Many people do not realize it is a good idea to have small animals, such as rabbits and guinea pigs, spayed or neutered. While we often only think of cats and dogs when it comes to these services, they also apply to small pets.

Before bringing a small pet into your home, it is a good idea to sit down and meet with your local veterinarian to get a better idea of some of the most important small animal care tips. For many people, this may mean having your rabbit, ferret or guinea pig spayed or neutered. Your vet may suggest this not only for the health of the animal, but also in order to ensure they are a good fit for your family’s home. There are a handful of other reasons why it is beneficial to your pet to have them altered, several of which we will go over below.

As always, if you have any questions about the information in this blog, or if you would like to speak with one of our veterinarians, please do not hesitate to contact our clinic.

Reasons for Spaying or Neutering Ferrets

Breeding ferrets is a somewhat popular hobby that requires a great deal of expertise, patience and work. Because of this, not all ferret owners are cut out to take on the job. There are numerous benefits to altering a ferret, including the following:

For aesthetic reasons. Ferrets put out a strong, musky odor from their oil glands. Having the animal spayed or neutered will drastically reduce this scent.
For behavioral reasons. Having a ferret altered will help calm ferrets’ temperaments, especially males. If a ferret is neutered or spayed at 4 to 6 months of age, it will usually prevent the development of their aggressive nature.
For life-saving reasons. This holds true for female ferrets in particular, as it will stop the release of specific estrogen hormones that may eventually become toxic to the bone marrow.

Reasons for Spaying or Neutering Rabbits

The following are the most common reasons for having a pet rabbit spayed or neutered:

For longevity. Altered rabbits are healthier and live longer than unaltered rabbits.
For behavioral reasons. Altered rabbits make better companions and house pets. They are also easier to train and less aggressive.
To curb overpopulation. Unfortunately, many animals each year do not find a home due to overpopulation. By having your pet rabbit spayed or neutered, you will be helping to prevent more of this problem from continuing.
For companionship. Unaltered rabbits cannot play with other rabbits due to sexual aggression triggered by hormones.

Reasons for Spaying or Neutering Guinea Pigs

Guinea pigs are one of those pets that many people do not realize can (or should) be spayed or neutered. However, this is something that all guinea pig owners should consider when raising one. Here are some of the most common reasons for having this procedure done:

For their safety. Male guinea pigs can develop prostate cancer and mammary tumors if left unaltered. Their rectal muscles can also atrophy as they age, something in which neutering can eliminate. On the other side, female guinea pigs are at an elevated risk for uterine cancer if left unaltered.
To stop overpopulation. By spaying or neutering your guinea pig, you will be making it so they cannot reproduce and add to overpopulation.

There are numerous small animal care tips that should be taken into consideration when bringing these types of pets into your home. By educating yourself about the benefits of spaying or neutering a small pet, you will be doing your part in helping them lead a long, happy and healthy life.

Creative Commons Attribution: Permission is granted to repost this article in its entirety with credit to Sykesville Veterinary Clinic and a clickable link back to this page.