Advice needed on potential bonding of guinea pigs

S

Squashface

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Apr 3, 2022
Messages
65
Reaction score
98
Points
220
Location
Uk
Hi All,

I’m hoping for some advice. We’ve got a 5 year old guinea pig (Tilly). She lost her cage mate last year in May. Given her age and the fact she seemed content on her own we didn’t rush to find new pigs to bond her with.

In September last year we got a bonded female pair of rescue guinea pigs (Helly and Casey) who were around the same age. The plan was that they could be in adjacent cages for company, not for them to share a cage. She was obviously very interested in them and after a few weeks we decided to try introducing them.

Unfortunately it didn’t go well. Immediately they were charging each other, chasing, and very loud and prolonged teeth chattering. Tilly and Casey then fought each other (both went on back legs scrabbling at each other) and we separated them. After seeking advice on here we hadn’t tried introducing them again.

However today, they were having floor time in separate rooms, and the door between them must have blew open and Tilly went to investigate. We came back in, because we heard squeaking, to find Tilly had got in with the other two. Today’s accidental introduction went quite differently to the previous one.

Tilly seemed to have taken a submissive role straight away. The other two were following her around a bit and occasionally jumping on her back, but she didn’t fight them. She did do some loud “yield type” squeaks at times but they didn’t come to blows. At other times they were all just sitting eating. There was a little bit of teeth shattering from Helly and Casey but none from Tilly. There was no further aggression.

If it wasn’t for the fact Tilly was having an ovarian cysts removal next week I would’ve been inclined to leave them to see how it went. But I think it would be too risky putting them together more permanently right before surgery.

So my question is- when Tilly’s fully recovered from her surgery, do you think we should try introducing them again? Or do we think the fact they fell out the first time they met is game over and they’ll never get over it? All we want to do it what’s right for all of them and not cause unnecessary stress.
 
I’m not a bonding expert but if they are already in the process of bonding it would be unwise to separate Tilly now.
One of the experts will give you more detailed advice.
Hope Tilly’s op goes well
 
Merab said:
I’m not a bonding expert but if they are already in the process of bonding it would be unwise to separate Tilly now.
One of the experts will give you more detailed advice.
Hope Tilly’s op goes well
Click to expand...
Yeah I was torn between letting it play out and taking her out. Given she’ll be out for a day with the surgery so soon, I was worried they might not react well afterwards and didn’t want to put her through extra stress when she’s recovering.

Thank you! Fingers crossed it’ll all go smoothly.
 
I would try again when she is well recovered from the surgery. The cysts will be affecting her hormones and making her grumpy at times which may be why the first attempt to bond didn't work. The accidental bonding sounds promising so worth a try, it's the only way to know for sure!
 
piggieminder said:
I would try again when she is well recovered from the surgery. The cysts will be affecting her hormones and making her grumpy at times which may be why the first attempt to bond didn't work. The accidental bonding sounds promising so worth a try, it's the only way to know for sure!
Click to expand...
Thanks for this! She’s currently in surgery so fingers crossed it’ll all go fine and we can try re-introducing when she’s recovered.
 
Squashface said:
Thanks for this! She’s currently in surgery so fingers crossed it’ll all go fine and we can try re-introducing when she’s recovered.
Click to expand...
Good luck with the surgery and recovery. Fingers crossed they can be bonded once she’s has recovered.
 
Fingers crossed that all goes well and that she can then enjoy her new life and her new friend.
 
She’s just over 24 hours post surgery. She’s still bumbling around but is munching on veg. My only slight worry is she’s developed a bit of a grunt on each breath. Not sure when it started, I think only over the last few hours. My husband gave her some critical care earlier. He doesn’t think any went down the wrong way. He’s since given her, her painkillers and doesn’t think she was making the noise then. It seems to be now she’s “sitting up more” rather than lying down. She seems ok in herself, except for the loud breathing and the fact her front paw is hurting her (where the cannula was). Is noisy breathing ever normal 24 hours post GA?
 
Listened to her lungs and they sound clear I think. Seems to be coming from her nose. Although she stopped making the noise when I picked her up.

I find post surgery with pigs so stressful 😩
 
Squashface said:
Listened to her lungs and they sound clear I think. Seems to be coming from her nose. Although she stopped making the noise when I picked her up.

I find post surgery with pigs so stressful 😩
Click to expand...
It really is.

I’d give the vets a call first thing and ask their advice. Good luck.
 
We ended up ringing our vet late last night. He was really great and advised us over the phone. He thinks she’d probably inhaled a bit of critical care. Luckily we have baytril at home so he told us the dosage. She’s going in on Saturday for a check up. Fingers crossed she’ll improve from here!
 
I’m glad the vets could offer some advice. Good luck Saturday at the check up.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top