Hi,
We are looking after our friends guinea pigs while they are away on holiday. They got 2 young sows about 3 months ago (who don’t get on!). It turned out one was pregnant and gave birth 3 weeks ago to a boar.
The baby boar has become mature and now needs separating from his mother. The boar has not taken this well and is squealing continuously. I have a 4 1/2 year old sow who is very passive (her female partner died a couple of years ago).
I’ve briefly put my old sow with the young boar and this has really calmed him down. My old sow is very relaxed around the young boar.
Clearly my sow wouldn’t survive a pregnancy but I was unsure if sows went through the equivalent of the menopause and unable to conceive beyond a certain age (and hence safe to leave together).
Sophie B
Senior Guinea Pig
Hello! If you are going to keep them together he will need to be neutered x
Was there a reason you didn’t get her another companion after her friend passed away?
Eriathwen
Adult Guinea Pig
Welcome! Guinea pig sows can get pregnant right up until they pass away from old age, and the boar is at an age he can impregnate her so I would separate them asap as like you say, her chances of surviving a pregnancy if he does catch her are pretty slim.
Safest thing for them is to live side by side instead unless you get him castrated.
Please remove the boar IMMEDIATELY. Sows can conceive at any age and pregnancy is very dangerous for an older sow who hasn’t had babies before.
Please remove the boar IMMEDIATELY. Sows can conceive at any age and pregnancy is very dangerous for an older sow who hasn’t had babies before.
Thank you- she’s been removed.
