Eat slowly than before

[Rowena2piggies]

Hi everyone,

Thanks for take your time.

I’ve got my two boars from June then they have been living together until last month. Because I found they began to fight with each other and one of the boars always get injured, I separated them to two CC cage but they still can see each other and communicate with each other. (I divided a 6X3 CC cage into two 3X3 CC cages)

However, after one week’s separation, I found one of my boar become extremely unhappy and inactive (always lying on the fleece for more than three hours), and eat and drink less than before and never popcorning again. More importantly, I found When this boar eating hay or nuggets, it seems like he cannot bite them ( it I have checked his front teeth they are all okay), then I brought this boar to the vet, and the bet said his teeth are okay and recommend me put them together again.

Several days ago, I cancelled the separation and put them together again and found them more happier than before. But the one have eating issues still doesn’t improve his eating. (This boar trying to eat his favorite- grass cake but seems like cannot bite use his front teeth ).

I am quite confused now because the vet said my boar didn’t have teeth problems but it looks that he still cannot use his front teeth?

 

[Piggies&buns]

Welcome to the forum and I am sorry to hear of the issues.

First, if these two piggies have had full on fights and caused injuries, then putting them back together again is not a good thing to do. Fights mean they do not have a functioning hierarchy and don’t like each other. If they cannot work things out for themselves, then they are likely to fight again so you do need to keep a very close eye on things now they are back together.
If one piggy is unhappy to be alone but cannot live with your other current piggy, then finding him his own new friend to live with might be a better option.

Bonds In Trouble
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars

Is the vet knowledgeable and were they able to have a thorough look at the teeth? This can often need to be done under sedation.

Please ensure you switch from the routine weekly weight checks and instead weigh him every day so you can more closely monitor his hay intake. Hay is the most important part of the diet but you cannot judge hay intake by eye. If he is losing weight, then you must step in and syringe feed him a recovery feed or mushed pellets and speak to a vet again

Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
Weight - Monitoring and Management
Probiotics, Recovery Foods And Vitamin C: Overview With Product Links

 

[Rowena2piggies]

Welcome to the forum and I am sorry to hear of the issues.

First, if these two piggies have had full on fights and caused injuries, then putting them back together again is not a good thing to do. Fights mean they do not have a functioning hierarchy and don’t like each other. If they cannot work things out for themselves, then they are likely to fight again so you do need to keep a very close eye on things now they are back together.
If one piggy is unhappy to be alone but cannot live with your other current piggy, then finding him his own new friend to live with might be a better option.

Bonds In Trouble
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars

Is the vet knowledgeable and were they able to have a thorough look at the teeth? This can often need to be done under sedation.

Please ensure you switch from the routine weekly weight checks and instead weigh him every day so you can more closely monitor his hay intake. Hay is the most important part of the diet but you cannot judge hay intake by eye. If he is losing weight, then you must step in and syringe feed him a recovery feed or mushed pellets and speak to a vet again

Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
Weight - Monitoring and Management
Probiotics, Recovery Foods And Vitamin C: Overview With Product Links

hi dear,

Thanks a lot for your patient reply!

I want to add something for their ‘fights’

The ‘fights’ between them usually refers to punching their other or some intimidating sound , Actually during the five month they living together, they only fight with each other and one of them get injured (on the nose) for only once (but I still separate them). So most of the time they do not fight. (And after the seperation,
They always stared at each other in their own cage


But still very appreciate for your advice and i will keep an eye on them !

 

[Piggies&buns]

hi dear,

Thanks a lot for your patient reply!

I want to add something for their ‘fights’

The ‘fights’ between them usually refers to punching their other or some intimidating sound , Actually during the five month they living together, they only fight with each other and one of them get injured (on the nose) for only once (but I still separate them). So most of the time they do not fight. (And after the seperation,
They always stared at each other in their own cage


But still very appreciate for your advice and i will keep an eye on them !

If they had not had a full on rolling around furball fight (which is unmistakable) but instead what you have been seeing is actually normal dominance then there is no need to separate them. Repeated separation causes them stress and will result in even more dominance while they try to reestablish their relationship. The intimidating sounds you report - was it rumbling and high pitched squeaking? If so then it is also entirely normal and not fighting

 

[VickiA]

If they have had a fight with each other and one of them drew blood on the nose, then the die is cast and they are likely to fall out again in future. If it wasn’t a full on fight but some dominance behaviours and perhaps a misjudged swipe or kick that caused the blood then their bond may endure.

 

[VickiA]

How recently did the vet see the boar with dental trouble?