cm) that they interfere with the animal's movement. The skin can then ulcerate when they rub it on the floor. Neutering has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of developing these tumors.
Disadvantages of Spaying/Neutering:
An important point to understand is that any anesthetic procedure carries a potential risk of complications (unfortunately, death is a possible but rare complication) in both animals and humans. Rest assured, we take all possible precautions before, during, and after surgery to minimize these risks. A complete physical examination is essential to detect any abnormalities that could compromise the success of the procedure, and sometimes a blood test or an X-ray will be recommended if deemed necessary.
Ovariohysterectomy (spaying of the female) in rabbits and rodents carries more risks than in dogs or cats, because the membranes around the uterus and ovaries are a significant fat reserve in these species, and are therefore more vascularized (large number of blood vessels). Neutering carries very little risk in itself, except for the possibility of infection at the incision on the scrotum, especially in guinea pigs and chinchillas.
When making the decision, it's important to weigh the benefits against the risks. Spaying/neutering is a routine surgery, frequently performed by our qualified AnimaPlus veterinarians. Complications are rare when a thorough health check precedes the surgery, and when the procedure is performed on a young animal with minimal fat accumulation in the tissues. One of our veterinarians is always available to provide guidance throughout the process.
Contact us for more details.