Am I Doing The Right Thing?

[beckyxxx]

One of my Guinea pigs Phyliss is having a real rough time at the moment, it’s his second time at the vets in two days With teeth problems and now an ulcer on his eye!

So anyway, since yesterday Willis his brother has been more dominant than normal, chasing him, humping, mounting and biting his ears. This morning when I went in to see them phyliss was acting depressed, he was in the corner in his hidey and he didn’t want to come out, he was scared. As soon as he did when I brought food over his brother immediately started chasing him and mounting etc , phyliss was crying like I’ve never heard him before so I took him out of the cage and noticed his eye was swallow and bleeding, he had an emergency vet visit and she’s confirmed an ulcer. She agrees that she thinks that they need separating, at least until phyliss is better. Am I doing the right thing? I think Willis has caused the ulcer with fighting, and phyliss is very upset with him and with him not being well as it is I really don’t think he needs the added stress, he has also lost a bit of weight . Am I doing the right thing by separating them ? I’m trying to do the best thing for phyliss right now with all his issues

 

[Wiebke]

If the relationship is stressful, then you are right to separate. You have to however be aware that the split may turn out to be permanent.

Please make sure that you treat the eye regularly and as often as you can; eye injuries can deteriorate quickly, but they thankfully heal fairly straight forward if you keep at it.

The loud crying is submission squeaking and doesn't mean that he is in pain. It translates as "I am not contesting your claim for dominance!" and is usually very effective.

 

[beckyxxx]

He’s on eye drops 3 times a day and has metacam for the pain, so you think that tomorrow I should take down the grids between them and see how they get on once they’ve both had some space?

 

[beckyxxx]

This is their cage split, I really don’t want to have to have them seperated as they are both so quiet without each other will them being seperated for the day break there bond?