Fweeper
Junior Guinea Pig
If any of you have read my posts in the past, you'll know we've not had an easy ride with my two boys, but I wanted to just share some positive news for once, instead of the usual sadness I post, so here we are!
Despite some territorial grumpiness, some huffy stomping about on the boundary line/pee fights through the bars of their split cage etc, they've calmed down a bit now! Praline (the most physically ill of the pair) is just SO HAPPY, it's adorable to watch. Honestly, every morning I'm treated to a popcorn festival, he bounces about his cage like a crazy thing, loves chatting to people, he'll even allow me BRIEF cuddles twice a day when I clean the cages! I'm so pleased to see him being this chilled out and content, he's had such an awful time of it, the vets know him by name on sight, he deserves this!
Sundae, my massive problem pig...well, he's still a problem pig, BUT, he is adapting his behaviour. I won't say he'll ever be able to go in with other pigs, I don't think either of them will, but he is less frenetic and worried all the time now. He actually allows me to touch him, which he's never done before. I'm still handling him twice a day too, which he doesn't love, but is tolerating which I will take, frankly! I'm still working on making him as calm as his brother.
The vet and I have come to the conclusion that they're actually different ages and not from the same litter, presumably the same parents though, which may also explain some of the problems we went through when they were in together. We suspect they may be somewhere between 14-18 months old, but honestly, we have no idea. They both have extensive physical and mental issues which doesn't help the situation, and I know this is never going to be a case of "normal" pigs, but we're getting by, and I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who's given me advice here and helped when things looked incredibly bleak. Hopefully we can get through a month without needing a night where they have to be separated again, but if we do, well, we'll cope, and it was this forum that taught me you can handle more than you think where animals are concerned!
Despite some territorial grumpiness, some huffy stomping about on the boundary line/pee fights through the bars of their split cage etc, they've calmed down a bit now! Praline (the most physically ill of the pair) is just SO HAPPY, it's adorable to watch. Honestly, every morning I'm treated to a popcorn festival, he bounces about his cage like a crazy thing, loves chatting to people, he'll even allow me BRIEF cuddles twice a day when I clean the cages! I'm so pleased to see him being this chilled out and content, he's had such an awful time of it, the vets know him by name on sight, he deserves this!
Sundae, my massive problem pig...well, he's still a problem pig, BUT, he is adapting his behaviour. I won't say he'll ever be able to go in with other pigs, I don't think either of them will, but he is less frenetic and worried all the time now. He actually allows me to touch him, which he's never done before. I'm still handling him twice a day too, which he doesn't love, but is tolerating which I will take, frankly! I'm still working on making him as calm as his brother.
The vet and I have come to the conclusion that they're actually different ages and not from the same litter, presumably the same parents though, which may also explain some of the problems we went through when they were in together. We suspect they may be somewhere between 14-18 months old, but honestly, we have no idea. They both have extensive physical and mental issues which doesn't help the situation, and I know this is never going to be a case of "normal" pigs, but we're getting by, and I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who's given me advice here and helped when things looked incredibly bleak. Hopefully we can get through a month without needing a night where they have to be separated again, but if we do, well, we'll cope, and it was this forum that taught me you can handle more than you think where animals are concerned!
