News-Gazette (Jan. 25) – Dr. Mariana Sosa Higareda, a veterinarian at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital who specializes in zoological medicine, recommends the spay procedure for young guinea pigs as an important part of their preventive care.
“Historically, routine spays in guinea pigs were not widely recommended because of anesthesia and surgical risks,” Dr. Sosa Higareda said. “However, we now know that reproductive disease is highly prevalent in this species. Additionally, a recent alternative surgical approach for this procedure reduces many of the risks.”