Beans Acting Strange Since Maple Arrived - Big Weight Loss

Beans&Toast said:
Nah everything is flat now since finding out she has arthritis.

There is access to by everywhere in the cage. 4 of the 5 hideys have hay in them too so she can get to it all easily enough. I really think it's something to do with the introduction of Maple, I don't get it
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I knew it was long shot. It certainly sounds as though Maple is the catalyst. How strange. I hope she's eating properly again soon. Did you decide to take her to the vet?
 
Reenie said:
I knew it was long shot. It certainly sounds as though Maple is the catalyst. How strange. I hope she's eating properly again soon. Did you decide to take her to the vet?
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Yeah I've got an appointment tomorrow.

It's weird though becuase Beans goes to Maple and sleeps next to her, So surely if she was stressed by Maple she wouldn't do this?..
 
Well I dont really know but they grieve dont they? I really hope that things calm down for her and that she and Maple can relax and enjoy each others company.

Sorry didnt mean to upset you. I just typed what I thought.
 
flowerfairy said:
Well I dont really know but they grieve dont they? I really hope that things calm down for her and that she and Maple can relax and enjoy each others company.

Sorry didnt mean to upset you. I just typed what I thought.
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No it's okay. I'm just worried I've made the wrong decision for Beans and she'd rather be on her own
 
I don't think you have made the wrong decision, they are obviously getting on. I would advise getting her teeth checked as first point of call. Pitch first went off her hay with teeth issues.
 
Beans was checked at the vets today. Teeth seem fine, I did think they were as she's never had any issues with her teeth (so far). There doesn't seem to be any physical problems, which is good.

It seems that it's just the initial stress of a change in environment, adding in Maple.

She's put back on 20g and has been nibbling more on hay today. I have noticed though that the two of them only seem to want to sit and cuddle all day, it's like they've both became lazy and don't want to move to eat hay, they just want to stay next to each other... :hmm:
 
Beans&Toast said:
Beans was checked at the vets today. Teeth seem fine, I did think they were as she's never had any issues with her teeth (so far). There doesn't seem to be any physical problems, which is good.

It seems that it's just the initial stress of a change in environment, adding in Maple.

She's put back on 20g and has been nibbling more on hay today. I have noticed though that the two of them only seem to want to sit and cuddle all day, it's like they've both became lazy and don't want to move to eat hay, they just want to stay next to each other... :hmm:
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It's cute that they want to cuddle all day. Maybe put a little pile of hay near where they sleep if where they sleep isn't close enough to hay already. My Coco gets really anti social (or lazy, one of the two) when she's in season and refuses to leave her hidey even for food so I have to plonk a pile of hay and pellets and all her veg directly in front of her hidey door for her to eat anything. Obviously your piggies situation is not the same though.
 
Kylie80 said:
It's cute that they want to cuddle all day. Maybe put a little pile of hay near where they sleep if where they sleep isn't close enough to hay already. My Coco gets really anti social (or lazy, one of the two) when she's in season and refuses to leave her hidey even for food so I have to plonk a pile of hay and pellets and all her veg directly in front of her hidey door for her to eat anything. Obviously your piggies situation is not the same though.
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I put hay under every hidey as well as dotted around the cage. They're just not eating it I don't get it, Beans has always munched on hay all throughout the day.

This is all they want to do all day, lie next to each other and nap... :blink:

20171021_090918.webp
 
Reenie said:
maybe try a different hay? One with dandelion in it or something to tempt them?
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I have :(
I use meadow hay, 2 differnt types of timothy hay, orchard grass hay, oat hay, nettle, birch leaf and camomile hay but are showing very little interest in eating it , instead they're cuddled up next to each other having a nap.

They're eating grass but thanks to bad rain the grass isn't that great in my garden just now.

The 2 of them are seriously testing my patience :doh:
 
Beans&Toast said:
Thanks @sport_billy and @Swissgreys for the advice.

She is pooing but she's not at the hay as much as she was before or the water bottle, but will take her veg. It's honestly like she's on edge, like she's keeping her eye on Maple and wants to follow her if she moves somewhere.. if that makes sense.

Beans is about 6. She's also got quite bad arthritis in her back legs/hips which she's on pain relief for so I'm worried about that too, maybe all the running has hurt her? I'm just panicking that I've made the wrong decision and now Beans isn't happy with friend - even though she seems happy with Maple at times.

She is running around a lot more now so I appreciate it could be from all the extra exercise. But something just seems off with her. I don't know if it's just normal stress of bonding like you say
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If you are really worried, have her vet checked next week. it can be that the loss and the excitement/stress of a new companion have exascerbated some underlying issue.

I sincerely hope that the two girls will settle down once the dominance phase is over and that things relax then. Can you offer hay in an additional space that is easily accessible for the time being?

I would recommend to start offering extra top-up feed, whether that is with a syringe, in a bowl or from a spoon twice daily away from the cage. I do this when I see an elderly girl of mine lose weight in the wake of a new group bonding. Most often, it sorts itself out eventually once the dominance phase has been fully settled.

Discuss with your vet whether you need to up the pain medication.
 
Beans&Toast said:
I have :(
I use meadow hay, 2 differnt types of timothy hay, orchard grass hay, oat hay, nettle, birch leaf and camomile hay but are showing very little interest in eating it , instead they're cuddled up next to each other having a nap.

They're eating grass but thanks to bad rain the grass isn't that great in my garden just now.

The 2 of them are seriously testing my patience :doh:
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I think that's me out of ideas. I hope it sorts itself out soon.
 
Wiebke said:
If you are really worried, have her vet checked next week. it can be that the loss and the excitement/stress of a new companion have exascerbated some underlying issue.

I sincerely hope that the two girls will settle down once the dominance phase is over and that things relax then. Can you offer hay in an additional space that is easily accessible for the time being?

I would recommend to start offering extra top-up feed, whether that is with a syringe, in a bowl or from a spoon twice daily away from the cage. I do this when I see an elderly girl of mine lose weight in the wake of a new group bonding. Most often, it sorts itself out eventually once the dominance phase has been fully settled.

Discuss with your vet whether you need to up the pain medication.
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Thank you. How long can it take for it to sort itself out? I imagine it can differ but is there an average timescale? I mean they are getting on well, cuddling up together it's just that Beans has been quiet the past week since getting Maple and Maple seems to be copying her by lying down and napping with her.
 
The dominance phase takes around 2 weeks on average until everything has settled down. I would see whether giving Beans some top-up food is going to do the trick. It is a big change for her and overall a very stressful time that can cause underlying issues to come to the fore or get worse. it is always important to keep an eye on the medical angle when rebonding older piggies.

How much is Beans' weight now? If she has been on the pudgy side, the extra activity can just have knocked that off.
 
Wiebke said:
The dominance phase takes around 2 weeks on average until everything has settled down. I would see whether giving Beans some top-up food is going to do the trick. It is a big change for her and overall a very stressful time that can cause underlying issues to come to the fore or get worse. it is always important to keep an eye on the medical angle when rebonding older piggies.

How much is Beans' weight now? If she has been on the pudgy side, the extra activity can just have knocked that off.
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Before bonding she was 1120 give or take.
She went down to 1000g after a week of having Maple. She's back up to 1050g and has been stable for just over a day now. I'm feeding some extra nuggets to keep her topped up
 
Beans&Toast said:
Before bonding she was 1120 give or take.
She went down to 1000g after a week of having Maple. She's back up to 1050g and has been stable for just over a day now. I'm feeding some extra nuggets to keep her topped up
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Those are alll still very good weights for an older lady, so I wouldn't worry especially when the weight is stabilising.
 
I am happy to report that as of this evening, Beans seems more herself. She's started coming out to munch on hay and pottering about the cage a bit more.

Maple has also come out of her shell a bit, she still doesn't like me holding her (she bit me so hard it broke the skin) but is happy to let me stroke her and will walk around me when I'm in the cage.

Progress!

Thank you all for your help and advice with Beans losing weight and seeming off. I'm hoping that's it sorting itself now (don't want to speak to soon)... Will keep you all updated if there's any other changes :nod:
 
Beans&Toast said:
I am happy to report that as of this evening, Beans seems more herself. She's started coming out to munch on hay and pottering about the cage a bit more.

Maple has also come out of her shell a bit, she still doesn't like me holding her (she bit me so hard it broke the skin) but is happy to let me stroke her and will walk around me when I'm in the cage.

Progress!

Thank you all for your help and advice with Beans losing weight and seeming off. I'm hoping that's it sorting itself now (don't want to speak to soon)... Will keep you all updated if there's any other changes :nod:
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As to handling Maple - try these tricks with her; they are surprisingly effective! Tell her you love her and then exert friendly dominance.
How To Understand Guinea Pig Instincts And Speak Piggy Body Language
 
Omg. Maple is back to being a hooligan! Hope she settles down again. She is a little madam! But she's so so cute.

I'm glad Beans has calmed down and is getting back to normal. Hope she is ok now.
 
Julie M said:
Omg. Maple is back to being a hooligan! Hope she settles down again. She is a little madam! But she's so so cute.

I'm glad Beans has calmed down and is getting back to normal. Hope she is ok now.
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She most certainly is a little hooligan! She only bit me becuase I was trying to brush her beautiful hair and she was scared, poor wee thing.
 
Beans&Toast said:
She most certainly is a little hooligan! She only bit me becuase I was trying to brush her beautiful hair and she was scared, poor wee thing.
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Aww. Hope you're ok. She will probably still be scared right enough. As it's all new to her. I miss her little face at the centre, but I'm glad you got her so I can see how she's doing.
 
Beans&Toast said:
I am happy to report that as of this evening, Beans seems more herself. She's started coming out to munch on hay and pottering about the cage a bit more.

Maple has also come out of her shell a bit, she still doesn't like me holding her (she bit me so hard it broke the skin) but is happy to let me stroke her and will walk around me when I'm in the cage.

Progress!

Thank you all for your help and advice with Beans losing weight and seeming off. I'm hoping that's it sorting itself now (don't want to speak to soon)... Will keep you all updated if there's any other changes :nod:
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Excellent news!
 
Julie M said:
Aww. Hope you're ok. She will probably still be scared right enough. As it's all new to her. I miss her little face at the centre, but I'm glad you got her so I can see how she's doing.
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Not gonna lie it was bloody sore! :PShe's quite brave when she's in the cage and has Beans for back up, but out the cage she's not so brave yet. She'll get there though, just needs some time and a very patient slave!
The two of them tonight..:luv:
20171021_182404.webp
 
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