Adding A Piggy When Their Are Babies In The Group?

Gingerbread_Gem

Gingerbread_Gem

Junior Guinea Pig
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Both my female guinea pigs recently had litters. One had 3 boys, who have been separated as they are over 3 weeks old. The other (the dominant girl) had 2 girls and a boy, who will be 3 weeks old on Sunday. The girls will be staying to live with mom and auntie.

Today I came across a lone female in the PAH 'adoption' section. She had been abandoned in her cage (a hamster cage) outside the store, with what they said was the worst case of ringworm they have ever seen. She had been in treatment for 6 months, and is now up for adoption.

They are advising she goes as a single piggy, incase the 'stress' of meeting other pigs brings the ringworm back. I can't bare the thought of her having such a hard start then living her whole life alone, and I would like to introduce her to my girls.

What are the chances of this being successful when the domimant female has young babies?
 
It would be best if you planned for the ringworm girl as a next door companion with interaction through the bars after a two week quarantine. If she has been a single piggy for too long, she may be very fear-aggressive; not to mention that you haven't got any idea of whether she is dominant or not.

If she fits into your sow group in the long term would be a bonus, but not one I would count on. You'd best start with plan B and keep this as your main option.

You also need to give her a fungal bath to remove any ringworm spores from her coat during her quarantine; I've had ringworm carried in twice over the years that way. There is always a certain risk that ringworm can make a comeback, so you have to be prepared for that.
My Barri is another very bad ringworm piggy due to wrongly applied home treatment on spec. The first vet he was finally seen by wanted to pts straight away. The second brokered a surrender to a local sanctuary for the appropriate care under his supervision. Barri did have another outbreak in October 4 months after his adoption in a room of 30 other piggies.
Thankfully with prompt quarantine, a deep clean of the whole piggy room and the proper ringworm care, I could confine the ringworm to just to him. But I am aware that it can easily happen again despite my best efforts to prevent him from carrying anything across.

You will have to consider whether you can and want to adopt the pet shop girl with these premises or not. Good will and kindness of heart are fine, but don't count on things working out!

Importance Of Quarantine
Ringworm: Hygiene And Pictures
Bonding: Illustrated Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics
 
Just to add in to the mix that both Mums may not get on as well as they did before the babies came along. The under sow will have risen in status as a result of having had pups. This may lead to friction with the dominant sow. I am fostering 2 previously well bonded sows who both littered within 24 hours of each other. I have had to separate them as they have made it clear that the status quo has changed forever and they both wanted top sow status. Such a shame, but both are now happier apart than they were together.
 
The vet wanted to put this piggy to sleep too. One of the shop staff persuaded them to let her take charge of her treatment. She is very small for a piggy who must be close to a year old. She is definitely older than my two but much smaller.

My piggies are really quite happy go lucky as far as I can tell. I've never really seen them bother each other. I'm hopeful they will accept another piggy. They currently have a large corner of my kitchen with multiple food bowls so they shouldn't need to argue over space.

I have a little nizoral shampoo still from when mine had ringworm so I can wash the new piggy as soon as she arrives, then again a week later, and I'm still using f10 disinfectant on everything in and around the enclosure.

I think I might give this a try. Quarantine the new piggy for 2 weeks and try a gentle introduction.

Apparantly she has had skin tests come back negative for ringworm. So I'm not too worried about it although it would be hugely umfortunate to have it spread to the babies!
 
Poor piggy being abandoned like that! I am so pleased she has been nursed back to health what a lovely member of staff. That is a lot of dedication and hard work gone on there. If you feel you can adopt this piggy after all then do so. At least you have had experience of ringworm so know what the risks are and what you are taking on.
 
Aww she is gorgeous! No woner you couldn't resist her! I am not allowed any more piggies (just as well really as I couldn't really afford more than 5). If I could I would have loads. I love them so much.
 
She is very pretty. Think I would have had her regardless after hearing her story the poor thing.

All my other piggies are crowding round and sniffing the air in her direction now haha.
 
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