Ovarian cysts are extremely common in unspayed female guinea pigs and cause significant welfare harm including pain, hormonal disruption and secondary health problems.
Ovarian cysts represent a welfare crisis affecting the majority of female guinea pigs whose owners are unaware of the condition. The insidious nature of the disease - developing slowly and painfully over months - means many guinea pigs suffer without their owners recognising the cause. Hair loss and reduced activity are often dismissed as normal ageing when they are signs of significant discomfort. Preventive neutering when guinea pigs are young and healthy is the most welfare-positive approach, avoiding the suffering of cyst development and the higher surgical risk of operating on sick, older animals.