Bullying piggy :(

[Camisla]

My older girl I think is bullying her daughter. They've lived together ok (we rescued them last July) up till now. They’ve never been best buddies snuggling together etc just kinda tolerated one another I think.
Anyhoo my older girl is def up to no good. She chases the wee one out of where ever she is, I have two of everything infact I have 4 hides.
We went to the vet tonight as the younger has now got a bald patch on her back where I think the other piggy has pulled it out.
The vet doesn’t think it’s fungal etc as it doesn’t look that way. We’ve got drops to massage into the patch and metacalm as the patch looks a bit raw in places (bites)

I’m reading all the guides here and it’s pointing to separating them? Should I do this?
Many thanks for reading my waffle, feeling upset for them

 

[Wiebke]

My older girl I think is bullying her daughter. They've lived together ok (we rescued them last July) up till now. They’ve never been best buddies snuggling together etc just kinda tolerated one another I think.
Anyhoo my older girl is def up to no good. She chases the wee one out of where ever she is, I have two of everything infact I have 4 hides.
We went to the vet tonight as the younger has now got a bald patch on her back where I think the other piggy has pulled it out.
The vet doesn’t think it’s fungal etc as it doesn’t look that way. We’ve got drops to massage into the patch and metacalm as the patch looks a bit raw in places (bites)

I’m reading all the guides here and it’s pointing to separating them? Should I do this?
Many thanks for reading my waffle, feeling upset for them

Hi! How piggy savvy is your vet?

Has your vet checked mum for ovarian cysts which are usually at the bottom of sudden aggression in bonded sows. The cysts are usually still fairly small but growing at the stage when they cause the behaviour change.
Hormonal ovarian cysts can be treated by chorulon injections (UK) or by a hormone implant (US). For a spaying operation you want an experienced vet as it is a major operation. You will have to preferably see an exotics vet for either, especially as hormone injections are not officially licensed for guinea pigs, but they have been used with success as a fair number of forum members can attest.
Sow Behaviour
Recommended Guinea Pig Vets

Has your vet considered mange mites as that sounds typical for a stress induced mange mite outbreak. Many guinea pigs have dormant mange mite eggs buried in their skin (buried eggs cannot be killed off by ivermectin) that are normally kept under control by a fully working immune system but they can make an appearance whenever the immune system is lowered through illness or stress (bereavement, bullying etc).
What to check and look out for in new guinea pigs (vet checks, sexing, parasites&illness)

A trial separation with a cage divider to see whether your daughter is perking up when away from her mother is the best way forward so you can then take it from there.

 

[Camisla]

Hi! How piggy savvy is your vet?

Has your vet checked mum for ovarian cysts which are usually at the bottom of sudden aggression in bonded sows. The cysts are usually still fairly small but growing at the stage when they cause the behaviour change.
Hormonal ovarian cysts can be treated by chorulon injections (UK) or by a hormone implant (US). For a spaying operation you want an experienced vet as it is a major operation. You will have to preferably see an exotics vet for either, especially as hormone injections are not officially licensed for guinea pigs, but they have been used with success as a fair number of forum members can attest.
Sow Behaviour
Recommended Guinea Pig Vets

Has your vet considered mange mites as that sounds typical for a stress induced mange mite outbreak. Many guinea pigs have mange mite eggs buried in their skin (they cannot be killed off by ivermectin) that are normally kept under control by a fully working immune system but they can make an appearance whenever the immune system is lowered through illness or stress (bereavement, bullying etc).
What to check and look out for in new guinea pigs (vet checks, sexing, parasites&illness)

A trial separation with a cage divider to see whether your daughter is perking up when away from her mother is the best forward so you can then take it from there.

Thanks so much for your reply. I’ve been reading all your advice on your sticky posts.
The vet is brill, she is the one who treated princess older piggy for her bumblefoot and it cleared up well.
She

 

[Camisla]

Hi there, thanks so much for replying.
Have just been cleaning them out there and they were all cute touching noses affectionately! Pffft!
The vet I think in my limited knowledge has been brill. She’s the one that treated princess (mummy pig) for bumble foot successfully and going on what she advises it’s pretty much what I’d read here. She is an exotic pet vet.

I’ll try separating and see if the wee one perks up. I can only hope princess misses her daughter and pines for her proving she loved her really ... fingers crossed

How would we check for ovarian cysts etc? Princess had a full X-ray for her bumblefoot and nothing was flagged up in that area?