Casper's New Companion?

[Little_miss_mel]

So today I introduced my lone sow (Casper 28 wks old) to a prospective new friend Belle (a guinea who has been on her own in a hutch outside for over a year & is 3 years old)

They have spent all afternoon outside & it was almost as if the other simply didn't exist!

I don't know if this is good or bad?

Casper was her usual self-happily squeaking around the run munching on grass & Belle did very little......although I'm told this is how she usually is?

There was abit of bum sniffing & all was fine-the sat right next to each other for a minute or so both eating grass the C went one way B the other & that's kind of how it stayed?

What are everyone's thoughts?

There are also a few 'issues' with Belle........she looks quite overweight (definitely not pregnant as she hasn't seen another Guinea for over a year) when I asked what her favourite food was I was told some kind of Guinea pig treat (I can't even remember the name but they are round brightly coloured biscuits) I asked about veg & was told 'we never really give her veg but she did have a pepper once & quite liked it'

I'm kind of shocked by this! Apparently she has been living on grass & guinea pig treats! She has been given guinea pig pellets & also hay but when I put her in the cage with some normal guinea favourites she just looked at me?! I'm guessing it's just that she has no idea what they are?

She also has 'fatty eye' which I believe (correct me if I'm wrong) is nothing to worry about?

The only other thing I'm really puzzled by is when I asked if she had ever been to the vet for anything I was told she suffers with hayfever & has to have an antihistamine if it gets really bad?

Sorry for the long message but I would love to hear your thoughts/opinions on my 'match'

I've got to admit I felt sorry for poor little Belle as she just seemed so sad & her child owner has lost interest in her & Mum & Dad don't want any more hence why she's come to live with me!

Oh & I want to check her teeth but it all seems abit too much for her at the moment so I will try in a few days when she's settked in x

 

[Wiebke]

Give the girls time. They may never become quite close friends, but they will hopefully be company for each other. Bella has obviously lived on her own since she was young, so learning to accept piggy company may not come easy to her.

You may have a bit of a fight on your hands in shifting Bella onto a good diet. Just be patient and persist. If necessary, feed her and Casper

Some people seem think that there may be a link between pea eye/fatty eye and potential heart problems, but the experienced vet I asked about it didn't think that this could be substantiated.

Guinea pigs can have allergies and in that case, antihistamines do help. I would still have her checked again by a good vet, but you are planning to do that anyway!

You may find these threads here helpful:
Diet and how to be deal with overweight:
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk...ng-ideal-weight-overweight-underweight.38805/
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk...or-a-balanced-general-guinea-pig-diet.116460/

Bonding advice:
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/introducing-and-re-introducing-guinea-pigs.38562/
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/dominance-behaviours-in-guinea-pigs.28949/
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/sow-behaviour.38561/

 

[Little_miss_mel]

Well @ the moment my Guinea Home isn't as harmonious as it once was!
Casper & Belle have still not completely worked out their 'issues' but I'm wondering if Casper is in season (her babies are now 4 weeks old if that would mean anything?)

I hoped to find them cuddled up together this morning but instead we had a lets chase each other around the cage display that ended up with Woody (one of the babies who always has lots to say) squeaking the place down & Timble & Jumble (the thug adolescent boars) then deciding this meant mount each other & have a scuffle ourselves we've definitely had quieter breakfast times!

I know it's still early days but I've never had any hitches with sow introductions but then I've never had so many boars around either so I'm wondering if that's having an impact?

After any scuffle (where Belle always seems the less dominant or to be the one being chased) she popcorns around as if she thinks it's all great fun! I'm guessing therefore I shouldn't worry but I'm wondering if being on her own for so long means even bullying is better than nothing

Belle also seems to actively encourage Casper to chase her by going up to her when Casper is laying quite peacefully & then running away

I just want them to be happy & not have a proper fall out I guess its still very early days though!?!?! x

 

[Wiebke]

it is still very early and - as you are saying - very likely that Casper was in season, which is bound to be much stronger with a new mate, hence your little boys reacting to the pheromones and drama.

The dominance phase lasts around two weeks on average. Be patient and give your little group time to work through things and to settle down. it doesn't sound like there is anything you need to really worry about, just some hanky panky. Casper is simply throwing her weight around as the new matriarch and Bella sounds quite happy to have company at all and to belong to a family at last. She sounds like she is quite a character! Little babies are big on drama anyway, so get used to that for the next few months!

Take heart - you are well past a potential fall-out; your girls are already working on the small print of their relationship.

 

[Little_miss_mel]

it is still very early and - as you are saying - very likely that Casper was in season, which is bound to be much stronger with a new mate, hence your little boys reacting to the pheromones and drama.

The dominance phase lasts around two weeks on average. Be patient and give your little group time to work through things and to settle down. it doesn't sound like there is anything you need to really worry about, just some hanky panky. Casper is simply throwing her weight around as the new matriarch and Bella sounds quite happy to have company at all and to belong to a family at last. She sounds like she is quite a character! Little babies are big on drama anyway, so get used to that for the next few months!

Take heart - you are well past a potential fall-out; your girls are already working on the small print of their relationship.

Thank u that has put my mind at rest abit.......I've been glued to them all day today

I'm keeping everything crossed! x